# US 10,309,442 B2 · Torsion device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,442 B2 - Document ID: US10309442B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/718,608 - Filed: 2017-09-28 - Published: 2019-03-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-28 - Assignees: First Dome Corporation - Applicants: First Dome Corporation - Inventors: I-Hung Chiang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309442B2 ## CPC - F16B 43/00: Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) - E05D 11/084: {the friction depending on direction of rotation of the hinge} - F16B 43/025: {for surfaces not surrounding the bolt, e.g. hook adaptors for bolts} - F16F 1/027: {Planar, e.g. in sheet form; leaf springs} - F16F 3/02: with springs made of steel or of other material having low internal friction - E05D 2011/085: {the friction depending on the opening angle} - E05Y 2201/476: Disk springs - E05Y 2201/484: Torsion springs - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - E05D: HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS (pivotal connections in general F16C11/00) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract A torsion washer of the present disclosure includes a base portion and an elastic unit extended from the base portion. The elastic unit includes an external elastic arm and a torsion-adjusting arm arranged inside the external elastic arm. A space surrounded by the base portion and the external elastic arm is divided into a hole and a slot, in air communication with the hole, by using the torsion-adjusting arm. A distance, i.e., a radius, between the external elastic arm and a center of the hole is larger than a distance, i.e., an interference distance, between the torsion-adjusting arm and the center of the hole. Moreover, the present disclosure provides a torsion device including a plurality of the torsion washers and a shaft coupling through the holes of the torsion washers, and the shaft is configured to selectively contact each torsion-adjusting arm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torsion device, comprising: a plurality of torsion washers stacked in one row and each having a base portion and at least one elastic unit extended from the base portion, the at least one elastic unit of each of the torsion washers including: at least one external elastic arm; a torsion-adjusting arm arranged inside of the at least one external elastic arm, wherein a space surrounded by the base portion and the at least one external elastic arm is divided by the torsion-adjusting arm into a hole and at least one slot in air-communication with the hole, and wherein the hole has a center, a distance between the center and the at least one external elastic arm is defined as a radius, and a distance between the center and the torsion-adjusting arm is defined as an interference distance and is smaller than the radius; and at least one shaft coupling through the hole of each of the torsion washers and defining a central axis, wherein an outer surface of the at least one shaft has a non-contact surface and a contact surface, a distance between the contact surface and the central axis is substantially equal to the radius, a distance between the non-contact surface and the central axis is smaller than the interference distance, and the contact surface of the at least one shaft contacts the at least one external elastic arm of each of the torsion washers and selectively contacts the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers, wherein the torsion washers include a plurality of first torsion washers and a plurality of second torsion washers, and a central angle of the torsion-adjusting of the first torsion washers is different from that of each of the second torsion washers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The torsion device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in each of the torsion washers, the torsion-adjusting arm has a first central angle corresponding to the center of the hole and having σ1 degrees, wherein the contact surface has a second central angle corresponding to the central axis and having σ2 degrees, and the non-contact surface has a third central angle corresponding to the central axis and having σ3 degrees, and wherein σ2+σ3=360, σ1<σ2, and σ1<σ3. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The torsion device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one shaft is rotatable relative to the torsion washers along the central axis from a first position to a second position via a transition position, wherein when the at least one shaft is in the first position, the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers does not contact the at least one shaft, and each of the torsion washers generates a first torque, wherein when the at least one shaft is in the transition position, the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers partially contacts the contact surface of the at least one shaft, and each of the torsion washers generates a gradually rising torque, and wherein when the at least one shaft is in the second position, the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers entirely contacts the contact surface of the at least one shaft, and each of the torsion washers generates a second torque larger than the first torque. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The torsion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein in the at least one shaft and each of the torsion washers, when the at least one shaft is in the first position, a part of the non-contact surface faces the torsion-adjusting arm and the other part of the non-contact surface has a central angle corresponding to the central axis and having σ3-σ1 degrees, and when the at least one shaft is in the transition position, the at least one shaft is rotated from the first position to an angle within a range of σ3-σ1 degrees to σ3 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The torsion device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gradually rising torque has a range that gradually increases from the first torque to the second torque. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The torsion device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment couples through a part of the torsion washers, the second segment couples through the other part of the torsion washers, and a central angle of the non-contact surface of the first segment is different from that of the second segment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The torsion device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first segment is arranged apart from the second segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The torsion device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one elastic unit of each of the torsion washers is two, and each of the torsion washers is symmetrical to the base portion thereof, and wherein the number of the at least one shaft of the torsion device is two, and the two shafts respectively couple through the two elastic units of each of the torsion washers. ### Claim 9 A torsion device, comprising: a plurality of torsion washers stacked in one row and each having a base portion and at least one elastic unit extended from the base portion, the at least one elastic unit of each of the torsion washers including: at least one external elastic arm; a torsion-adjusting arm arranged inside of the at least one external elastic arm, wherein a space surrounded by the base portion and the at least one external elastic arm is divided by the torsion-adjusting arm into a hole and at least one slot in air-communication with the hole, and wherein the hole has a center, a distance between the center and the at least one external elastic arm is defined as a radius, and a distance between the center and the torsion-adjusting arm is defined as an interference distance and is smaller than the radius; and at least one shaft coupling through the hole of each of the torsion washers and defining a central axis, wherein an outer surface of the at least one shaft has a non-contact surface and a contact surface, a distance between the contact surface and the central axis is substantially equal to the radius, a distance between the non-contact surface and the central axis is smaller than the interference distance, and the contact surface of the at least one shaft contacts the at least one external elastic arm of each of the torsion washers and selectively contacts the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers, wherein in each of the torsion washers, the torsion-adjusting arm has a first central angle corresponding to the center of the hole and having σ1 degrees, wherein the contact surface has a second central angle corresponding to the central axis and having σ2 degrees, and the non-contact surface has a third central angle corresponding to the central axis and having σ3 degrees, and wherein σ2+σ3=360, σ1<σ2, and σ1<σ3; and wherein the at least one shaft is rotatable relative to the torsion washers along the central axis from a first position to a second position via a transition position, wherein when the at least one shaft is in the first position, the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers does not contact the at least one shaft, and each of the torsion washers generates a first torque, wherein when the at least one shaft is in the transition position, the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers partially contacts the contact surface of the at least one shaft, and each of the torsion washers generates a gradually rising torque, and wherein when the at least one shaft is in the second position, the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers entirely contacts the contact surface of the at least one shaft, and each of the torsion washers generates a second torque larger than the first torque. ### Claim 10 A torsion device, comprising: a plurality of torsion washers stacked in one row and each having a base portion and at least one elastic unit extended from the base portion, the at least one elastic unit of each of the torsion washers including: at least one external elastic arm; a torsion-adjusting arm arranged inside of the at least one external elastic arm, wherein a space surrounded by the base portion and the at least one external elastic arm is divided by the torsion-adjusting arm into a hole and at least one slot in air-communication with the hole, and wherein the hole has a center, a distance between the center and the at least one external elastic arm is defined as a radius, and a distance between the center and the torsion-adjusting arm is defined as an interference distance and is smaller than the radius; and at least one shaft coupling through the hole of each of the torsion washers and defining a central axis, wherein an outer surface of the at least one shaft has a non-contact surface and a contact surface, a distance between the contact surface and the central axis is substantially equal to the radius, a distance between the non-contact surface and the central axis is smaller than the interference distance, and the contact surface of the at least one shaft contacts the at least one external elastic arm of each of the torsion washers and selectively contacts the torsion-adjusting arm of each of the torsion washers, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment couples through a part of the torsion washers, the second segment couples through the other part of the torsion washers, and a central angle of the non-contact surface of the first segment is different from that of the second segment.