US 11,920,375 B2 · Modular bidirectional spring cage

Abstract

An exemplary apparatus includes a modular, self-contained spring cage and a spindle. The spring cage includes a housing and a clock spring mounted in the housing, and the clock spring includes a first leg and a second leg. The spindle extends through the spring cage, and is rotatable from a home position about a longitudinal axis in each of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. Rotation of the spindle from the home position in the first rotational direction causes pivoting of the first leg while the second leg remains stationary, thereby causing the clock spring to urge the spindle to return to the home position. Rotation of the spindle from the home position in the second rotational direction causes pivoting of the second leg while the first leg remains stationary, thereby causing the clock spring to urge the spindle to return to the home position.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a modular, self-contained spring cage comprising a housing and a clock spring mounted in the housing, wherein the clock spring comprises a first leg and a second leg;
and
a spindle extending through the modular, self-contained spring cage, wherein the spindle is rotatable from a home position about a longitudinal axis in each of a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction;
wherein rotation of the spindle from the home position in the first rotational direction causes pivoting of the first leg while the second leg remains stationary, thereby deforming the clock spring such that the clock spring exerts a first biasing force urging the spindle to return to the home position;
wherein rotation of the spindle from the home position in the second rotational direction causes pivoting of the second leg while the first leg remains stationary, thereby deforming the clock spring such that the clock spring exerts a second biasing force urging the spindle to return to the home position;
and
wherein the clock spring further comprises a spiral-wound body portion that is wound in a spiral about the longitudinal axis.

4 more elements

A modular, self-contained spring cage operable to bias a spindle toward a home position in each of a first rotational direction about a rotational axis and a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, the modular, self-contained spring cage comprising:

a housing;
at least one hub rotatably mounted in the housing, wherein each hub of the at least one hub comprises an opening operable to receive the spindle;
and
a clock spring engaged with the at least one hub, the clock spring including a body portion that is wound in a spiral about the rotational axis, and wherein the clock spring comprises a first leg and a second leg;
wherein rotation of the spindle from the home position in the first rotational direction causes pivoting of the first leg while the second leg remains stationary and thereby deforming the clock spring, wherein the clock spring is configured to exert a first return torque on the spindle in response to rotation of the spindle from the home position in the first rotational direction;
wherein rotation of the spindle from the home position in the second rotational direction causes pivoting of the second leg while the first leg remains stationary and thereby deforming the clock spring, wherein the clock spring is configured to exert a second return torque on the spindle in response to rotation of the spindle from the home position in the second rotational direction;
wherein the first return torque is in the second rotational direction and urges the spindle to return to the home position;
and
wherein the second return torque is in the first rotational direction and urges the spindle to return to the home position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modular bidirectional spring cage

Life of this patent

Modular bidirectional spring cage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21