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US 12,473,768 B2Granted
Systems and devices for motion control
AssigneeMoshun, LLC
InventorsTimothy John Boundy, Richard Michael Lang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and devices to control rotational and/or arcuate motion are provided herein. In some examples, a hinge system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door. In some examples, a hinge system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door by employing a shear thickening fluid. In some examples, a door closure system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door by employing two opposing springs.
Claims20
A device for controlling the closing of a door, comprising:
- a housing that is configured to be installed in a door jamb or door edge, the housing comprising:
- a chamber filled at least in part with a shear thickening fluid that is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates, wherein the second range of shear rates are greater than the first range of shear rates;
- and
- a piston assembly connected to a cap, the piston assembly including a piston head and a rebound shim connected to the piston head by a plug, wherein the rebound shim can slide along the plug between the piston head and a shoulder of the plug, the piston assembly configured to exert pressure against the shear thickening fluid in response to a force applied to the cap such that motion of the door transitions from a first velocity to a second velocity when the shear thickening fluid correspondingly responds to transitioning from the first range of shear rates to the second range of shear rates, wherein the second velocity is less than the first velocity,
- wherein one or more channels are positioned along a length of the chamber, the channels configured to mate with one or more extensions on the piston assembly to fix a radial alignment of the piston assembly relative to the chamber during movement.
2 more elements
A device for controlling the closing of a door, comprising:
- a housing that is configured to be installed in a door jamb or door edge, the housing comprising:
- a chamber filled at least in part with a shear thickening fluid that is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates, wherein the second range of shear rates are greater than the first range of shear rates;
- a piston assembly connected to a cap, the piston assembly configured to exert pressure against the shear thickening fluid in response to a force applied to the cap such that motion of the door transitions from a first velocity to a second velocity when the STF correspondingly responds to transitioning from the first range of shear rates to the second range of shear rates, wherein the second velocity is less than the first velocity,
- wherein one or more channels are positioned along a length of the chamber, the channels configured to mate with one or more extensions on the piston assembly to fix a radial alignment of the piston assembly relative to the chamber during movement;
- and
- a plunger bushing having one or more crevices arranged at an interface between the plunger bushing and the housing, the one or more crevices to accept an amount of shear thickening fluid.
3 more elements
A device for controlling the closing of a door, comprising:
- a housing that is configured to be installed in a door jamb or door edge, the housing comprising:
- a chamber filled at least in part with a shear thickening fluid that is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates, wherein the second range of shear rates are greater than the first range of shear rates;
- a piston assembly connected to a cap, the piston assembly configured to exert pressure against the shear thickening fluid in response to a force applied to the cap such that motion of the door transitions from a first velocity to a second velocity when the STF correspondingly responds to transitioning from the first range of shear rates to the second range of shear rates, wherein the second velocity is less than the first velocity,
- wherein one or more channels are positioned along a length of the chamber, the channels configured to mate with one or more extensions on the piston assembly to fix a radial alignment of the piston assembly relative to the chamber during movement;
- and
- an end portion opposite the cap that is removable from the housing and that receives the piston assembly.
3 more elements
A device for controlling the closing of a door, comprising:
- a housing that is configured to be installed in a door jamb or door edge, the housing comprising:
- a chamber filled at least in part with a shear thickening fluid that is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates, wherein the second range of shear rates are greater than the first range of shear rates;
- a piston assembly connected to a cap, the piston assembly comprising
- a piston with an angled portion configured to channel shear thickening fluid into one or more slots of the piston;
- and
- a shim arranged within the angled portion, wherein the shim includes one or more slots, wherein rotation of the shim to a first position substantially aligns the one or more slots of the shim with the one or more slots of the of the piston, and rotation of the rebound shim to a second position substantially misaligns the one or more slots of the shim with the one or more slots of the of the piston,
- wherein the piston assembly is configured to exert pressure against the shear thickening fluid in response to a force applied to the cap such that motion of the door transitions from a first velocity to a second velocity when the STF correspondingly responds to transitioning from the first range of shear rates to the second range of shear rates, wherein the second velocity is less than the first velocity, and
- wherein one or more channels are positioned along a length of the chamber, the channels configured to mate with one or more extensions on the piston assembly to fix a radial alignment of the piston assembly relative to the chamber during movement;
- and
- an end portion opposite the cap that is removable from the housing and that receives the piston assembly, the end portion including a void with one or more angled surfaces to mate with the angled portion of the piston.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.