Ultrasonic welded hinge damper
AssigneeIllnois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJamison J. Anton, Kenneth R. Levey, Steven L. Bivens, David A. Doornbos, Joseph J. Bella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damper includes a housing, a cover, a rotor and a valve relatively rotatable with respect to the rotor. When rotated in one direction, a space between the valve and the rotor is opened to increase damper fluid flow and reduce damper resistance. When rotated in an opposite direction, the space between the valve and the rotor is closed to decrease damper fluid flow and increase damper resistance. A shaped flange on the rotor provides a changing space between the rotor and ribs in the housing when the rotor is rotated. The cover is self-centering on the housing.
Claims21
A viscous damper comprising:
- first and second components defining an enclosed chamber for holding damping fluid;
- a rotor having a first portion rotationally disposed in said chamber and a second portion extending outwardly from said chamber;
- a valve disposed in said chamber for relative rotation with respect to said rotor;
- and
- said rotor and said valve each having at least one valve face complementary to each other, said faces adapted for engaging each other and substantially closing a space therebetween when said rotor is rotated in a first direction and for relative rotation with respect to each other for opening a space therebetween when said rotor is rotated in a second direction.
A damper comprising:
- a housing having an opening;
- a cover over said opening;
- a rotor rotatably disposed in said housing, said rotor extending outwardly of said housing through said cover;
- a seal between said cover and said rotor;
- and
- a v-shaped channel in one of said housing and said cover and a ring in the other of said housing and said cover, said channel having walls defining said channel, and said ring being rectangular in cross-section and including edges received against said walls.
A method for assembling a damper comprising steps of:
- providing a damper housing defining a chamber with an opening, the housing defining surface at an end thereof;
- providing a cover for the opening, the cover having an annular surface;
- providing a rotor having a first portion for rotation in the chamber and a second portion for extending outwardly of the housing;
- providing a fluid seal on the rotor;
- placing the first portion of the rotor in the chamber;
- sliding the cover onto the second portion of the rotor and positioning the cover against the seal and against the housing;
- centering the annular surface of the cover on the end surface of the housing;
- and
- welding the cover to the housing along at least one continuous bead defined at the contact between the annular surface of the cover and the end surface of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.