A hydraulically damped actuator

A hydraulically damped actuator for closing a closure system having a first member and a second member that are hingedly connected to each other, the actuator comprising:

• a tubular cylinder barrel having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;
• an energy storing mechanism inside the tubular cylinder barrel configured for storing energy when said closure system is being opened and for restoring said energy to effect closure of said closure system;
• a hydraulic damping mechanism inside the tubular cylinder barrel configured for damping a closing movement of said closure system, the damping mechanism comprising a piston configured to be slidable within said tubular cylinder barrel between two extreme positions in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• a shaft that is rotatable with respect to said tubular cylinder barrel, said shaft having a first extremity, a second extremity, and a rotation axis that substantially coincides with said longitudinal axis, the shaft being configured for operatively coupling the energy storing mechanism and the damping mechanism;
• and
• a mechanical connector configured for operatively coupling the tubular cylinder barrel to said second member,
• wherein the shaft extends at least from said first end to said second end through the tubular cylinder barrel,
• the shaft being configured to be irrotatably fixed at its first and its second extremity to the first member of the closure system with its longitudinal axis in a first orientation for a right-handed closure system and in a second orientation, opposite to the first orientation, for a left-handed closure system, and
• the mechanical connector being configured to be irrotatably fixed to said tubular cylinder barrel.

A hydraulically damped actuator for closing a closure system having a first member and a second member that are hingedly connected to each other, the actuator comprising:

• a tubular cylinder barrel having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;
• an energy storing mechanism inside the tubular cylinder barrel configured for storing energy when said closure system is being opened and for restoring said energy to effect closure of said closure system;
• a hydraulic damping mechanism inside the tubular cylinder barrel configured for damping a closing movement of said closure system, the damping mechanism comprising a piston configured to be slidable within said tubular cylinder barrel between two extreme positions in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• a shaft that is rotatable with respect to said tubular cylinder barrel, said shaft having a first extremity, a second extremity, and a rotation axis that substantially coincides with said longitudinal axis, the shaft being configured for operatively coupling the energy storing mechanism and the damping mechanism;
• and
• a mechanical connector configured for operatively coupling the shaft to said second member,
• wherein said tubular cylinder barrel has a first tubular part and a second tubular part separated by an inner collar on the tubular cylinder barrel, the energy storing mechanism being located in said first tubular part and the damping mechanism being located in said second tubular part.

The actuator according to claim 47,

• the damping mechanism comprising:
• a closed cylinder cavity which is filled with a volume of hydraulic fluid;
• said piston which is disposed within the closed cylinder cavity so as to divide the closed cylinder cavity into a high pressure compartment and a low pressure compartment, the piston being operatively coupled to said shaft to be slidable between said two extreme positions, the shaft extending preferably through said piston, in particular through the centre thereof;
• a motion converting mechanism to convert a relative rotational motion of the shaft with respect to the tubular cylinder barrel into a sliding motion of the piston;
• a one-way valve allowing fluid flow from the low pressure compartment to the high pressure compartment when said closure system is being opened;
• and
• at least one restricted fluid passage between the high pressure compartment and the low pressure compartment;
• the actuator comprising at least one adjustable valve to regulate a flow of hydraulic fluid through said at least one restricted fluid passage, and
• said at least one restricted fluid passage comprising:
• a first section that is formed in the tubular cylinder barrel and extends substantially in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a second section that is formed in said collar and extends substantially in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, said at least one adjustable valve being arranged in said second section.

The actuator according to claim 14, wherein the actuator comprises:

• a first connection member irrotatably fixed to said first extremity, in particular by a first member pin that is placed through the shaft and through the first connection member in a direction that is transverse to said longitudinal axis, said first connection member forming said first transverse surface, the inner race of the first roller bearing preferably radially engaging said first connection member;
• and
• a second connection member irrotatably fixed to said second extremity, in particular by a second member pin that is placed through the shaft and through the second connection member in a direction that is transverse to said longitudinal axis, the second member pin preferably being offset with respect to the rotation axis of the shaft, said second connection member forming said third transverse surface, the inner race of the second roller bearing preferably radially engaging said second connection member, and
• in that the mechanical connector is configured to be affixed to said first connection member when the tubular cylinder barrel is in said first orientation and to said second connection member when the tubular cylinder barrel is in said second orientation.