Spring loading systems
AssigneeFerranti Limited
InventorDavid Allan Wright
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spring loading system achieves substantially zero-rate by winding an unstressed, say flat, spring strip onto a former of constant curvature so as to pass from the unstressed state through a region of predetermined shape to conform with the former. The net energy expended/released in winding/unwinding the strip is directly related to the amount of strip wound onto/off the former, whatever the total length of strip wound. The system is coupled to a driven member by an inextensible string wound on the former in opposition to the spring which is held in tension by the torque exerted on the former by the wound spring.
Claims12
A spring loading system comprising a former surface of substantially constant curvature, a spring strip of substantially uniform cross section adapted to be wound from a naturally unstressed state to conform closely with the surface of the former in a stressed state, coupling means connectd to a driven member to couple movements of the member with winding or unwinding of the strip, and means for ensuring that the strip conforms substantially to a predetermined shape for a prescribed distance away from its point of contact with the former surface, or with itself if spiral wound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.