Self-centering mechanical strut
AssigneeBarnes Group Inc.
InventorsJack W. Adoline, Mark R. Thomas, Bruce J. Fondren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-centering mechanical strut has first and second housing members. The second housing member telescopically receives the first housing member. Spring assemblies are mounted within each of the housing members. The spring assembly in the first tube is compressed when the first housing is pushed into the second housing. The spring assembly in the second tube is compressed when the first housing is pulled out of the second housing. Each housing is spring-biased to return to its respective neutral position.
Claims33
A self-centering mechanical strut, comprising:
- a first housing member having a first end and a second end;
- a second housing member having a first end and a second end, said second housing member telescopically receives said first housing member;
- a first spring assembly mounted within said first housing member;
- a second spring assembly mounted within said second housing member;
- a first guide plug having a first portion extending into said second end of said first housing member and being fixedly secured thereto, said first guide plug having a second portion extending from said first portion into said second housing member, wherein said first spring assembly contacts said first portion of said first guide plug and said second spring assembly contacts said second portion of said first guide plug;
- and,
- a second guide plug extending into said first end of said second housing member, said second guide plug having an opening for receiving said first housing member, wherein when said first housing member is pulled outwardly through said opening of said second guide plug, said second spring assembly is compressed by said second portion of said first guide plug, and said first spring assembly is extended.
A self-centering strut, comprising:
- a first tube housing a first spring assembly;
- a second tube housing a second spring assembly and which telescopically receives said first tube;
- said first tube comprises a first plug mounted adjacent a second end of said first spring assembly, wherein said first plug extends from an end of said first tube and substantially contacts an inner wall of said second tube;
- said second tube comprises a second plug mounted adjacent a first end of said second spring assembly and a third plug mounted adjacent a second end of said second spring assembly, wherein when said first tube is pushed into said second tube, said first spring assembly is compressed by said first plug of said first tube as said first plug comes into contact with said third plug and said second spring assembly is extended between said second and third plugs.
A self-centering strut, comprising:
- a first tube housing a first spring assembly;
- a second tube housing a second spring assembly and which telescopically receives said first tube;
- said first tube comprises a first guide member mounted adjacent one end of said first tube;
- said second tube comprises a second guide member mounted adjacent one end of said second tube and a third guide member mounted adjacent an opposite end of said second tube, wherein said first tube has a fourth guide member mounted adjacent an opposite end of said first tube, wherein when said first tube is pulled outwardly, said first spring assembly is extended between said first guide member and said fourth guide member, and said second spring assembly is compressed between said second guide member and said third guide member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.