High force locking spring
AssigneeBarnes Group Inc.
InventorsJack W. Adoline, Bruce J. Fondren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring system for relatively displacing elements attached to end mounts of the spring system. The spring system includes a housing having an axis, an internal chamber, and axially opposite bottom and top ends, a spring rod coaxial with the axis and positioned within the internal chamber and having an inner end in the housing and an outer end axially outwardly of the top end. A guide member is provided on the inner end of the rod member to support the rod member for reciprocation axially of the housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto. A locking arrangement is provided to engage the spring rod and inhibit axial movement of the spring rod.
Claims31
A spring system comprising a housing having an axis and an internal chamber that includes axially opposite bottom and top ends, a spring rod coaxial with said axis and at least partially positioned within said internal chamber and having a lower end positioned in said internal chamber and an upper end axially positioned outwardly of said top end, a guide member positioned in said internal chamber and secured to said spring rod so as to at least partially support said spring rod for reciprocation axially in said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto, and a locking arrangement designed to releasably lock said spring rod to inhibit or prevent axial movement of said spring rod, at least a portion of said locking arrangement positioned outwardly of said top end of said housing, said locking arrangement including a locking sleeve that comprises a one piece upper section, a lower section and a cavity axially positioned in said upper and lower sections, said cavity of said locking sleeve having a shape and size that enables at least a portion of said spring rod to move in said lower section of said locking sleeve, said lower section of said locking sleeve including a plurality of movable legs designed to movably engage at least a portion of said spring rod to at least partially inhibit or prevent axial movement of said spring rod.
A method of releasably locking a spring rod of a spring system comprising:
- providing a housing having a longitudinal axis and an internal chamber that includes axially opposite bottom and top ends;
- providing a spring rod coaxial that is positioned at least partially in said internal chamber of said housing, said spring rod having a lower end positioned in said internal chamber and an upper end positioned outwardly of said top end;
- providing a guide member positioned in said internal chamber of said housing and secured to said spring rod, said guide member supporting said rod member for reciprocation axially in said housing between a retracted and an extended position relative thereto;
- providing a locking arrangement that is at least partially secured to said housing, said locking arrangement designed to engage said spring rod to inhibit axial movement of said spring rod, said locking arrangement including a locking sleeve that comprises a one piece upper section, a lower section, a cavity axially positioned in said upper and lower sections and a locking nut, said cavity of said locking sleeve having a shape and size that enables at least a portion of said spring rod to move in said lower section of said locking sleeve, said lower section of said locking sleeve including a plurality of movable legs designed to movably engage at least a portion of said spring rod and to at least partially inhibit or prevent axial movement of said spring rod, said locking nut designed to cause said locking sleeve to move axially along said axis of said housing;
- causing axial movement of said locking sleeve in a direction outwardly from said top end of said housing by rotating said locking nut to thereby cause a plurality of said moveable legs of said locking sleeve to move toward said spring rod and ultimately to at least partially inhibit or prevent axial movement of said spring rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.