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US 8,292,274 B2Granted
Dampened compression spring rod
AssigneeBarnes Group Inc.
InventorsJack W. Adoline, Thomas J. Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring system for relatively displacing elements attached to end mounts of the rod assembly comprises a housing having a rod member movable between extended and retracted positions relative thereto, and a first compression spring in the housing surrounded by a second compression spring for biasing the rod member to one of an extended or retracted position relative to the housing. The two springs are oppositely wound whereby, from a compressed condition, the spring rod exerts an expansion force which increases at a linear rate. The spring system includes a valve arrangement to control the rate at which the spring rod moves from a retracted position to an extended position.
Claims95
A spring system comprising a housing having an axis, an internal chamber, and axially opposite bottom and top ends;
- a rod member coaxial with said axis and positioned within said internal chamber and having an inner end in said housing and an outer end axially outwardly of said top end of said housing;
- a guide member on said inner end of said rod member supporting said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto;
- first and second compression springs each extending between said guide member and the bottom end of said housing;
- and top and bottom bushings, said top bushing positioned at least closely adjacent to said top end of said housing and said bottom bushing positioned at least closely adjacent to said bottom end of said housing;
- said top bushing including an opening to enable a portion of said rod member to pass therethrough and to support said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto, said top bushing including a sealing arrangement positioned at least closely adjacent to a bottom of said top bushing to inhibit fluid from entering into and escaping from said internal chamber between said top bushing and said top end of said housing, said first and second springs being coaxial with one another and with said axis, at least one of said springs at least partially applying a force on said guide member as said rod member moves between fully retracted and fully extended positions, said guide member designed to move into engagement with or move to a position closely adjacent to said top bushing when said rod member moves to a fully extended position, at least one of said springs having a free length that is at least a majority length of said internal chamber, both of said springs contacting said bottom bushing when said rod member in said fully retracted position, said guide member dividing said internal chamber into at least two sub-chambers, said guide member including a first passageway that at least partially regulates fluid flow between said at least two sub-chambers during said reciprocation of said rod member, said first passageway fully spaced from an outer edge of said guide member and passing fully through said guide member, said outer end of said rod member including a mounting element.
2 more elements
The spring system as defined in 49, wherein a direction of winding of said first and third compression springs is opposite to a direction of winding of said second compression spring.
A method of controlling the rate of extension and retraction of a spring rod of a spring system comprising:
- providing a housing having a longitudinal axis, an internal chamber, and axially opposite bottom and top ends, said spring rod coaxial with said axis and positioned within said internal chamber, said spring rod having an inner end in said housing and an outer end axially outwardly of said top end of said housing, said outer end of said spring rod including a mounting element;
- providing a guide member positioned on said inner end of said spring rod, said guide member supporting said spring rod for reciprocation axially in said housing between a fully retracted and a fully extended position relative thereto, said guide member dividing said internal chamber into at least upper and lower sub-chambers;
- providing first and second compression springs each extending between said guide member and the bottom opposite end of said housing, said first and second springs being coaxial with one another and with said axis, at least one of said springs at least partially applying a force on said guide member as said rod member moves between fully retracted and fully extended positions, at least one of said springs having a free length that is at least a majority length of said internal chamber, both of said springs designed to contact said bottom bushing when said rod member in said fully retracted position;
- providing top and bottom bushings, said top bushing positioned at least closely adjacent to said top end of said housing and said bottom bushing positioned at least closely adjacent to said bottom end of said housing;
- said top bushing including an opening to enable a portion of said rod member to pass therethrough and to support said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto, said top bushing including a sealing arrangement positioned at least closely adjacent to a bottom of said top bushing to inhibit fluid from entering into and escaping from said internal chamber between said top bushing and said top end of said housing, said guide member designed to move into engagement with or move to a position closely adjacent to said top bushing when said rod member moves to a fully extended position;
- at least partially controlling the rate of retraction of said spring rod by selecting the spring rate of at least one of said compression springs;
- and,
- at least partially controlling the rate of extension of said spring rod by at least partially regulating a fluid flow rate between said sub-chambers, said step of at least partially controlling the rate of extension includes providing a first fluid passageway that passes fully through said guide member, said first passageway fully spaced from an outer edge of said guide member.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.