Abstract: A temperature compensating valve assembly is provided that includes a bimetallic spring that deforms from a closed position to an open position in response to temperature, and a single-piece valve body having an aperture therethrough and having an open end for receiving the bimetallic spring. The single-piece valve body includes integral retainers for retaining the bimetallic spring in the open end in a location such that the aperture is blocked by the bimetallic spring when in the closed position and is not blocked by the bimetallic spring when in the open position.

Abstract: A damper includes a housing with at least one axially offset longitudinally extending guide channel for receiving a plunger of a piston assembly. The plunger is axially offset from a control rod extending through the housing and the piston assembly. A coil spring surrounds the housing and extends between a hemispherical cap of the housing and the piston. The plunger includes a friction pad which engages the guide channel of the housing to provide frictional inter-engagement for the damper. In one embodiment, the housing includes a pair of axially offset guide channels and the piston assembly includes a pair of axially offset plungers which extend within a pair of guides of the housing. One of the plungers includes a linear sensor which provides signal information for use by a washer control circuit.

Abstract: A coil spring integrally includes opposed extending ends to define a control rod for a damper. Thus, the spring and control rod are integrated into a one-piece structure. A friction rod damper includes a coil spring having a longitudinal axis, with the spring including a body and first and second extending ends which define a control rod for the damper. The extending ends terminate in attachments, and a damper member extends through the spring and having a first end secured to the first extending end of the spring in spaced relationship to the associated attachment. The damper member includes a second end with a container surrounding the second end of the spring in spaced relationship to the associated attachment. The container includes a damping element engaging the control rod to allow the spring to expand and contract under the damping action of the damping element.

Abstract: A damper includes a housing with at least one axially offset longitudinally extending guide channel for receiving a plunger of a piston assembly. The plunger is axially offset from a control rod extending through the housing and the piston assembly. A coil spring surrounds the housing and extends between a hemispherical cap of the housing and the piston. The plunger includes a friction pad which engages the guide channel of the housing to provide frictional inter-engagement for the damper. In one embodiment, the housing includes a pair of axially offset guide channels and the piston assembly includes a pair of axially offset plungers which extend within a pair of guides of the housing. One of the plungers includes a linear sensor which provides signal information for use by a washer control circuit.

Abstract: A damper includes a housing having a friction element receiving chamber for receiving a planar friction element, such as foam pads. The foam is injected with grease. Two rectangular greased foam pads are inserted into an open housing within a pad-receiving recess in the housing. A cap is then assembled onto the housing. The housing-foam-cap subassembly is next assembled onto a friction rod with a spring coaxially surrounding the friction rod, having one end abutting the housing and the other end abutting a base at the lower end of the friction rod.

Abstract: A spool-shaped damper piston which is slideably mounted on a damper rod and has an external foam friction element engaging the inner surface of the cylindrical damper body. A pair of axially movable limiting disks are spaced from the spool-shaped damper a predetermined distance to allow movement of the damper rod a predetermined amount before the spool-shaped damper is engaged. In one embodiment, the disks include axially extending tabs which extend through slots in the ends of the spool and selectively engage the foam friction element when the motion of the damping rod exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment of the invention, the limiting disks include spring fingers extending between the disks and the spool ends to cushion the initial engagement between the disks and the spool as the free space threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A spool-shaped damper piston which is slideably mounted on a damper rod and has an external foam friction element engaging the inner surface of the cylindrical damper body. A pair of axially movable limiting disks are spaced from the spool-shaped damper a predetermined distance to allow movement of the damper rod a predetermined amount before the spool-shaped damper is engaged. In one embodiment, the disks include axially extending tabs which extend through slots in the ends of the spool and selectively engage the foam friction element when the motion of the damping rod exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment of the invention, the limiting disks include spring fingers extending between the disks and the spool ends to cushion the initial engagement between the disks and the spool as the free space threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A damper spring strut has a cylindrical steel tube with a polymeric spool mounted therein for supporting an annular foam polymeric friction element which is coupled to a support rod. A compression spring extends between an end block of the cylinder to bias the spool toward one end of the cylinder. The support rod coupled to the spool extends through an aperture in an end cap of the cylinder for attachment to an object to be supported, such as a washer drum.