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.