Spring And Flexible Link Patents (Class 16/61)
  • Patent number: 10578182
    Abstract: Housing has first and second parallel tubular chambers. The first chamber contains a gas spring whose output shaft connects to a first piston of area A1. The second chamber contains a second piston of area A2<A1. Piston A2 connects to the device's output shaft. The housing has a valve block with an internal port in fluid communication with the two chambers between the first and second pistons. The valve block contains an incompressible fluid. A poppet valve is in the internal port. The poppet includes a flow restricting bore therethrough. A force on the output shaft causes the fluid to force open the poppet and displace the piston, A1, storing energy in the gas spring. Upon removal of the force on the device's output shaft, the gas spring pushes the fluid to close the poppet. Hence, only a low volume flow through the bore in the poppet is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: Avraham Y. Levi
  • Patent number: 9145726
    Abstract: A concealed door closer includes a housing, an input shaft and an output shaft, the input shaft being connected to a motor, wherein a joining member is arranged between the input shaft and the output shaft, and two ends of the joining member are respectively provided with an upper connection piece and a lower connection piece, which are connected to a roller via vertical rotation shaft, and wherein both the input shaft and the output shaft are provided with a left connection piece and a right connection piece, which are horizontally connected to the roller via a horizontal rotation shaft. The components in the door closer have a simple structure and may be easily processed and assembled. The size of the joint after assembly is equivalent to that of the joining member, so the overall size is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Oubao Security Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haojie Li, Zhenfeng Fu, Guowei Jiang, Zhenbo Wu, Hongbo Liu, Weibin Lan, Chenxi Zhu, Jun Zhang, Maochen Zhang
  • Patent number: 9009918
    Abstract: A carriage, which serves for holding and shifting a separating element in a running direction along a rail, includes a carriage body that holds at least one running element and a mounting body that is slidably connected to the carriage body and is connectable to the separating element. A coupling member includes a first and second coupling element connected via a bridge member, wherein the first coupling element is slidably held in the carriage body and the second is slidably held in the mounting body. The bridge member has a first coupling surface inclined relative to the running direction which supports the carriage body or the mounting body, so that with a movement of the coupling member the carriage and mounting bodies are shifted relative to one another. The shifting device includes two inventive carriages that are guided in a rail and that are connected to a separating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hawa AG
    Inventors: Gregor Haab, Peter Ettmüller, Myrta Kappeler, Felix Meili
  • Patent number: 8793839
    Abstract: Provided is a retracting device in which dampers have improved durability and strokes of operation of the dampers are not reduced. A first slider 14-1 for assisting closing, a second slider 14-2 for assisting opening, and a damper base 22 are provided in an elongating base 12 to be slidable in a longitudinal direction of the base 12. The damper base 22 is disposed between the first slider 14-1 and the second slider 14-2. A first damper 24 is provided over between the first slider 14-1 and the damper base 22 and a second damper 25 is provided over between the second slider 14-2 and the damper base 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junpei Iwaki
  • Patent number: 8595898
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-closing sliding door assembly operable to allow manual opening and controlled automatic closing of a sliding door. The door assembly comprises storage spools for storing biasing members biased in a wound position around the storage spools. The door assembly further comprises a main spool for winding a cable and the biasing members. When the door is moved towards an open position, the cable is unwound from the main spool, causing the spool to rotate in a first direction. When the main spool is rotated in the first direction, the biasing members are wound onto the main spool and store energy operable to generate a force to cause the main spool to rotate in a second direction. When the door is released, the energy stored in the biasing members rotates the main spool in the second direction, thereby winding the door cable and providing a sufficient force to move the door towards the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventor: Gary R. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120144623
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic door closer including: a main housing having the shape of a cylinder; a damper housing adapted to divide the interior of the main housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and having oil charged thereinto and a fixed vane formed at one side of the inner peripheral surface thereof in such a manner as to be projected toward the center thereof; a cover fixedly coupled to the upper periphery of the main housing; an activating shaft having one end extended to the outside through the cover in such a manner as to be rotatably supported and the other end rotatably supported against the bottom surface of the main housing through the damper housing; a rotary vane formed integrally to the outer periphery of the activating shaft so as to divide the interior of the damper housing into first and second chambers, together with the fixed vane; a return spring adapted to provide a returning force of returning the activating shaft to an initial setting position at the time
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Saeng Yoon Woo
  • Patent number: 7571877
    Abstract: An operation mechanism adapted for activating a deceleration device for decelerating an opening movement of a door. The operation mechanism features a first mode of operation and an second operation mode. In the first mode of operation the operation mechanism allows free rotation of the door, when the operation mechanism is loaded by an impulse of the door below a predetermined threshold value. In the second mode of operation when the operation mechanism is loaded by an impulse of the door above the predetermined threshold value the operation mechanism decelerates free rotation of the door by connecting the door to the deceleration device which will then decelerate the acceleration of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Clive French, Nick Chignell-Stapleton
  • Patent number: 7356878
    Abstract: A door closer includes an anchor assembly for mounting on a door frame, an actuator assembly for mounting within the thickness of a door which is hinged for movement between open and closed positions, an operating member coupled by a linkage to the anchor assembly and mounted for a range of movements between a retracted position and an extended position, a resilient driving apparatus arranged to exert a driving force on the operating member, a damper mechanism operatively connected to the operating member so as to damp movement of the operating member at least in a direction towards the retracted position, and a resilient thrust device arranged to exert an increased driving force on the operating member over a defined part of its range of movement as the operating member approaches the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Samuel Heath & Sons PLC
    Inventor: Keith Foster
  • Patent number: 6886217
    Abstract: A door closer having a pair of main driving springs, a fluid-filled damper arrangement and a pair of thrust springs is provided, the thrust springs coming into effect during the latter part of a door closing operation, so as to provide an augmented closing force at that point. The position at which the augmented closing force is applied is variable, with a cam mechanism being used to control application of the increased closing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Samuel Heath & Sons PLC
    Inventor: Keith Foster
  • Patent number: 6735820
    Abstract: An automatic door closer for a sliding door. The closer has a reel with a cable extending around a pulley on the end of the rod of a return mechanism. In preferred embodiments, the return mechanism is an oil dammed gas spring or a magnetic spring. A spool rotates on a common shaft with the reel and is wound with a flat tape which is attached to the door frame. The reel, spool, return mechanism and cable are attached to the door so that application of an opening force will cause the cylinder rod to retract. Upon release, the stored energy will cause the rod to extend, rotating the reel and spool to wind the tape onto the spool applying a controlled rate closing force. The spool has a core with a greater diameter than the core of the reel so a mechanical advantage exists between the spool and reel and friction is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Roltec Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Marvin Teutsch
  • Patent number: 6625847
    Abstract: A door closer comprises an actuator assembly (20) adapted for fitting within the thickness of a door and an anchor member (10) adapted for fitting in a door frame in opposed relation to said edge face of the door. An operating member (30) is driven by spring means (45) and coupled to said anchor member (10) to draw the door towards the door frame. An adjustable fluid-filled damper (50) is coupled to said operating member (30) and arranged to provide variable regulation the rate of movement of the operating member under the force of said spring means (45). Resilient thrust means (85) are arranged to exert an increased driving force of said operating member (30) and adjustable control means (100) are provided whereby said thrust means (85) is operative to augment the driving force to said operating member (30) over a defined but variable part of said range of movement corresponding to movement of the door over the final part of its movement into its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Samuel Heath & Sons PLC
    Inventor: Barrie Jones
  • Patent number: 6442796
    Abstract: An air damper consists of a tubular cylinder with opposite ends, a piston movable in the cylinder, a first coil spring for resiliently biasing the piston in the direction of one end of the cylinder, a string for transferring dampening effect produced by a motion of the piston to an openable object, a shaft with a flange slidably fitted into the piston and a second coil spring interposed between the flange of the shaft and the piston inside the first coil spring. The second coil spring exerts a resilient biasing force at later stages of the motion of the piston in the direction of the other end of the tubular cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventors: Oomi Arisaka, Seiji Takasugi, Masato Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6240598
    Abstract: A control mechanism for use with a door closer, comprises a shaft (10), angularly movable between a normal position and a second position, the shaft (10) having a first portion (21a) and a second portion (21b), a brush spring (35) attached to the shaft first portion (21a) to return the shaft to its normal position, and a damping mechanism (36, 38) attached to the shaft second portion (21b) to resist shaft movement to its normal position. The damping mechanism includes a coiled strap-like member (36) keyed to the shaft and contained in a damping medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Architectural Hardware Group Limited
    Inventor: David Moore
  • Patent number: 5722114
    Abstract: Invention is directed to a compression spring mechanism, particularly in combination with a fencing system which incorporates a swinging gate. The mechanism, intended to automatically close a released and opened gate, comprises a cylindrical tube, mounted within the gate, a plurality of compression springs aligned end-to-end within the tube, and a spring housing secured to one end of the tube for receiving one of the compression springs. A cable, of predetermined length, passes through the housing and aligned springs and is secured to the spring end most remote from the spring housing. The other end of the cable is secured to a stationary member, such as a post about which the gate pivots. As the gate is opened, the springs are further compressed storing sufficient energy to allow closure of the gate when released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Quality Fencing & Supply Co.
    Inventors: John K. Lapp, Jr., Christian A. Stoltzfus, Joseph P. Wachter
  • Patent number: 5706551
    Abstract: A door closer for hingedly mounted doors comprises an actuator adapted for fitting within the thickness of a door and an anchor member adapted for fitting in a door frame such that when installed the closer acts to draw the door into a position of closure at a rate controlled by a fluid-filled damper which comprises a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid, a piston slidable longitudinally of said cylinder and dividing the cylinder into two chambers and a flow restriction assembly associated with the passageway incorporated in said piston to limit the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid from one chamber to the other when the piston is moving in the door-closing direction. The flow restriction assembly defines a flow-restricting passageway including a slot and to enable to flow restriction imposed on the hydraulic fluid to be adjusted when the door closer is installed and in use, the effective length of the slot is variable by relative positional adjustment of two elements by which the slot is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Samuel Heath & Sons PLC
    Inventors: Roger Henry Jeynes, John Humpherson
  • Patent number: 5432977
    Abstract: The door closer is of the kind which acts, for example between a door hinge stile and a hinge jamb and has a body for mounting usually in the stile, from which body a spring-biased tension member extends correspondingly for anchoring to an anchoring point (for example in the jamb), wherein a hydraulic cylinder-piston damper is interposed between the tension member and a biasing spring therefor, the damper being adapted to allow fluid in use to flow restrictedly past the piston when the tension member (12) is moved in door-closing and door-opening directions; characterized in that the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder piston damper is formed of a plastics material, and the cylinder is resiliently expansible in response to an increase in pressure therein such that the clearance between the piston and cylinder is increased to permit increased flow of fluid around the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Reilor Limited
    Inventors: Alister P. Reid, John Kopec, Christopher M. Cornwell, Christopher Sumner
  • Patent number: 5016317
    Abstract: An automatic door closer includes: a casing having a primary and a secondary cylinder juxtapositionally formed in the casing for resiliently holding two pistons in the two cylinders filled with a hydraulic oil and partitioned with a wall formed with a main hole and a throttling hole for communicating the two cylinders, wherein each piston is normally urged by a tensioning spring towards the two holes in the casing, whereby upon an opening of the door, an upper piston is retracted to compress an upper spring in the primary cylinder to suck oil from the secondary cylinder to the primary cylinder and also to extend the lower piston and tension the lower spring for accelerating a door opening operation and saving the door-opening force; and a positioning device provided for temporarily keeping the door at its opened state by locking a positioning pin in a recess formed in the upper piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Sheng-Hu Hung
  • Patent number: 4991256
    Abstract: In a door closer comprising spring means (17) within a housing (10) adapted for mounting with the thickness of the door (12) and an anchor member (30) adapted for mounting on a door frame (32), a tension member (20) whereby the spring means draws the anchor member towards the housing to effect door closure includes at least an outer end portion in the form of a cable (21) at its free end a domed abutment member (22) which is engaged behind the anchor member (30) and at a position spaced from the abutment member a collar (25) of non-round external shape whereby firstly a spacer member (40) can be interposed between the collar (25) and the housing (10) to facilitate the mounting of the closer, and secondly by engagement of the collar (25) by means of a spanner (50) the capable can be rotated to adjust the spring force of the closer through axial movement of a member (18) which is acted on by the spring ( 15) relative to a threaded member (19) at the inner end of the tension member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Samuel Heath & Sons
    Inventors: Roger H. Jeynes, John W. Sewell
  • Patent number: 4330182
    Abstract: Photovoltaic junctions useful for solar energy conversion and for electrophotographic image formation are fabricated from a layer of amorphous boron in contact with a layer of amorphous silicon. The amorphous boron is preferably deposited at a reduced temperature on the amorphous silicon; or, alternatively, the amorphous silicon is deposited on a boron-bearing body previously deposited on an opaque metallic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: Plasma Physics Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Coleman
  • Patent number: 4317254
    Abstract: A door closer includes a tension member comprising spaced shafts acted by springs and connected to articulated chains which are coupled to an anchor plate secured to the door frame. Movement of the shafts is under the control of a uni-directionally operative fluid-filled damper having a piston carried by a piston rod which is connected to a cross head slidably mounted on the shafts and held against abutment washers by the springs. The damper serves to regulate the rate of movement of a door in the direction of closure without restricting significantly the rate of movement in the direction of opening. A fluid by-pass is provided in the damper by a rebate formed in the cylinder so that as the piston approaches the end of the cylinder over the final part of the closure movement the restraint imposed by the damper is relieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Assignee: Perkins & Powell Limited
    Inventor: Dennis H. Chaddock