Using A Rotary-type Fluid Damper Patents (Class 188/290)
  • Patent number: 6298960
    Abstract: The viscous damper is formed with a body with a cylindrical wall presenting an edge with a circular tongue element thereon. A cap with a corresponding circular groove element is placed thereon so that the tongue and groove elements align with each other. The resulting tongue and groove configuration is ultrasonically welded thereby forming a hermetic seal. This particularly results in a very precise damper height which is important for small or miniature dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Calvin Derr
  • Patent number: 6298959
    Abstract: A motion-restraining arrangement is described, which has a motion restrainer, which has a housing that is essentially stationary. It includes a restraining device, and a connecting member movable relative to the housing. The housing can be connected to a movable part to be restrained in its movement. Furthermore a switch having two contacts is connected to the housing. The operating member for the switch is provided on the connecting member. The switch may be operated by the operating member pressing contacts against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hoerauf & Kohler Verwaltungs KG
    Inventors: Wilfried Willner, Hans Possler, Christof Oles
  • Patent number: 6295883
    Abstract: An opening and closing type interior device includes a fixed member, a movable member which is capable of being opened and closed and is movable relative to the fixed member, an actuator including a driving source and a gear mechanism, and a damper coupled to one of the movable member and the fixed member. The opening and closing type interior device includes, for example, a display device for an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Kejima Press Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Tsukada, Kenichi Oji
  • Patent number: 6296090
    Abstract: A rotary damper for use in an automotive vehicle. The rotary damper includes an outer casing having a main chamber and a pair of piston orifices, the main chamber and the piston orifices being filled with a damping fluid, a pivotable cam located in the main chamber and attached to an arm for transferring the rotary movement of the arm to the cam. The damper also includes a pair of pistons, each located in its own orifice, and connected to opposite sides of the cam. When the ami transfers the rotary movement to the cam, each piston is moved in opposite directions in its respective piston orifice to damp the rotary movement of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Leslie Oliver, William Charles Kruckemeyer, Ilya Lisenker, Eric Lee Jensen
  • Publication number: 20010017247
    Abstract: A rotary damper has an outer tube 13 having a tubular space 37 with its one end closed in the tube wall, and an inner tube 12 having a tubular space 27 with its one end closed in the tube wall and being smaller in diameter than the outer tube. An outer wall 21 of the inner tube 12 is inserted into a tubular space 37 of the outer tube 13, whereas an inner wall 32 of the outer tube 13 is inserted into the space 27. O-rings are installed in end portions on the open sides of the respective gaps between an outer wall 31 of the outer tube 13 and an inner wall 12 and between the inner wall 32 and the inner wall 22 of the inner tube 12, and the gap between the inner and outer tubes 12 and the 13 is replete with viscous substance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: Kazunori Machida
  • Patent number: 6238294
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper or torsionally elastic coupling comprises an inner portion, an outer portion, and radial leaf spring assemblies extending between the inner and outer portions. Each leaf spring assembly is clamped in a clamping area between adapters at one end of the leaf spring assembly and includes two leaf springs fixed to the outer portion at the one end and having their opposite ends engage in axial grooves of the inner portion. The two leaf springs protrude radially inwards from the clamping area up to the opposite ends engaged in the axial grooves and, to reduce wear phenomena and to improve the load-bearing capacity of the leaf springs for torque transmission, they define a free clearance of movement from the clamping area to the axial grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Ellergon Antriebstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Felix Martinek
  • Patent number: 6234285
    Abstract: A retarder with retarder housing for receiving a retarder unit comprising a stator and a rotor fitted on the retarder shaft. The retarder is intended for assembly in a transmission housing. The retarder housing features a cup-shaped recess matching in its design the outer contours of rotor and stator, (a preassembled retarder unit) thus being able to receive the retarder unit in an assembled state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Friedrich, Klaus Vogelsang, Werner Adams
  • Patent number: 6220009
    Abstract: A damping device for the spinning rotor (3) of an open-end spinning device (1). The spinning rotor (3) is fixed radially and axially via a magnet support arrangement (43), supported in a galvanically separated manner as regards the housing of the spinning device (1) and rotates with a high rotary frequency. The damping device (42) converts oscillations occurring especially during the acceleration phase and when passing through the natural frequency range directly into friction losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: W. Schlafhorst AG & Co.
    Inventor: Norbert Coenen
  • Patent number: 6220407
    Abstract: A method of producing a vane damper comprising a body including a space for at least one rotatable vane that divides the space into two part spaces that are located on either side of the vane. The spaces are variable because of the rotatability of the vane. The vane is mounted in the body by a bearing member and operates in a working medium that is located in the space. The working medium is transferable between the variable spaces via a passage or at least one throttle function to produce damping. The method includes producing the vane with associated bearing member by extruding aluminum or aluminum-containing alloy. The extruded product is cut for production of the respective vane with associated bearing member. The vane is provided with sealing members for establishing a seal against surfaces of the space and of the bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Ohlins Racing AB
    Inventors: Leif Gustafsson, Lars Jansson
  • Patent number: 6176783
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a rotary drag device having relatively rotatable members one (4) of which has a stack (5) of closely spaced, thin-walled flexible annular plates (20) peripherally mounted thereon to provide annular running faces and a viscous fluid filling the spaces between the plates, and the other (6) of which members has a stack (8) of segmental plates (33) having part-annular running faces interleaved with the annular plates to slide between the plates with relative rotation of the members. Slits (26, 27) in the annular plates permit release of viscous fluid from between the plates as fluid pressure rises ahead of the segmental plates with increasing relative speed between the members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Vitec Group, PLC
    Inventors: Richard Arthur Lindsay, Robin Andrew Sayer
  • Patent number: 6142269
    Abstract: A rotary damper with a housing, with a rotor rotatably mounted in a closed chamber of the housing and with a viscous medium disposed within the chamber, wherein the rotor is so formed and so cooperates with the wall of the chamber that with a relative rotation of the housing and the rotor, a braking effect is produced by the medium, and wherein at least two rotor elements are provided which are arranged coaxially, preferably commonly in the chamber, and the neighboring rotor elements are coupled such that they are freely rotatable relative to one another over a limited rotational angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: ITW-ATECO GmbH
    Inventor: Marcus Wonn
  • Patent number: 6135364
    Abstract: In a rotational speed viscous dampening device comprising a housing, a shaft having one end located in the housing and rotatable relative thereto, and a rotor body on the one end of the shaft with viscous fluid at least partially filling the housing, an improvement includes various rotor configurations for managing air within the housing so that the air does not interfere with viscous shearing of molecules of the viscous fluid between the rotor body and an interior wall of the housing. The viscous dampening device may be used to control the speed of rotation of a stream distributor component of a sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Nelson Irrigation Corporation
    Inventor: Kirk Nickish
  • Patent number: 6098765
    Abstract: A rotary damper includes: a pressure generating mechanism portion A for relatively pivoting swingable vanes 4a and 4b with respect to stationary vanes 2a and 2b located on a casing 1 so as to vary reverse proportionally a pressure of a fluid filled within two pressure chambers 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b; and a damping force generating mechanism portion B which limits a movement of the fluid based on a pressure variation generation at the pressure generating mechanism portion A to generate the damping force. A first transmission mechanism portion C and a second transmission mechanism portion D are interposed between both mechanism portions A and B, each of the first and second transmission mechanism portions C and D being capable of moving the fluid and transmitting the fluid pressure via movable first bellows 12 and second bellows 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Mitsuo Sasaki, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 6041899
    Abstract: A rotary control damper is described that includes a rotor comprising a spur gear and a plurality of rotary cylindrical bodies coaxially provided on a lower face of the spur gear. The damper also includes a stator comprising a plurality of stationary cylindrical bodies coaxially provided on an upper face of a base. The stationary cylindrical bodies rotatably engage the rotary cylindrical bodies of the rotor. An annular protrusion is provided on an outer periphery of the outermost outer race of the rotary cylindrical bodies. The protrusion engages a protrusion provided on the base of the stator outside the outermost inner race of the stationary cylindrical bodies. In addition, it slidingly engages the annular protrusion of the rotor in a direction of rotation of the rotor. The protrusion has a downward inclination face provided on at least one of the engaging faces between the annular protrusion and the engaging protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Koyo Fastener Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naokichi Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 5984057
    Abstract: A rotary damper has an inner member located within an outer member and an annular seal between the members enclosing a fluid-filled space bounded in part by mutually adjacent faces of the members. A viscous damping force is thereby generated by relative rotation of the members. The seal has a radially inner rim in sliding engagement with the inner member. A resilient flexible retainer held by the outer member bears on the seal inner rim, flexure of the retainer providing a predetermined axial sealing pressure on the rim. The seal includes a diaphragm portion exposed to atmospheric pressure and deformable to accommodate thermal expansion of the fluid in the sealed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Kinetrol Limited
    Inventor: John Valentine Nash
  • Patent number: 5950947
    Abstract: A fishing reel of the spin-cast type, having a body with a fixed hub, a line carrying spool rotatably supported on the hub. The reel having rotatable and non-rotatable drag washers operating on the spool creating a drag assembly. For smooth drag action during heavy usage, a lubricant retaining cavity is positioned in the drag surface of a drag assembly member. The use of a lubricant retaining cavity being optional in one or all drag assembly members, that which provides the drag action desired. A lubricant retaining cavity positioned in the drag surface permits the cavity to be covered, and retains lubricant in the cavity when the drag surfaces are engaged. The spool rotates as line carried thereon is drawn therefrom, permitting lubricant to be wiped from the retaining cavity and about the engaging drag surfaces, thereby becoming a self lubricating drag assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas Glen Kirby
  • Patent number: 5921357
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrorheological magnetic (ERM) fluid-based rotary motion damper (12). According to the invention, the ERM fluid-based rotary motion damper (12) generally includes an input shaft (18) coupled to a first damping member (16) and rotatably supporting a second damping member (20). A cylinder (28) coupled about the first damping member (16) rotatably engages a housing (36) circumferentially coupled about the second damping member (20). As such, the cylinder (28) is configured for rotary movement relative to the housing (36). ERM fluid (56) disposed in the housing (36) surrounds the cylinder (28) such that it coacts with the housing (36) and cylinder (28). In the presence of a magnetic field, the ERM fluid (56), cylinder (28) and housing (36) frictionally control the rotary movement of the first damping member (16) relative to the second damping member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Starkovich, Emil M. Shtarkman, Louis A. Rosales
  • Patent number: 5916068
    Abstract: An apparatus provides variable resistance to rotation and includes a housing having a shaft having a first portion that is rotatable in the housing and a second portion passing outwardly thereof adapted to receive the tire of a bicycle for stationary bicycle exercise. A first body in the housing is mechanically linked to the first portion of the shaft so as to be rotatable within the housing. A second body in the housing is slidably connected to the first portion of the shaft and has flat face opposed to the flat face of the first body. The second body is movable with respect to the first body to result in a variably-sized gap between the opposed faces. A spring located between the housing and the second body biases the second body toward the first body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventors: Philip Chisholm, Giulio Bertolo
  • Patent number: 5860635
    Abstract: A new and useful winch comprising a cable drum; a motor operatively connected to drive a cable drum; a fall arrestor operatively connected to a cable drum and having no power input requirement and a gear reduction group through which a motor and fall arrestor are operatively connected to a cable drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Seascape Systems Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Morfitt, Barrie Freeke
  • Patent number: 5828135
    Abstract: An electrical generator for mounting on a railroad car axle end which utilizes the rotation of the axle to generate electricity. The generator includes a housing assembly bolted to the end of a railroad car axle, preferably using the bolt holes that are present on conventional axle ends. The housing includes a tubular rim along which is mounted a plurality of spaced permanent magnets. A stator fastened to a stationary part of the car, typically the outer race of the axle bearing, mounts a plurality of coils in a circular array, closely spaced to the magnets. Electricity is generated whenever the car axle is rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: John Barrett
  • Patent number: 5816372
    Abstract: The invention relates to magnetorheological (MR) fluid devices and the process of controlling the force in exercise equipment by utilizing the MR fluid devices. The MR fluid devices include rotary and linear acting varieties and are useful for controlled forces in exercise bicycles, recumbent exercisers, ski machines, rowing machines, and stair stepper machines. The rotary MR fluid device is comprised of a rotor supported by bearings and received within a housing. An MR fluid is received adjacent the rotor and within a cavity in the housing and the MR fluid is controlled by an applied magnetic field to vary the operating torque resistance. Spring biasing the rotor allows for relaxed tolerances. Optimization of the Ri/Ro ratio is described which reduces the size and weight of the device. The linear acting version utilizes simple extensible pumps and an external MR fluid valve to provide a modularized system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: J. David Carlson, David M. Catanzarite
  • Patent number: 5806637
    Abstract: An energy accumulator has a flywheel journaled in a flywheel housing and is rotationally symmetrical about its axis is driven. The flywheel rotates about its driven axis and when desired is braked. For the defined braking of the flywheel any wobble of the outer periphery of the flywheel relative to the flywheel housing and/or any radial motion of the flywheel relative to the flywheel housing and/or radial stresses/displacements occurring in the bearings are measured as to magnitude and direction and compared with a threshold value. Only when the threshold value is exceeded is the flywheel braked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Gerrit Huy, Uwe Ernstberger
  • Patent number: 5788057
    Abstract: An apparatus for the suspended storage of foodstuffs, particularly slabs of chocolate or the like, arranged on shelves (15) lying flat on trays (14) hanging from two parallel chains (12, 13) moving around a closed circuit that includes a supply run and a return run. Each tray (14) is combined with at least one shock absorbing device (61) for restricting the swinging motion thereof, quickly damping said motion and preventing the trays from bumping into one another. For this purpose, the shock absorbing device (61) comprises a braking disc located within a recess provided inside a housing and containing a viscous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Sapal Societe Anonyme des Plieuses Automatiques
    Inventors: Hans Heiri Walser, Urs Muller
  • Patent number: 5762582
    Abstract: A drive unit, notably for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a transmission. The drive unit has two hydrodynamic retarders, each featuring a rotor and a stator. A primary retarder precedes the transmission in the power train and a secondary retarder follows the transmission in the power train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Friedrich, Hans Gebhardt, Heribert Moller, Klaus Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 5718309
    Abstract: A rotary damper is formed of a first member including a driven gear on one side, and one of a supporting shaft and an inner cylindrical projection to form a circular fitting dent therein on a side opposite to the one side; and a second member including the other of the supporting shaft and the inner cylindrical projection on one side thereof. The supporting shaft is inserted into the fitting dent of the inner cylindrical projection to connect the first and second members together. At least one of the supporting shaft and the inner cylindrical projection may have grooves on circumferential surfaces facing each other to fill viscous fluid therein. An outer cylindrical projection situated outside the inner cylindrical projection or an inner cylindrical partition wall situated outside the supporting shaft may have discontinuous portions to fill the viscous fluid therein. Thus, the viscous fluid is fully and uniformly filled in the spaces to thereby obtain a desired damper effect for a long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Kariya
  • Patent number: 5676532
    Abstract: An adjustable one-way rotary liquid pumping device including a housing, a cover fixedly engaged with the housing, a first bearing a first bearing fitted in the housing, a second bearing fitted in the cover, an axle extending through the housing and the cover and supported by the two bearings, a rotor fixedly mounted on the axle and having a plurality of pawls, a collar enclosing the rotor, a seat having two protuberances supporting the collar thereby locating the collar at an eccentric position with respect to the axle, a plurality of rollers each fitted between every two of the pawls of the rotor, a plurality of springs urging respective rollers against an inner wall of the housing and an inclined side of the pawls, and an adjustable valve fitted through the housing, the collar, and the seat, whereby the liquid can be pumped in one direction only and the speed of the axle can be adjusted as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventors: Lu Chi Cheng, Chun-Hsiung Chang
  • Patent number: 5660254
    Abstract: A dry rotary damper includes a housing defining an internal chamber, the housing having a closed base portion, a top portion with a through opening, and a rotor-engaging internal surface. A rotor has a shaft rotatably passing through the opening and an engagement surface in sliding frictional engagement with the rotor-engaging internal surface of the housing. A deflection member is mounted within the chamber. An edge part of the deflection member impinges upon the rotor and the deflection member is deflected for resiliently urging the engagement surface into frictional engagement with the rotor-engaging internal surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Louis M. Spoto
  • Patent number: 5617760
    Abstract: This invention relates to a selector lever for a motor vehicle transmission, in the case of which, by way of a push button, a detent element can be moved so that the selector lever can be adjusted into different positions. In order to allow a restoring of the detent element to take place with as little noise as possible, the restoring movement is damped according to the invention. In a suitable manner, a visco-damper is used for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Woeste, Josef Neuner
  • Patent number: 5542508
    Abstract: A fluid free damper, comprising a spindle member; housing means mounted for relative eccentric rotation with respect to the spindle member; and engagement means interposed between the spindle member and the housing means for rotation along with one of the housing means and the spindle member with respect to the other one of the housing means and the spindle member so as to be deformably compressed between the spindle member and the housing means and thereby generate a resistive damping force between the housing means and the spindle member in response to the eccentric rotation of the one of the housing means and spindle member with respect to the other one of the housing means and the spindle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Van Erden, Jan Toczycki
  • Patent number: 5542507
    Abstract: A rotary viscous damper having a disc surrounded by a housing and cover, the disc rotatable with a shaft which penetrates the housing, a gap provided between opposite sides of the disc and the inside surfaces of the housing and cover for receiving viscous fluid, and triangularly shaped indentations formed on opposing surfaces of the disc and the housing and cover, the indentations on the housing and the cover arranged at selective rotational positions. Rotation of the disc aligning opposing indentations on the discs and the housing and cover to create a rotary position of minimum torque and when misaligned, a rotary position of maximum torque. The oscillating torque value creates a nominal torque associated with the damper, but can be selectively installed to present a minimum torque at a particular rotational position. The invention is particularly adapted to rotary devices where rotational position can effect the available torque for driving the shaft, such as an exercise bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Vibratech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Warchocki, Walter P. Pukalo
  • Patent number: 5524979
    Abstract: A storage cabinet with an over the cabinet top door mechanism in which a biased track member assembly slides the cabinet door to an open and stored position over the cabinet top surface. A semi one-way clutch lid stay prevents sudden closure of the door eliminating slamming of the door against the cabinet during closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Kimball International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Carson, Jay M. Henriott
  • Patent number: 5522485
    Abstract: A rotary damper includes a rotor having a shaft, a housing having an opening and forming therein a chamber for accommodating the rotor so that the rotor is rotatable while being damped, and a cap for closing the opening of the housing. The housing has an annular wall which is provided on the outer periphery thereof with a gear portion. The shaft of the rotor projects out of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Norio Takahashi, Kazuyoshi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 5483396
    Abstract: A cassette holder opening system comprises a damper, the damping force of which varies according to the opened angle of a cassette holder. In the damper, according to the variation of the opened angle of the cassette angle, a rolling member travels along a screw, so that the frictional force between the rolling member and a friction member, or the damping force varies. Accordingly, the cassette holder is completely opened and the opening operation of the cassette holder is steady, and furthermore the manufacturing cost is reduced and the fabrication thereof is easy due to the simple construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hee Chul Son
  • Patent number: 5465817
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake coupled to a rotary shaft including a hydraulic pump connected to the shaft, the pump having a pump inlet, and a pump outlet, a hydraulic loop having an inlet part connected to the pump outlet and an outlet part connected to the pump inlet, a flow control device positioned in the hydraulic loop between the inlet outlet parts for controlling flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic loop, and a brake actuator connected to the flow control device for reducing the flow of hydraulic fluid in response to operation of the brake actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Ralph P. Muscatell
  • Patent number: 5456340
    Abstract: A retarder control embodying the concepts of the present invention utilizes a spool valve having a spool valve member axially translatable between an on- and an off-position. A spring is employed to bias the spool valve member toward its off-position. A torque converter, a cooler and a retarder each have an input and an output that are ported through the spool valve. The retarder is selectively ported to a hydraulic return through the spool valve, and a modulating solenoid may be employed to feed pressurized hydraulic fluid against the spool valve member not only to move the spool valve member against the spring toward its on-position but also to regulate the axial translation of the spool valve member in order to control the pressure at the retarder discharge that is also ported through the spool valve. A cooler communicates directly with the converter when the spool valve member is in its off-position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Martin R. Dadel, Charles F. Long
  • Patent number: 5403058
    Abstract: A damper is snap-fitted in a mounting socket formed adjacent a door frame to engage the door for controlling the movement of the door between closed and open positions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the socket includes a first pair of spaced legs engaging one side of the damper at opposite ends and a centrally located leg engaging the side of the damper opposite the one side. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central leg preferably includes an inwardly projecting lip which extends over the top of the damper which rests on a floor extending from the side of the door frame for holding the rotary damper vertically in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas A. Fischer
  • Patent number: 5392884
    Abstract: The device comprises a shielded outer cylinder (2), a shaft member (3) installed pivotally within, the cylinder (2), fins (4, 5) either of which are connected with the cylinder (2) or the shaft member (3) by means of base ends (4a, 5a) with edge ends (4b, 5b) thereof being slide contacted onto the other, and a fluid material (6) filled within the outer cylinder (2), wherein the outer cylinder (2) or the shaft member (3) is connected with a stationary member or a rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Juji Ojima
  • Patent number: 5381877
    Abstract: A rotating-piston type rotary damper includes a rotor of substantially triangular prism shape, a rotor housing having an operation chamber provided with a stationary gear with external teeth, a main shaft having an operation shaft portion and an eccentric, and a lid having a through hole for permitting passage therethrough of the operation shaft portion. The rotor has a central circular through hole formed normal to its end faces so that one open side thereof serves as a fitting hole for the eccentric and the other open side thereof is provided therein with a gear with internal teeth for engagement with the external teeth and is accommodated in the operation chamber to define volume-variable compartments containing viscous liquid. The rotor has communication holes for transferring the viscous liquid in a volume-variable compartment of decreasing volume when the rotor is rotated into adjacent volume-variable compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yasutomo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5355979
    Abstract: The damping element for damping translatory motion of a body over a relatively stationary base includes a housing holding a viscous fluid; a friction disk in the viscous fluid in the housing coupled with a shaft extending from the housing; a rotatable drive element having an axis of rotation, connected to the shaft outside the housing, formed so that the drive element can be driven rotatably due to a translatory motion of the body over the base and provided with a cavity coaxial to the axis of rotation; and a coupling device including a free-wheel device in the cavity of the drive element and connecting the friction disk and the rotatable drive element and structured so that rotation of the drive element in one direction results in a torque transferring connection between the friction disk and the drive element, while rotation of the drive element in an opposite direction opposite results in interruption of the torque transferring connection between the friction disk and the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventors: Christoph H. Stephan, deceased, by Dorothea Stephan, heir and legal representative, by Otto Stephan, heir and legal representative, by Ilse Stephan, heir and legal representative, Wilfried Weber
  • Patent number: 5353899
    Abstract: A damper mechanism which includes a cylinder with a movable shaft therein with the shaft having a swingable valve on the outer surface. The end of the swingable valve will contact the cylinder when the shaft is rotated in one direction to form a nonreturn valve due to its association with a partitioning member having an oil passage to communicate chambers formed on opposite sides of the partitioning member. When the shaft is rotated in one direction with the valve moving toward the partitioning member, rotational movement of the shaft in that direction will be dampened by restricted movement of oil from one chamber to the other. When the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, the valve moves away from the cylindrical surface thus enabling unrestricted rotational movement of the shaft in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Sugatsune Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Ohshima
  • Patent number: 5335563
    Abstract: A one-way damper comprising, one forming member for forming an accommodating chamber, other forming member disposed opposite to the one forming member such that the one and other forming members form the accommodating chamber therebetween and the other forming member is rotatable relative to the one forming member, a coil spring wound around the other forming member, and a viscous fluid accommodated in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignees: Kuroishi Iron Works Co., Ltd., Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Yamamoto, Masamitsu Kojima, Kazuo Kato
  • Patent number: 5333707
    Abstract: A controller for a retarder includes: a fluid-storage-type retarder provided to a rotary shaft which is rotated together with the rear wheels of a vehicle, the retarder always storing a fluid; a reservoir tank adapted to be in fluid communication with, the retarder; and pressure regulation member adapted to be in atmospheric communication with the reservoir tank for imparting a predetermined restriction to pressurized air which flows into the reservoir tank in accordance with each stationary level of pressure which is produced in the retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Kaneda
  • Patent number: 5320507
    Abstract: A scroll compressor has a fluid brake for resisting and impeding objectionable reverse movement of the orbiting scroll member. The brake includes a one-way clutch interconnecting a drive shaft and a paddle disposed in the compressor oil sump, and optionally a rotor shield for controlling oil flow around the lower end of the motor rotor. A two piece paddle has a rotatable paddle having blades to impart angular momentum to the lubricating oil and a stationary housing having vanes to resist the angular momentum imparted to the lubricating oil by the blades of the rotatable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Copeland Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Monnier, Francis M. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5301775
    Abstract: An adjustable high torque damper device is provided which can be easily and rapidly adjusted so as to produce variable amounts of torque over a predetermined range. The damper device includes a plurality of co-mating concentric rings formed on a stator housing and a rotor. As a cap is screwed into or out of the housing, the distances between the rotor concentric rings and the stator concentric rings are selectively and gradually increased and decreased to thereby decrease or increase the amount of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph G. Nedbal, Steven L. Bivens
  • Patent number: 5277282
    Abstract: A rotary oil damper includes a housing incorporating therein a storing chamber open on one side, a cap having a hole and for shutting the opening in the storing chamber of the housing, a rotor including a base part and a shaft part and disposed rotatably inside the storing chamber of the housing, a toothed wheel fixed to the shaft part of the rotor, viscous oil filling said storing chamber of the housing, and a ring-shaped leaf spring member having opposite terminal parts separated from each other and contained in conjunction with the rotor inside the storing chamber. The shaft part of the rotor protrudes outwardly through the hole of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Kato Hatsujo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventor: Haruyuki Umemura
  • Patent number: 5269397
    Abstract: A rotary damper includes a dish-shaped housing having a depression surrounded by a cylindrical wall, a viscous fluid contained in the depression, a damping rotor accommodated in the viscous fluid, and a cap covering the dish-shaped housing with a shaft of the damping rotor projecting through a central hole thereof. The cylindrical wall is provided at the base of its external periphery with a sloped annular portion of downward increasing diameter. A lower edge portion of a circular wall of the cap is contacted with the slope of the sloped annular portion during welding of the cap to the dish-shaped housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventors: Masanobu Kawamoto, Keiji Yamaguchi, Norio Tokahashi
  • Patent number: 5261513
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic retarder for a vehicle has a primary part and a secondary part. The primary part has an input end connectable to the transmission output shaft of the vehicle and an output end connectable to the axle drive shaft. The fixed secondary part is, relative to the primary part, sealed against fluid discharge. A temperature sensor is provided for sensing the temperature of a working medium contained in the working circuit. A control system coordinated with a control valve is provided for adjusting by the cooling volume flow passed to the heat exchanger a specific temperature value of the working medium which has remained in the working circuit (set value). The set value of the temperature is so selected that it corresponds to a specific, desired braking moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: J.M. Voith GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Vogelsang
  • Patent number: 5257681
    Abstract: An apparatus for damping movement includes a housing and a blade which are movable relative to each other. The blade is cantilevered to an axis and has segments formed of magnetizable material which are separated by segments formed of nonmagnetizable material. Electromagnetic coils are connected with the housing and apply a magnetic field to a magnetic field responsive fluid through which the blade is movable. The blade has recesses which are formed in the segments of magnetizable material and hold magnetic field responsive fluid. A plurality of ribs separate the recesses and are at least partially formed of the nonmagnetizable material. In one embodiment of the invention, ribs and recesses are provided on opposite sides of the blade. In another embodiment of the invention, the ribs and recesses are provided on one side of the blade and the opposite side of the blade is flat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Emil M. Shtarkman, James L. Graves
  • Patent number: 5257680
    Abstract: Several improved embodiments of surface effect dampers that produce a damping force including both hysteretic and frictional components. Various improvements include an amplitude sensitive feature or decoupler mechanism to eliminate or greatly reduce the damping for low amplitude input conditions as compared to high amplitude inputs, provisions for increasing the damping force in a non-linear manner, and features for providing significantly greater damping in one direction than the other. Other embodiments include an improved rotational surface effect damper useful for damping rotational motion, and a multiaxial damper which can be used, for example, as a motor mount which has the capability for the piston to tilt relative to the axis of its piston rod, allowing accommodation of torsional rotation of the engine while not compromising vibration isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick E. Corcoran, Richard P. Thorn
  • Patent number: 5228544
    Abstract: In a hydrodynamic brake (1), in order to reduce the ventilation losses, adjustable baffles (2, 20) are situated between a rotor (3) and a stator (4). During idling, when oil has been evacuated from the brake (1), one or more baffles (2, 20) of angular cross section in the outer area of the toroidal chambers (31, 41) separate the chambers via a radially inward projecting annular leg (21), a leg cylindrically situated in an axial direction abutting against the inner wall (52) of a chamber (5). During operation of the brake, that is, when the hydrodynamic brake (1) is filled with oil, the radially inward projecting leg (21) is located with its front edge (29) behind the toroidal chambers (31, 41). When only one baffle (20) covering the entire periphery of the outer area of the toroidal chambers (31, 41) is installed, slits (23, 28) are disposed in the radially inward projecting annular leg (21) to obtain the adequate elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann, Harald Eckert, Hans-Jurgen Oexl