Non-linear spring system
First Claim
1. A spring system comprising a housing having an axis, an internal chamber, having 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, a guide member secured to said rod member and designed to support said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto, and first, second and third springs each extending between said guide member and the bottom end of said housing, said first, second and third springs being coaxial with one another and with said axis, said guide member dividing said internal chamber into at least first and second sub-chambers, said first, second and third springs being positioned in said first sub-chamber, said first, second and third springs designed to create a non-linear load versus deflection curve as the rod member moves between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, at least two of said first, second and third springs having a different wire diameter, a different direction of winding, or combinations thereof.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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 spring in the housing surrounded by a second spring for biasing the rod member to one of an extended or retracted position relative to the housing. The two springs exert a non-linear load versus deflection curve as the rod member moves between an extended position and a retracted position.
37 Citations
80 Claims
- 1. A spring system comprising a housing having an axis, an internal chamber, having 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, a guide member secured to said rod member and designed to support said rod member for reciprocation axially of said housing between retracted and extended positions relative thereto, and first, second and third springs each extending between said guide member and the bottom end of said housing, said first, second and third springs being coaxial with one another and with said axis, said guide member dividing said internal chamber into at least first and second sub-chambers, said first, second and third springs being positioned in said first sub-chamber, said first, second and third springs designed to create a non-linear load versus deflection curve as the rod member moves between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, at least two of said first, second and third springs having a different wire diameter, a different direction of winding, or combinations thereof.
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16. The spring system as defined in 14, wherein an outside diameter of said third spring is different from an outside diameter of said first spring, second spring or combinations thereof
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17. The spring system as defined in 15, wherein an outside diameter of said third spring is different from an outside diameter of said first spring, second spring or combinations thereof.
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18. The spring system as defined in 14, wherein a thickness of said third spring is different from a thickness of said first spring, second spring or combinations thereof.
- 19. The spring system as defined in 17, wherein a thickness of said third spring is different from a thickness of said first spring, second spring or combinations thereof.
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44. A method of controlling the rate of extension and retraction of a spring rod of a spring system comprising:
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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;
providing a guide member secured to said spring rod, said guide member supporting said rod member 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, second and third springs each extending between said guide member and the bottom opposite end of said housing, said first, second and third springs being located in said lower sub-chamber and coaxial with one another and with said axis, at least two of said first, second and third springs having a different wire diameter, a different direction of winding, or combinations thereof; and
,said first, second and third springs creating a non-linear load versus deflection curve as the rod member moves between said fully extended position and said fully retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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55. The method as defined in 53, wherein an outside diameter of said third spring is different from an outside diameter of said first spring, second spring or combinations thereof.
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56. The method as defined in 53, wherein a thickness of said third spring is different from a thickness of said first spring, second spring or combinations thereof.
Specification