Mechanical snubber

• US 4,524,851 A
• Filed: 06/09/1982
• Issued: 06/25/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snubber Tokico Limited
• Original Assignee: Tokico Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ando, Takayuki, Gofuku, Yoshihiro, Sawano, Susumu, Hashimoto, Junji
• Primary Examiner(s): Halvosa, George E. A.
• Application Number:
  US06/386,520
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 188/134, 188/378, 188/379, 188/381, 248/58, 248/636, 248/DIG. 1
• US Class Current: 188/134
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2232/06 Translation-to-rotary conversion
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/1022 the linear oscillation movement being converted into a rotational movement of the inertia member, e.g. using a pivoted mass
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/20 allowing movement in transverse direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/202 the transverse movement being converted to a rotational movement F16L3/215 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/901 Support having temperature or pressure responsive feature

Abstract

The combination of a cylindrical casing, a rod member axially reciprocable in the casing, a rotary member fitted in the casing and rotatable therein in relation with axial displacement of the rod member, an inertia member rotatably fitted in the casing opposingly to the rotary member, and a rotation control member interposed between the rotary and inertia members and adapted to rotate the inertia member with the rotary member in rotation at a low speed and to move the inertia member axially away from the rotary member in rotation at a high speed to abut the inertia member against a wall portion of the casing to restrict the rotation of the rotary member. An intermediate brake is provided between the rotary and inertia members to apply a force resistive to relative rotational displacement of the rotary and inertia members.

Claims

1. A mechanical snubber, comprising in combination:

a cylindrical casing;

a rod member axially reciprocably fitted in said casing;

a rotary member fitted on said rod member and rotated by axial displacement of said rod member;

an inertia member rotatable in face-to-face relation with said rotary member;

a braking surface disposed in said cylindrical casing adjacent to said inertia member, said braking surface normally being disposed a small distance from said inertia member;

a first spring biasing said inertia member away from said braking surface and toward said rotary member;

a rotation control means provided between said rotary and inertia members and adapted to rotate said inertia member substantially in synchronism with said rotary member during slow rotary motion and to move said inertia member away from said rotary member and in to braking contact with said braking surface during quick rotary motion; and

an intermediate brake provided between said rotary and inertia members, said intermediate brake including a bore axially disposed in either of said rotary and inertia members and opening against an end face of the other of said rotary and inertia members, a friction element, and a second spring disposed within said bore and arranged to press said friction element against said end face of the other of said rotary and inertia members, said second spring biasing said rotary member and said inertia member apart, but said first spring being stronger than said second spring, whereby said second spring does not cause said inertia member to move against said braking surface.

2. A mechanical snubber comprising:

(a) a casing;

(b) a rod member axially reciprocably fitted in said casing;

(c) first means for preventing rotation of said rod member relative to said casing;

(d) a rotary member mounted on said rod member and operatively connected thereto such that axial displacement of said rod member causes rotation of said rotary member;

(e) an inertia member disposed in said casing adjacent to said rotary member, said inertia member being both slidable and rotatable relative to said casing;

(f) a braking surface disposed in said casing adjacent to said inertia member on the opposite side thereof from said rotary member, said braking surface normally being disposed a small distance from said inertia member;

(g) second means biasing said inertia member away from said braking surface and toward said rotary member;

(h) a rotation control means disposed between said rotary member and said inertia member, said rotation control means operatively connecting said rotary member to said inertia member such that;

(i) during slow rotary motion of said rotary member, said inertia member rotates substantially in synchronism with said rotary member without exerting a substantial braking force on said rotary member or said rod member and said inertia member does not slide axially in said casing and,

(ii) during quick rotary motion of said rotary member, said inertia member lags behind the rotary motion of said rotary member and said inertia member is moved axially against the biasing force of said second means into engagement with said braking surface, thereby braking the rotary motion of said inertia member, the rotary motion of said rotary member, and the axial motion of said rod member; and

(i) an intermediate brake operatively disposed between said rotary member and said inertia member so as to apply a continuous resistance to relative rotation between said rotary member and said inertia member, said intermediate brake comprising;

(i) a friction element in contact with a surface of one of said rotary member and said inertia member and

(ii) third means biasing said friction element into continuous contact with said surface of one of said rotary member and said inertia member, said third means being ineffective to cause said inertia member to move against said braking surface.

3. A mechanical snubber as recited in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said second means comprises a first spring;

(b) said intermediate brake further comprises a bore disposed in the other of said rotary member and said inertia member; and

(c) said third means comprises a second spring disposed in said bore, said second spring biasing said rotary member and said inertia member apart, but said first spring being stronger than said second spring, whereby said second spring does not cause said inertia member to move against said braking surface.

4. A mechanical snubber as recited in claim 3 wherein said bore is parallel to the axis of said rod member.

5. A mechanical snubber as recited in claim 3 wherein said bore is perpendicular to the axis of said rod member, whereby the braking force of said intermediate brake is constant regardless of relative axial displacement of said rotary member and said inertia member.

6. A mechanical snubber comprising:

(a) a casing;

(b) a linearly translatable member which is reciprocable in said casing but which is prevented from rotating relative to said casing;

(c) a first rotary member disposed in said casing, said first rotary member being operatively connected to said linearly translatable member such that linear displacement of said linearly translatable member causes rotation of said first rotary member;

(d) a second rotary member disposed in said casing adjacent to said first rotary member, said second rotary member being both rotatable and linearly translatable relative to said first rotary member;

(e) a braking surface disposed in said casing adjacent to one of said rotary members on the opposite side thereof from the other of said rotary members, said braking surface normally being disposed a small distance from said one of said rotary members;

(f) first means biasing said one of said rotary members away from said braking surface and toward said other of said rotary members;

(g) a rotation control means disposed between said first and second rotary members, said rotation control means operatively connecting said first and second rotary members such that;

(i) during slow rotary motion of said first rotary member, said second rotary member rotates substantially in synchronism with said first rotary member without exerting a substantial braking force on said first rotary member or said linearly translatable member and said second rotary member does not translate linearly relative to said first rotary member and,

(ii) during quick rotary motion of said first rotary member, said second rotary member lags behind the rotary motion of said first rotary member and said second rotary member translates linearly against the biasing force of said first means into engagement with said braking surface, thereby braking the rotary motion of said second rotary member, the rotary motion of said first rotary member, and the linear motion of said linearly translatable member; and

(h) an intermediate brake operatively disposed between said first and second rotary members so as to apply a continuous resistance to relative rotation between said first and second rotary members, said intermediate brake comprising;

(i) a friction element in contact with a surface of one of said rotary members and

(ii) second means biasing said friction element into continuous contact with said surface of one of said rotary members, said second means being ineffective to cause said second rotary member to move against said braking surface.

7. A mechanical snubber as recited in claim 6 wherein:

(a) said first means comprises a first spring;

(b) said intermediate brake further comprises a bore disposed in the other of said rotary members; and

(c) said second means comprises a second spring disposed in said bore, said second spring biasing said first and second rotary members apart, but said first spring being stronger than said second spring, whereby said second spring does not cause said one of said rotary members to translate linearly into contact with said braking surface.

8. A mechanical snubber as recited in claim 7 wherein said bore is parallel to the direction of motion of said linearly translatable member.

9. A mechanical snubber as recited in claim 7 wherein said bore is perpendicular to the direction of motion of said linearly translatable member, whereby the braking force of said intermediate brake is constant regardless of relative linear displacement of said first and second rotary members.