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Rotary damper

  • US 5,449,054 A
  • Filed: 12/30/1993
  • Issued: 09/12/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A rotary damper, comprising:

  • a housing defining a cylindrical damping chamber;

    a damping liquid disposed within said damping chamber;

    a rotary shaft disposed within said damping chamber and immersed within said damping liquid diposed within said damping chamber;

    means defined between said housing and said rotary shaft for limiting rotation of said rotary shaft to less than one revolution with respect to said housing;

    a plurality of substantially radial vanes mounted upon said rotary shaft in a circumferential array about said rotary shaft and wherein each one of said plurality of vanes is inclined with respect to a diametrical plane passing through said rotary shaft and the point of connection of each one of said plurality of vanes and said rotary shaft; and

    means for pivotably mounting said plurality of vanes upon said rotary shaft such that upon rotation of said rotary shaft, and said plurality of vanes mounted thereon, in a first direction, and through an angular movement which is less than one revolution, the inclination of said plurality of vanes will increase such that a distal end portion of each one of said plurality of vanes will be disposed closer to said housing defining said cylindrical damping chamber so as to define with said housing a flow restriction for said damping liquid whereby damped rotation of said rotary shaft is achieved, whereas upon rotation of said shaft and said plurality of vanes mounted thereon in a second opposite direction, through an angular movement which is less than one revolution, the inclination of said plurality of vanes will decrease such that said distal end portion of each one of said plurality of vanes will be disposed closer to said rotary shaft such that increased flow of said damping liquid, between said distal end portions of said plurality of vanes and said housing defining said cylindrical damping chamber, will be permitted whereby undamped rotation of said rotary shaft is achieved.

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