US3874480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Friction brake mechanism
Assignee: Hydro Aire Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A hollow housing is provided with a rod which is slidably mounted within the housing. A tightly wound coil spring is positioned on the rod so that the inner diameter of the coil is in close contact with the periphery of the rod. An unlocking lever and a bushing are fixed relative to the housing, on either side of the coil spring, in such a manner that the rod may be slidably moved therethrough. The spring is fastened to the bushing and is located so as to unwind when the unlocking lever is actuated. When the lever is not actuated, movement of the rod in the direction from the lever toward the bushing may be prohibited by providing an angularly oriented surface on the bushing. When the rod is pushed, the spring will be reoriented from its natural angle of coiling to the angle on the bushing surface, tightly gripping the rod and preventing its movement. On the opposite side of the unlocking lever, a second coil spring may be tightly wound upon the rod in the opposite direction of coiling from the first spring. One end of the second spring may be fixed relative to a similar second bushing fixed in the housing. When the unlocking lever is rotated about the axis of the rod, it acts against the adjacent ends of the first and second springs to unwind the springs slightly, enlarging their inner diameters. The springs release their grip from the rod, allowing it to slide freely in either direction. The second bushing may be provided with a spring abutment face which is either perpendicular to the axis of the rod, causing the spring to act only as a friction drag when the rod is pushed, or may be angularly related thereto, causing the spring to act as a lock against rod movement in that direction. A third bushing having a spring abutment face which is perpendicular to the axis of the rod may be fixed within the housing in a similar fashion and a third spring fastened thereto. The opposite end of the third spring may be disengaged from all structure. The third spring and bushing will create a friction drag force on the rod which will prevent sudden relative movement between the rod and housing in either direction, whether or not the unlocking lever is actuated.
Inventors
- 👤 Clyde R Porter
- 👤 Joseph A Sember
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:47
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B7/00; F16B7/10; F16B7/14; F16B7/1481; B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/02; B60N2/22; B60N2/23; F16D; F16D49/00; F16D49/02; F16D49/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/2066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A friction brake for selectively preventing relative axial motion between a cylinder and a rod therein comprising a pair of springs tightly and oppositely wound upon said rod along intersecting natural helical angle. a pair of bushings fixed in said cylinder for guidance of the rod therethrough, each having means therein for fixing one end of one of said springs, operative means for enlarging the coils of said springs to provide a clearance between them and said rod including means for enlarging both of said springs simultaneously without substantial alteration of the natural helical angles thereof comprising actuatable means extending substantially about said rod and having a spring seat means extending along each side thereof against each of which one of said springs is seated on its natural helical angle and a spring abutment means adjacent the end of each of said spring seats, and means closely fitting about said springs and movable with said enlarging means for ensuring the uniform expansion of the coils of the springs throughout the lengths thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A friction brake for selectively preventing relative axial motion between a cylinder and a rod therein comprising a pair of springs tightly and oppositely wound upon said rod along intersecting natural helical angle. a pair of bushings fixed in said cylinder for guidance of the rod therethrough, each having means therein for fixing one end of one of said springs, operative means for enlarging the coils of said springs to provide a clearance between them and said rod including means for enlarging both of said springs simultaneously without substantial alteration of the natural helical angles thereof comprising actuatable means extending substantially about said rod and having a spring seat means extending along each side thereof against each of which one of said springs is seated on its natural helical angle and a spring abutment means adjacent the end of each of said spring seats, and means closely fitting about said springs and movable with said enlarging means for ensuring the uniform expansion of the coils of the springs throughout the lengths thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The brake of claim 1 wherein said pair of bushings each include spring seat means against which the spring fixed to each said bushing may be cocked to an unnatural helical angle by axial movement of said rod when an axial force is exerted on said rod and said enlarging means is not actuated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The brake of claim 1 including constant force friction drag means to prevent relative motion between said cylinder and said rod unless a predetermined force is exerted therebetween comprising a spring means tightly wound upon said rod and means to prevent axial movement of said spring means relatively to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
A friction brake for prohibiting axial movement of a rod comprising first means relative to which said rod may be axially moved, an actuating means rotatable about the axis of the rod and axially fixed relative to said first means, a pair of springs, oppositely wound and tightly coiled Along intersecting natural helical angles on said rod, one on each side of said actuating means and each located so as to be simultaneously partially unwound by said actuating means upon partial rotation thereof about the axis of the rod without substantial alteration of the helical angles thereof, and means fixed relative to said first means for fixing the distal ends of said coiled springs to prevent movement thereof when said springs are partially unwound by said actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A friction brake for prohibiting axial movement of a rod comprising first means relative to which said rod may be axially moved, an actuating means rotatable about the axis of the rod and axially fixed relative to said first means, a pair of springs, oppositely wound and tightly coiled Along intersecting natural helical angles on said rod, one on each side of said actuating means and each located so as to be simultaneously partially unwound by said actuating means upon partial rotation thereof about the axis of the rod without substantial alteration of the helical angles thereof, and means fixed relative to said first means for fixing the distal ends of said coiled springs to prevent movement thereof when said springs are partially unwound by said actuating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The friction brake of claim 4 wherein said fixing means include spring seat means against which the spring adjacent thereto may be cocked to an unnatural helical angle when a force is exerted on said rod, tending to move it axially from said actuating means toward said fixing means, and said actuating means is not partially rotated about the axis of the rod.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The brake of claim 4 including means closely positioned about said pair of springs and movable about the axis of the rod to ensure uniform partial unwinding throughout the length thereof when partially unwound by said actuating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The brake of claim 4 including constant force friction drag means fixed between said rod and said first means to prevent relative movement therebetween unless a predetermining movement force is exerted thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The brake of claim 4 wherein said actuating means include means for preventing said pair of springs from being cocked substantially out of their said natural halical angles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
124 words
A friction brake comprising a housing, a rod axially movable with said housing, a plurality of bushings fixed within said housing through which said rod may be slidably moved, a release lever mounted within said housing intermediate two of said bushings, a coiled spring tightly wound upon said rod intermediate said release lever and each adjacent bushing, said springs each being oppositely wound on intersecting natural helical angles and each being fixed at one end thereof at said bushing adjacent thereto, means on said release lever for simultaneously partially unwinding both of said springs, and means movably mounted, within said housing in close relationship with both of said springs throughout a major portion of their circumferences for ensuring uniform diametrical enlargement of said springs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
A friction brake comprising a housing, a rod axially movable with said housing, a plurality of bushings fixed within said housing through which said rod may be slidably moved, a release lever mounted within said housing intermediate two of said bushings, a coiled spring tightly wound upon said rod intermediate said release lever and each adjacent bushing, said springs each being oppositely wound on intersecting natural helical angles and each being fixed at one end thereof at said bushing adjacent thereto, means on said release lever for simultaneously partially unwinding both of said springs, and means movably mounted, within said housing in close relationship with both of said springs throughout a major portion of their circumferences for ensuring uniform diametrical enlargement of said springs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The brake of claim 9 wherein at least one of said bushings includes a spring abutment face which is perpendicular to the axis of the adjacent spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The brake of claim 9 wherein at least one of said bushings includes a spring abutment face which is formed at an unnatural helical angle relative to the axis of the adjacent spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The brake of claim 9 wherein at least one of said bushings includes means for abutting the adjacent spring at an unnatural helical angle when the adjacent spring is cocked thereagainst by attempted movement of said rod relative to said housing when said release lever is unactuated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The brake of claim 9 including spring means similarly mounted on said rod on the side of one of said bushings distal from said actuating lever and means for preventing movement of the latter spring means relative to the axis of said housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The brake of claim 9 including constant force friction drag means located within said housing to prevent relative motion of said rod and housing unless a predetermined motivation force is exerted when said release lever is actuated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
196 words
A friction brake for selectively preventing relative axial motion between a cylinder and a rod therein comprising a pair of springs tightly wound along intersecting natural helical angles upon said rod, a pair of bushings fixed in said cylinder for guidance of the rod therethrough, each having g means therein for fixing one end of one of said springs and spring seat means against which the spring fixed to each said bushinG may be cocked to an unnatural helical angle by axial movement of said rod when an axial force is exerted on said rod and said enlarging means is not actuated, means for enlarging the coils of said springs to provide a clearance between them and said rod including means for enlarging said springs without substantial alteration of the natural helical angles thereof comprising actuatable means extending substantially about said rod and having a spring seat means on either side thereof against each of which one of said springs is seated on its natural helical angle and a spring abutment means adjacent the end of each spring seats, and means for ensuring the uniform expansion of the coils of the springs throughout the lengths thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
196 words
A friction brake for selectively preventing relative axial motion between a cylinder and a rod therein comprising a pair of springs tightly wound along intersecting natural helical angles upon said rod, a pair of bushings fixed in said cylinder for guidance of the rod therethrough, each having g means therein for fixing one end of one of said springs and spring seat means against which the spring fixed to each said bushinG may be cocked to an unnatural helical angle by axial movement of said rod when an axial force is exerted on said rod and said enlarging means is not actuated, means for enlarging the coils of said springs to provide a clearance between them and said rod including means for enlarging said springs without substantial alteration of the natural helical angles thereof comprising actuatable means extending substantially about said rod and having a spring seat means on either side thereof against each of which one of said springs is seated on its natural helical angle and a spring abutment means adjacent the end of each spring seats, and means for ensuring the uniform expansion of the coils of the springs throughout the lengths thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
143 words
A friction brake comprising a housing, a rod releasably fixed in said housing for selective axial movement relative thereto, an actuating means within said housing substantially encircling said rod, extending exteriorly of said housing, and having a pair of spring seats on opposite axial ends thereof formed at the intersecting natural helical angles of coil springs positioned thereagainst and means for biasing such coil springs to simultaneously enlarge the internal diameters thereof upon rotation of said actuating means about the axis of said rod, said biasing means being located adjacent a termination of each said spring seats, a pair of coil springs oppositely wound about said rod along intersecting natural helical angles, sealed on said spring seats, and terminating at a first end adjacent said biasing means, and means for fixing the second end of each said coil spring relative to said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
143 words
A friction brake comprising a housing, a rod releasably fixed in said housing for selective axial movement relative thereto, an actuating means within said housing substantially encircling said rod, extending exteriorly of said housing, and having a pair of spring seats on opposite axial ends thereof formed at the intersecting natural helical angles of coil springs positioned thereagainst and means for biasing such coil springs to simultaneously enlarge the internal diameters thereof upon rotation of said actuating means about the axis of said rod, said biasing means being located adjacent a termination of each said spring seats, a pair of coil springs oppositely wound about said rod along intersecting natural helical angles, sealed on said spring seats, and terminating at a first end adjacent said biasing means, and means for fixing the second end of each said coil spring relative to said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The friction brake of claim 16 including means substantially completely encircling said springs and movable by said actuating means for ensuring uniform internal diameter enlargement throughout the axial length of each of said coil springs upon rotation of said actuating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The friction brake of claim 16 including third coil spring means wound about said rod, and means for preventing axial movement of said third coil spring relative to said housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |