Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Resiliently biased hinge
Patent
1995-07-21
1997-06-03
Mah, Chuck Y.
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Resiliently biased hinge
16307, 16342, 16374, 403111, E05F 114, E05C 1764
Patent
active
056342411
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Devices for storing energy, work and power are known in the most varied embodiments. Thus, spring mechanisms for clocks or spring driven motors for toys are also known. With these devices, for example, the energy which is added to the energy storing device by applying a force to it, can be stored and once again released.
These known energy storing devices most often release the energy continuously or with decreasing intensity. However, there are examples of applications, where it is desirable to use an energy storing device, which delivers the energy on a predetermined basis and/or according to demand at varying levels of intensity as a function of its displacement or as a function of time.
Hinges for vehicles represent an especially suitable area of application.
Trailers of trucks and various agricultural equipment include loading gates, which are linked to the trailer by means of simple hinges. The hinges am frequently installed at the lower edge of the loading gate, so that when they are manually opened or closed, a considerable physical effort must sometimes be made to move the gate, and during this effort the required application of force is naturally greatest, when the angle between the loading gate and a vertical plane is 90.degree..
It is, therefore, the objective of the invention to create an energy storing spring joint of the type initially described, which can store energy in such a manner, that it is possible to store energy during a movement along a given path in such a way, that in the case of a movement in an opposite direction or during a reversal of the motion, the energy can be released in a very definite, predetermined manner along the path of motion, and where the amount of energy released can be varied as a function of displacement.
The objective is achieved by the characteristics described in claim 1.
An essential idea on which this objective is based, is that the forces being generated during the relative movement of two parts with respect to each other, such as weight forces, forces due to the kinetic energy to be absorbed etc., must be counteracted and stored in the energy storing device in the form of potential energy. In order to be able to release the energy subsequently on a continuous basis, it is contemplated that it will be stored in at least one energy storing device or in two energy storing devices, which are independent of each other. These devices can be charged with potential energy one after the other, or energy storing devices, which differ from each other may be employed, in which energy is accumulated in parallel. Both systems can also be combined. It is important that an energy release, for example in order to support the movement of the parts toward each other, can be facilitated while motion takes place, and in particular, in accordance with the invention, on the basis of a definitive, predeterminable process of the release of energy. This means that, for example, at the start of the movement only a small amount of energy is being taken from the energy storing device or devices, or that an especially large amount of energy is extracted from a force, and that subsequently a removal of energy occurs on a different level of energy, which may, under certain circumstances, change once again.
Preferably, it is contemplated that the energy storing devices are made of springs. According to the invention, these springs are either connected in series in such a manner that in each of them, one after the other, the entire possible amount of energy is being stored, while the energized springs are kept in their energized condition or under tension, as the case may be, until all the springs have been energized. A further basic idea consists in preventing or blocking the energy storing device or devices against a release of their energy in such a manner, that a further movement of the two parts toward each other is still possible. It is, therefore, possible to provide a still further movement of the parts, during which no further storage
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