Mechanical delay device

Claim 2

A delay device with a predetermined time delay, comprising a housing having a bore therein at one end; a piston axially mounted in said bore, said piston being biased for axial displacement from an initial position to a terminal position, the time for said displacement determining the time delay of said device; means operatively associated with said piston for forming an enclosed expansible chamber having a throttle passage portion adjacent to said bore and an annular chamber portion within said housing; a plastically deformable puttylike mass located within the bore and partially within the expansible chamber to form a free space within said expansible chamber whereby biasing of said piston from the initial position to the terminal position effects displacement of said mass through said throttle passage and into said free space; a displaceable annular piston within said annular chamber; and rotatable means at the other end of said housing operatively associated with said annular piston for effecting displacement of said annular piston from an initial position against said mass whereby said mass is forced back through said throttle passage and the biased piston is returned to its initial position, said free space again being formed when the annular piston is withdrawn to its initial position.

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 wherein said piston is provided with an actuator member and means normally locking said actuator member against said biasing movement.

Claim 4

A delay device with an adjustable time delay, comprising a housing having a bore therein, a displaceable actuator piston mounted in said bore for movement from an initial position to a terminal position, the time for displacement of said piston determining the time delay of said device; means operatively associated with the actuator piston for forming an expansible chamber having a throttle passage portion adjacent to said bore and an annular chamber portion within said housing, said annular chamber having a larger outer diameter than the diameter of said bore; a plastically deformable puttylike mass within said bore and partially within said expansible chamber to form a free space therein; means biasing said actuator piston toward said throttle passage whereby said mass is displaced through said throttle passage and into said free space upon actuaTion of said piston; an annular piston axially displaceable within said annular chamber to occupy selectively the annular chamber and to force the deformable mass through said throttle passage into the bore against the bias of said actuator piston, said annular piston having a flange threadably engaging said housing; and means for adjusting the effective through flow cross-sectional area of said throttle passage, said adjusting means including a pin forming the inside wall of said annular chamber, said pin being adjustably threaded for axial movement within said housing in opposition to said actuator piston.

Claim 5

A delay device with an adjustable time delay, comprising a housing having a bore therein, a displaceable actuator piston mounted in said bore for movement from an initial position to a terminal position, the time for displacement of said piston determining the time delay of said device; means operatively associated with the actuator piston for forming an expansible chamber having a throttle passage portion adjacent to said bore and an annular chamber portion within said housing, said annular chamber having a larger outer diameter than the diameter of said bore; a plastically deformable puttylike mass within said bore and partially within said expansible chamber to form a free space therein; means biasing said actuator piston toward said throttle passage whereby said mass is displaced through said throttle passage and into said free space upon actuaTion of said piston; an annular piston axially displaceable within said annular chamber to occupy selectively the annular chamber and to force the deformable mass through said throttle passage into the bore against the bias of said actuator piston, said annular piston having a flange threadably engaging said housing; and means for adjusting the effective through flow cross-sectional area of said throttle passage, said adjusting means including a pin forming the inside wall of said annular chamber, said pin being adjustably threaded for axial movement within said housing in opposition to said actuator piston.

Claim 6

The device of claim 3 wherein said deformable mass includes silicone rubber.

Claim 7

The device of claim 3 including means for axially locking said actuator piston.

Claim 8

The device of claim 3 wherein said housing is provided with at least two separate sections rotatably mounted with respect to each other; one of said sections threadingly receiving said annular piston and the other of said sections receiving said pin; said other housing section and said ring piston being rotationally drivingly connected with each other and mounted for relative axial movement with respect to each other.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 including a cover member at the outside end of said bore and a spring mounted between said cover member and said actuator piston.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7 including means for axially locking said actuator piston.