US3689055A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linear rate spring mechanism
Assignee: Whittaker Corp
•
Filing: 1970-11-16
•
Granted: 1972-09-05
•
Expires: 1990-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A device which may take the form of a pressure regulator comprising (1) a spring-biased main shaft slidably positioned within a housing for reciprocal movement along its longitudinal axis and (2) one or more auxiliary springs disposed within the housing at substantially right angles to the main shaft and pivotally connected to the latter through slidable auxiliary shafts and links so that extensive and contractive movement of the auxiliary springs is axial and at right angles to the main shaft thereby providing the latter with a linear (including constant) output.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J Gende
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 03:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H35/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A device for producing a linear shaft output force, comprising: a housing; a main shaft slidably positioned within said housing for reciprocal movement along its longitudinal axis, said main shaft capable of said reciprocal movement in response to the combination of an external force acting on said shaft and main spring means carried within said housing and axially aligned with said main shaft throughout said movement of said main shaft for urging said main shaft axially in a direction opposite to the urging of said external force; slide means positioned within said housing at substantially right angles to said main shaft for reciprocal movement with respect to said main shaft; guide means carried within said housing for slidably receiving said slide means; rigid link means pivotally intErconnecting said slide means and said main shaft; and auxiliary spring means carried within said housing in axial alignment with said slide means throughout the movement of said slide means, said auxiliary spring means operably connected to said slide means for urging said slide means toward said main shaft, the spring rate of said auxiliary spring means selected with respect to the spring rate of said main spring means and the spring force of said auxiliary spring means selected with respect to the length of said rigid link means so that the combined force of said main and said auxiliary spring means on said main shaft in its axial direction is substantially linear.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
A device for producing a linear shaft output force, comprising: a housing; a main shaft slidably positioned within said housing for reciprocal movement along its longitudinal axis, said main shaft capable of said reciprocal movement in response to the combination of an external force acting on said shaft and main spring means carried within said housing and axially aligned with said main shaft throughout said movement of said main shaft for urging said main shaft axially in a direction opposite to the urging of said external force; slide means positioned within said housing at substantially right angles to said main shaft for reciprocal movement with respect to said main shaft; guide means carried within said housing for slidably receiving said slide means; rigid link means pivotally intErconnecting said slide means and said main shaft; and auxiliary spring means carried within said housing in axial alignment with said slide means throughout the movement of said slide means, said auxiliary spring means operably connected to said slide means for urging said slide means toward said main shaft, the spring rate of said auxiliary spring means selected with respect to the spring rate of said main spring means and the spring force of said auxiliary spring means selected with respect to the length of said rigid link means so that the combined force of said main and said auxiliary spring means on said main shaft in its axial direction is substantially linear.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said guide means comprises a pair of opposing, aligned cavities formed in said housing on opposite sides of said main shaft, the axes of said cavities being coplanar with said longitudinal axis of said main shaft; said slide means comprises a pair of tubes slidably received in said aligned cavities; and said auxiliary spring means comprises a single coil spring connected at each end to one of said tubes, said coil spring passing through a transverse aperture in said main shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 1 wherein: said guide means comprises a first channel formed in said housing; and said slide means comprises a first auxiliary shaft slidably received in said first channel, said first auxiliary shaft operably connected at its one end with said spring means and pivotally connected at its other end with said rigid link means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
165 words
The device of claim 3 wherein: said guide means includes, in addition, a second channel formed in said housing in alignment with said first channel, said first and second channels being located on opposite sides of said main shaft; said slide means includes, in addition, a second auxiliary shaft slidably received in said second channel; said rigid link means comprises a pair of pivot arms, each said pivot arm pivotally connected at one end to said main shaft and at its other end to one of said first and said second auxiliary shafts; and said auxiliary spring means comprises a pair of coil springs axially aligned with said auxiliary shafts, each said coil spring abutting at one end against said housing and at its other end against an end of one of said auxiliary shafts, whereby each said auxiliary shaft is urged by one of said coil springs toward said main shaft and said urging is transmitted to said main shaft by said pivot arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
The device of claim 3 wherein: said rigid link means comprises a first and a second pivot arm, said first pivot arm pivotally connected at its one end with said first auxiliary shaft and at its other end with a first end of a transverse shaft slidably received in a transverse aperture through said main shaft, a second end of said transverse shaft being pivotally connected to one end of said second pivot arm, the other end of said second pivot arm pivotally connected to a fixed point in said housing, whereby said reciprocal movement of said main shaft is accompanied by transverse, reciprocating movement of said transverse shaft perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said main shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2412486A
Cited
US3155855A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |