Rotary snubber for linear actuator

Claim 1

In a glassware forming machine having an air driven actuator which includes a linearly reciprocable shaft, and cam means associated with said shaft for rotating it through a predetermined angular displacement as the shaft moves linearly for moving a component of the machine between an active position and an inactive position spaced linearly and angularly therefrom, the improvement comprising an hydraulic snubber for the angular motion, said snubber having a first housing part defining an annular chamber which is provided with hydraulic fluid, means for mounting said housing part to the fixed frame of the machine, an annular guide member defining two sets of circumaxially spaced openings so arranged that all of said openings are in communication with said annular chamber, an inner part rotatably received in said guide member and rotated directly by angular displacement of said shaft, said inner part having at least two vanes cooperating with said guide member to define at least two inner chambers, said guide member having two abutments cooperating with said vanes to force the hydraulic fluid outwardly through said two sets of openings, said vanes defining passageway means to provide for the free flow of fluid into the space behind the vanes during angular motion in one direction, and one way ball check valves in said passageway means to provide for snubbed angular motion in the other direction.