Patent US6259846B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5010983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Shaft locking device
Assignee: NHK Spring Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-06-28
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Granted: 1991-04-30
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Expires: 2010-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A shaft-locking device which locks rotation of a movable shaft by a clamping force of a coil spring closely surrounding a fixed shaft and a movable shaft. Both sides of the coil spring are inserted surrounding the fixed shaft and a central portion of the coil spring surrounds the movable shaft. In case of rotation of the movable shaft on both sides, the locking torque is applied. Further, the closed state of the coil spring to the movable shaft is maintained uniformly without any relation to operation by separating the end portions of the coil spring at the movable shaft side of the coil spring from an outer circumference of the movable shaft so that a constant locking torque may be always obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshiharu Kitamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:36
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16M; F16M11/00; F16M11/02; F16M11/04; E; E05; E05D; E05D11/00; E05D11/08; E05D11/082; E05D11/084; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/10; F16B12/28; F16B12/32; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/10; F16C11/103; F16D; F16D13/00; F16D13/08; F16D49/00; F16D49/02; F16D7/00; F16D7/02; F16D7/022; E05Y; E05Y2900/00; E05Y2900/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/2066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A shaft-locking device for locking rotation at any arbitrary position of an article requiring control of an inclined angle, said device comprising a movable bracket secured to the article requiring control of an inclined angle, a fixed bracket secured to a supporting member for supporting the article, two fixed shafts integrally secured to said fixed bracket, a movable shaft rotatably secured to the movable bracket, the movable shaft being a stepped shaft with two small diameter portions being mounted within the fixed shafts and an outer diameter of a large diameter portion of the movable shaft being at least equal to the outer diameter of said fixed shafts and one of said fixed shafts being located between said movable bracket and said large diameter portion of said movable shaft, a continuous coil spring spiraling in a single direction surrounding the fixed shafts and the movable shaft in a closely contacted state, opposite end portions of said coil spring surrounding said fixed shafts to securely lock rotation of said movable bracket at any arbitrary position until an external force is applied to the movable bracket which is greater than a locking force exerted by the end portions of the coil spring on the fixed shafts to release said coil spring from said fixed shaft by expansion of said coil spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A shaft-locking device for locking rotation at any arbitrary position of an article requiring control of an inclined angle, said device comprising a movable bracket secured to the article requiring control of an inclined angle, a fixed bracket secured to a supporting member for supporting the article, two fixed shafts integrally secured to said fixed bracket, a movable shaft rotatably secured to the movable bracket, the movable shaft being a stepped shaft with two small diameter portions being mounted within the fixed shafts and an outer diameter of a large diameter portion of the movable shaft being at least equal to the outer diameter of said fixed shafts and one of said fixed shafts being located between said movable bracket and said large diameter portion of said movable shaft, a continuous coil spring spiraling in a single direction surrounding the fixed shafts and the movable shaft in a closely contacted state, opposite end portions of said coil spring surrounding said fixed shafts to securely lock rotation of said movable bracket at any arbitrary position until an external force is applied to the movable bracket which is greater than a locking force exerted by the end portions of the coil spring on the fixed shafts to release said coil spring from said fixed shaft by expansion of said coil spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring surrounds the fixed shafts and the movable shaft so that an available number of coil windings of the coil spring about the movable shaft are more numerous than that about the fixed shafts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 2, wherein both end portions of the coil spring are separated from the outer circumference of the fixed shafts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 3, wherein both end portions of the coil spring are separated from the outer circumference of the fixed shaft by extending in a tangent line direction at an outer circumference of the fixed shafts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 4, wherein grease is located in a clearance between the separated end portions of the coil spring and the outer circumference of the fixed shafts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 3, wherein both end portions of the coil spring are separated from the outer circumference of the fixed shafts by being wound to be a larger diameter than the remaining coil portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 6, wherein grease is located in a clearance between the separated end portions of the coil spring and the outer circumference of the fixed shafts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 3, wherein the fixed shafts are provided with a stepped shaft having small and larger diameters, both end portions of the coil spring being positioned at the small diameter portion of said fixed shafts to separate the coil spring from the outer circumference of the movable shafts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 8, wherein grease is located in a clearance between the separated end portions of the coil spring and the outer circumference of the fixed shafts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 3, wherein grease is located in a clearance between the separated end portions of the coil spring and the outer circumference of the fixed shafts.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A shaft-locking device according to claim 1, wherein the coil spring surrounds the movable and the fixed shafts so that an effective number of coil windings thereof are more numerous about the fixed shafts than about the movable shaft.
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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) | 1994-04-29 | 1994-10-29 | 1995-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-04-29 | 1998-10-29 | 1999-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-04-29 | 2002-10-29 | 2003-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |