초록 ▼

A force control strut including a housing having first and second ends and an internal chamber, a rod member having an inner end reciprocally movable inside the housing and along the internal chamber, a guide member forming a bushing allowing reciprocation of the rod member in the housing, a bottom

A force control strut including a housing having first and second ends and an internal chamber, a rod member having an inner end reciprocally movable inside the housing and along the internal chamber, a guide member forming a bushing allowing reciprocation of the rod member in the housing, a bottom plug fixed in the internal chamber, a guide piston secured to an inner end of the rod and slidable along an inner surface of the internal chamber, a first coil spring positioned between the guide piston and one end of the housing to bias the rod member in a given direction in the housing, a first external connector fixed to the rod member, a second connector fixed to the bottom plug, and a damper that includes a plunger reciprocally mounted in a force controlling passageway inside the rod member and movable in a passageway of the rod member.

대표청구항 ▼

Having thus defined the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A force control strut comprising an elongated housing having an axis and axially opposite first and second ends and an internal chamber with an inner surface, a rod member coaxial with said axis and having an inner end reciprocally mov

Having thus defined the invention, the following is claimed: 1. A force control strut comprising an elongated housing having an axis and axially opposite first and second ends and an internal chamber with an inner surface, a rod member coaxial with said axis and having an inner end reciprocally movable inside said housing and along said internal chamber and an outer end extending outwardly of said first end of said housing, a guide member secured at or near said first end of said housing to allow reciprocation of said rod member axially in said housing between a retracted position and an extended position relative to said housing, a bottom plug fixed at least partially in said internal chamber at or near said second end of said housing, a guide piston secured at or near said inner end of said rod member and slideable along said inner surface of said internal chamber, a first coil spring positioned between said guide piston and said bottom plug to bias said rod member in said extended position in said housing, a first external connector fixed at or near said outer end of said rod member, a second connector fixed at or near said bottom plug, and a damper combined with said rod member, said damper including a plunger having first and seconds ends and a plunger piston, said plunger piston and said first end of said plunger reciprocally mounted in an elongated force controlling passageway inside said rod member and coaxial with said rod member, said plunger piston movable in said passageway of said rod member between a compressed and uncompressed position, said second end of said plunger engageable with said bottom plug to force said plunger piston to move in said passageway toward said compressed position to at least partially dampen movement of said rod member in said housing as said rod member moves toward said bottom plug, said plunger including a plunger biasing arrangement to bias said plunger in said uncompressed position, said plunger biasing arrangement positioned at least partially between said inner end of rod member and said bottom plug. 2. The strut as defined in claim 1, wherein said plunger is designed to periodically abut against said bottom plug as said guide piston compresses said first coil spring while moving toward said bottom plug, said plunger not connected to said bottom plug. 3. The strut as defined in claim 1, wherein said plunger biasing arrangement includes a plunger spring positioned between said second end of said plunger and said inner end of said rod member. 4. The strut as defined in claim 1, wherein plunger piston including a first orifice to allow fluid flow in at least one direction through said first orifice when said plunger piston moves in said force controlling passageway inside said rod member. 5. The strut as defined in claim 4, wherein said first orifice is a calibrated orifice. 6. The strut as defined in claim 4, wherein said plunger biasing arrangement includes a plunger spring positioned between said second end of said plunger and said inner end of said rod member. 7. The strut as defined in claim 4, wherein said plunger is designed to periodically abut against said bottom plug as said guide piston compresses said first coil spring while moving toward said bottom plug, said plunger not connected to said bottom plug. 8. A force control strut comprising an elongated housing having an axis and axially opposite first and second ends and an internal chamber with an inner surface, a rod member coaxial with said axis and having an inner end reciprocally movable inside said housing and along said internal chamber and an outer end extending outwardly of said first end of said housing, a guide member secured at or near said first end of said housing to allow reciprocation of said rod member axially in said housing between a retracted position and an extended position relative to said housing, a bottom plug fixed at least partially in said internal chamber at or near said second end of said housing, a guide piston secured at or near said inner end of said rod member and slidable along said inner surface of said internal chamber, a first coil spring positioned between said guide piston and said bottom plug to bias said rod member in said extended position in said housing, a first external connector fixed at or near said outer end of said rod member, a second connector fixed at or near said bottom plug, and a damper combined with said rod member, said damper including a plunger having first and seconds ends and a plunger piston fixed at or near said first end of said plunger, said plunger piston and said first end of said plunger reciprocally mounted in an elongated force controlling passageway inside said rod member and coaxial with said rod member, said plunger piston movable in said passageway of said rod member between a compressed and uncompressed position, said second end of said plunger engagable with said bottom plug to force said plunger piston to move in said passageway toward said compressed position to at least partially dampen movement of said rod member in said housing as said rod member moves toward said bottom plug, said plunger piston including a first orifice to allow fluid flow in at least one direction through said first orifice when said plunger piston moves in said force controlling passageway inside said rod member, said plunger including a plunger spring positioned between said second end of said plunger and said rod member, said plunger spring biasing said plunger in said uncompressed position, said plunger including a tip flange on said distal end of said plunger, said plunger spring engaging said tip flange. 9. The strut as defined in claim 8, wherein said plunger spring has a different coefficient of compression than said first coil spring. 10. A force control strut comprising an elongated housing having an axis and axially opposite first and second ends and an internal chamber with an inner surface, a rod member coaxial with said axis and having an inner end reciprocally movable inside said housing and along said internal chamber and an outer end extending outwardly of said first end of said housing, a guide member secured at or near said first end of said housing to allow reciprocation of said rod member axially in said housing between a retracted position and an extended position relative to said housing, a bottom plug fixed at least partially in said internal chamber at or near said second end of said housing, a guide piston secured at or near said inner end of said rod member and slidable along said inner surface of said internal chamber, a first coil spring positioned between said guide piston and said bottom plug to bias said rod member in said extended position in said housing, a first external connector fixed at or near said outer end of said rod member, a second connector fixed at or near said bottom plug, and a damper combined with said rod member, said damper including a plunger having first and seconds ends and a plunger piston fixed at or near said first end of said plunger, said plunger piston and said first end of said plunger reciprocally mounted in an elongated force controlling passageway inside said rod member and coaxial with said rod member, said plunger piston movable in said passageway of said rod member between a compressed and uncompressed position, said second end of said plunger engagable with said bottom plug to force said plunger piston to move in said passageway toward said compressed position to at least partially dampen movement of said rod member in said housing as said rod member moves toward said bottom plug, said plunger piston including a first orifice to allow fluid flow in at least one direction through said first orifice when said plunger piston moves in said force controlling passageway inside said rod member, said plunger including a plunger spring positioned between said second end of said plunger and said rod member, said plunger spring biasing said plunger in said uncompressed position. 11. The strut as defined in claim 10, wherein said first orifice is a calibrated orifice. 12. The strut as defined in claim 10, wherein said plunger is spaced from said bottom plug when said rod member is in a fully extended position. 13. The strut as defined in claim 10, wherein said plunger spring has a different coefficient of compression than said first coil spring. 14. The strut as defined in claim 10, wherein said plunger is designed to periodically abut against said bottom plug as said guide piston compresses said first coil spring while moving toward said bottom plug, said plunger not connected to said bottom plug. 15. The strut as defined in claim 14, wherein said first orifice is a calibrated orifice. 16. The strut as defined in claim 14, wherein said plunger spring has a different coefficient of compression than said first coil spring. 17. The strut as defined in claim 14, wherein said plunger is spaced from said bottom plug when said rod member is in a fully extended position.