Patent ID: 6173822
Filing Date: 2001-01-16
Classification: E05Y,F16F

Abstract:
A rotary damper, comprising:a housing having a cylindrical damping chamber defined by a cylindrical wall;a viscous liquid medium disposed within said chamber;a rotatably supported shaft disposed within said chamber;at least one substantially radially extending vane mounted upon said shaft such that upon rotation of said shaft, said viscous liquid medium is displaced and flows between a narrow passage defined between said cylindrical wall of said chamber and a free distal end of said vane;said at least one substantially radially extending vane having a radially outer portion which is inclined in a first circumferential direction with respect to a diameter extending through a base portion of said vane and which is bendable in opposite circumferential directions such that upon rotation of said shaft in said first circumferential direction, said at least one vane is bent towards said cylindrical wall so as to effectively reduce said narrow passage defined between said cylindrical wall of said chamber and said free distal end of said at least one vane and thereby increase the damping action of said rotary damper, whereupon rotation of said shaft in a second opposite circumferential direction, said at least one vane is bent towards said shaft so as to effectively increase said narrow passage defined between said cylindrical wall of said chamber and said free distal end of said at least one vane and thereby decrease the damping action of said rotary damper; andat least one locking cam is disposed upon said cylindrical wall of said chamber and extending radially inwards so as to be engaged by said free end of said at least one vane if said at least one vane is bent toward said cylindrical wall beyond a predetermined extent.