Patent ID: 7882941
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A device for damping movement of a strut, the damping device comprising: at least one housing with an associated reservoir; at least a pair of parallely extending, axially offset struts operatively associated with the housing, each of the struts being linearly moveable to extend and retract relative to the housing; a toothed rack on at least a portion of each of the struts; a pinion gear on an axle extending from opposite sides of the housing and cooperatively positioned for engaging the toothed rack of each of the struts, wherein teeth of the rack mate with teeth of the corresponding pinion gear; spaced disks on the axle inside the reservoir of the housing, and a viscous fluid retained in the reservoir, with spaced static plates adjacent to the spaced disks on the axle to dampen movement of the struts.