Patent ID: 8925910
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A torsional spring and axial control device, comprising: a shaft having a plurality of planar exterior surfaces; a series of elongated elastomeric members, each elongated elastomeric member having a first elastomeric member end and a second elastomeric member end, wherein a cross sectional area of said first elastomeric member end is smaller than a cross sectional area of said second elastomeric member end and a cross sectional shape of said body gradually transitions in size between said first elastomeric member end and said second elastomeric member end; and a tubular casing comprising a plurality of planar interior surfaces, wherein adjacent edges of adjacent pairs of planar interior surfaces are joined along an angular transition, said plurality of planar interior surfaces collectively defining a tapered casing interior, said tubular casing having a cross sectional geometry of a first size at a first end and a same cross sectional geometry of a second size at a second, opposite end, wherein said first cross sectional geometry size is smaller than said second cross sectional geometry size, wherein each of said plurality of planar interior surfaces are trapezoidal and equal in size and shape, wherein said shaft is inserted within said tapered casing interior and each of said series of elongated elastomeric members is positioned contacting one respective exterior planar shaft surface and a pair of adjacent interior planar casing surfaces, wherein a resulting central axis of each of said tapered elongated elastomeric members are arranged to converge upon a central axis of said shaft, and wherein said series of elongated elastomeric members provides a resistive rotational spring force between said shaft and said casing.