Patent ID: 6234417
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: B65H,B67D

Abstract:
An apparatus for storing an elongate member comprising:a support frame;a stationary support shaft attached to said support frame;a one-way clutch assembly disposed on said stationary support shaft adapted for rotation thereabout, said one-way clutch assembly having a one-way clutch, said one-way clutch being capable of engaging to prevent rotation of said one-way clutch assembly about said stationary support shaft in a first rotational direction and disengaging to allow rotation of said one-way clutch assembly about said stationary support shaft in a second rotational direction;a stator disk attached to said one way clutch assembly, said stator disk comprising a disk of hollow substantially circular cross section extending radially outward from said one-way clutch assembly;a housing rotatably supported by said stationary support shaft disposed radially outward of said one-way clutch assembly, said housing defining an annular chamber around said stator disk, said annular chamber having a outer wall and an inner wall, said outer wall being disposed radially outward of said inner wall;a rotor disk attached to said outer wall, said rotor disk comprising a disk of hollow substantially circular cross section extending radially inward from said outer wall, said rotor disk and said stator disk being disposed within said annular chamber in a juxtaposed spaced apart relationship defining an annular gap between said stator disk and said rotor disk;a viscous fluid disposed within said annular chamber such that at least a portion of said annular gap is filled with said viscous fluid to form a viscous clutch therebetween;a spool attached to said housing, said spool being adapted for winding the elongate member thereabout and;a torsional spring operatively attached to said spool, said torsional spring urging said spool in the first rotational direction, whereby rotation of said reel in the second rotational direction against said torsional spring causes said one-way clutch to release such that said viscous clutch provides substantially no resistance and whereby conversely rotation of said reel in the first rotational direction as urged by said torsional spring causes said one-way clutch to engage such that said viscous clutch provides resistance to regulate the angular velocity of said reel in the second rotational direction.