Patent ID: 6736245
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
A dampening cylinder, comprising:a cylindrical housing having first and second ends and an inner surface defining a cavity in the housing for receiving a fluid therein; a piston slidably extending through the cavity in the housing; a flange projecting from the piston and positioned within the cavity so as to divide the cavity in the housing into first and second portions, the flange terminating at a radially outer edge which forms a slidable interface with the inner surface of the housing; and a flow conduit having a first end communicating with the first portion of the cavity in the housing and a second end communicating with the second portion of the cavity in the housing, the flow conduit including: first and second flow control valves for controlling the flow of fluid between the first and second portions of the cavity in the housing, each flow control valve including a flow regulator having a plurality of user selectable discrete settings for controlling the flow rate and for providing a discrete metered fluid flow through a corresponding flow control valve; and an emergency stop valve movable between a first open position wherein fluid is allowed to flow between the first and second portions of the cavity in the housing and a closed position wherein fluid is prevented from flowing between the first and second portions of the cavity of the housing.