Patent ID: 7055791
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: F16F,F16M

Abstract:
1. A counter-balancing mechanism comprising: a support for supporting an article to be tilted about a horizontal axis; an annular cam movable with the support and having a cam surface which varies in height in a direction normal to the plane of rotation of the support; a cam follower; resilient means which loads the cam follower, whereby, as the support rotates, the cam follower and resilient means cause a return force to be exerted on the cam surface to substantially counteract the torque caused by the rotation of the support; and reaction means for varying the return force in accordance with a load on the support, wherein the annular cam is able to rotate about its own axis which is offset from the axis of rotation of the support, wherein said reaction means comprises means for setting a variable reaction point, against which the cam follower force reacts, at or offset from the axis of rotation of the support, thereby to cause the return force exerted due to rotation of the support about a particular angle to be varied.