Patent ID: 6799738
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: B65H,B67D

Abstract:
An apparatus for storing an elongate member comprising:a support frame; a spool rotatably supported by said support frame, said spool having a cylindrical body and a pair of flanges extending radially outward from opposite ends of said cylindrical body; an elongate member wound about said spool, said elongate member having a free end extending from said support frame and a fixed end fixed to said spool; a spring rewind motor operatively disposed between said support frame and said spool, said spring rewind motor exerting a torque on said spool for counteracting a rotational displacement of said spool in a first rotational direction caused by the paying out of said elongate member from said spool; a viscous clutch assembly operatively disposed between said spool and said support frame to exert a retarding torque between said spool and said support frame, said viscous clutch assembly comprising a housing defining a sealed chamber, a viscous liquid contained therein, and a plurality of vanes disposed in said sealed chamber; and a unidirectional clutch assembly operatively disposed between said spool and said support frame, said unidirectional clutch assembly operating to disengage said viscous clutch assembly when said spool is rotated in said first rotational direction, thereby permitting the unwinding of said elongate member from said spool without said viscous clutch exerting a substantial retarding torque, said unidirectional clutch assembly further operating to engage said viscous clutch assembly such that said viscous clutch exerts a retarding torque between said spool and said frame for limiting rotational velocity of said spool when said spool is rotated in a second rotational direction for rewinding said elongate member onto said spool.