Patent ID: 7111712

Claim:
A rotating damper, comprising: a rotating shaft provided inside a casing and rotatable relatively to the casing; first divider walls provided on an inner periphery of the casing and in either direct or indirect contact with the rotating shaft; second divider walls provided on an outer periphery of the rotating shaft and in either direct or indirect contact with the inner periphery of the casing; a plurality of pressure chambers defined by the first and second divider walls; a limiting mechanism for limiting a flow of fluid between the pressure chambers; a flow passage provided in each of the second divider walls for communication of the fluid between the pressure chambers; and a check valve mechanism for permitting a flow of fluid in one direction from one pressure chamber of the pressure chambers to an adjacent pressure chamber of the pressure chambers, but inhibiting a flow of fluid from the adjacent pressure chamber to the one pressure chamber, the check valve mechanism comprising: curving portions effective to move on and along the periphery of the rotating shaft, and each supported between the rotating shaft and the first divider wall; and valving portions each joining to the curving portion, wherein depending upon turning movement of the check valve mechanism, each of the valving portions is disposed so as to open the flow passage for the flow of fluid from the one pressure chamber to the adjacent pressure chamber, and to close the flow passage for the flow of fluid from the adjacent pressure chamber to the one pressure chamber.