Avm, Incorporated

Mark S Jeffries

James B Chamberlin

Walter Douglas Bauman

Jack R Roach

Archie L Evans

Maurice Ladd

Richard M Boyd

The end connector assembly () for a gas spring () enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball () on the end of a ball stud () by relatively moving the connector body () and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring () to which the connector body () is connected. The ball () enters the connector body () through an opening () in the body's front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring's longitudinal axis. A slot in the body's bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball (), accommodates the shaft portion () of the ball stud (), adjacent the ball (), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body () through the opening (). A retainer clip is connected with the connector body () and is selectively movable between a first or open position where the ball may be admitted into or withdrawn from the connector body () and a second or closed position where the ball is secured within the connector body by the retainer clip ().

End connector assembly

The method includes making a fluid communication channel ( ), which has a selectively variable cross-sectional area profile, in the inner face of a gas spring cylinder ( ) so as to permit fluid communication at different selective rates bypassing around or across the piston assembly ( ) of the gas spring ( )as the piston assembly ( ) moves within the cylinder ( ). Preferably the cross-sectional area profile of the fluid communication channel ( ) is initially substantially the same throughout the length of the channel( ) and is thereafter selectively changed in certain portions of the channel ( ) so as to restrict and in some instances block gas or fluid flow through the fluid communication channel ( ).

Method of manufacturing gas springs

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring (and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications) and that minimizes leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring. The generally annular seal body includes a radially inwardly facing surface, force directing lobes and either a plastic wiper insert or a wiper lobe that are designed for minimizing the leakage of oil between the radially inwardly facing surface of the seal body and the adjacent, radially outwardly facing surface of the gas spring's piston rod, and that include a corner edge that projects radially inwardly beyond the plane of the seal body's radially inwardly facing surface. When the seal body is compressed for use in a gas spring and is thus subjected to the high-pressure gas, the induced stresses in the seal body result in the corner edge being forced against the adjacent surface of the piston rod to effectively prevent the leaking of oil therebetween. The permeation of gas axially through the seal body is minimized by the inclusion of a co-molded metal plate in the seal body adjacent to the rod end of the seal body.

Seal

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications and that minimizes the leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring or the other applications. The generally annular seal body includes radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces and non-concave axial facing surfaces. Lobes for sealing, wiping and directing enhanced forces project radially beyond the planes of the radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. The seal also includes a wiper insert that has a parabolic shaped radially outwardly facing surface and a radially inwardly facing surface, and that is secured in a recess adjacent to the front corner of the seal body's radially inwardly facing surface. When the seal body is compressed for use, the compression induced stresses in the seal body result in the formation of an effective gas and oil seal because, in part, one of the corners of the insert's radially inwardly facing surface is forced against the adjacent surface of the piston rod.

Seal for gas springs and the like

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications and that minimizes the leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring or other application. The generally annular seal body includes a number of convex sealing lobes on its radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. All of the sealing lobes have a predetermined radius and project radially beyond the plane of their respective surfaces. The axial facing surfaces of the seal body are generally flat or non-concave. The seal also includes a wiper insert secured in a recess in one corner of the radially inwardly facing surface of the seal body. When the seal body is compressed between the relatively movable, annularly spaced piston rod and cylinder of a gas spring or application, the compression induced stress in the seal causes the seal body and insert to form an effective gas and oil seal.

The orientation insensitive, non-cavitating differential, bi-directional damper has a tubular body defining a closed, elongated chamber that has a first end and a second end. A piston assembly is disposed in and is movable within a portion of the chamber. One end of a piston shaft is connected with the piston assembly and the other end of the shaft extends out of one end of the chamber. Another assembly is disposed in the chamber between the piston assembly and the other end of the chamber. A floating piston is disposed in the chamber and is movable in the chamber between the other assembly and the other end of the chamber. The portion of the chamber between the other end of the chamber and the floating piston is filled with gas while the remainder of the chamber is filled with fluid. The floating piston is spring biased toward the other assembly. Orifices in the piston assembly control the rate of fluid flow across the piston assembly when the piston assembly moves relatively to the tubular body. The orifices in the other assembly control the rate of fluid flow across the other assembly when the piston assembly moves relatively to the tubular body.

Damper

A self centering, bi-directional, non-cavitating damper that includes a cylindrical damper body and a piston assembly having a piston reciprocally movable in the damper body and a piston rod connected and movable with the piston. A tube is connected with the piston rod and is spaced about and radially from the damper body so that the tube and damper body may move axially, relative to each other, but are normally positioned in centered positions with respect to each other. First and second plastic washers are positioned between the damper body and the tube. At least one coil compression spring is positioned between the damper body and the tube and biases the washers apart axially to their normal positions. Each washer is prevented from moving apart beyond its normal position, but is movable toward the other washer, against the bias of the spring, when relative movement, from their normal positions, occurs between the damper body and the tube.

Bi-directional damper with a self-centering mechanism

A seal that is particularly suitable for use in a gas spring and other high pressure hydraulic and pneumatic sealing applications and that minimizes the leakage of relatively high pressure gas and lubricating oil from the rod end of the gas spring or other applications. The generally annular seal body includes a number of convex sealing lobes on its radially inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. All of the sealing lobes have a predetermined radius and project radially beyond the plane of their respective surfaces. The axial facing surfaces of the seal body are generally flat or non-concave. The seal also includes a wiper insert secured in a recess in one corner of the radially inwardly facing surface of the seal body. When the seal body is compressed between the relatively movable, annularly spaced piston rod and cylinder, the compression induced stress in the seal causes the seal body and insert to form an effective gas and oil seal.

An adjustable speed gas spring primarily adapted for use as a part of a door closing mechanism. The gas spring includes a piston assembly which is disposed within an elongated fluid chamber and which upon relative rotation of the shaft with respect to the tubular body, permits the user to adjust the shaft extension velocity. The gas spring is fully functional in any shaft orientation.

Adjustable speed gas spring

An adjustable speed gas spring primarily adapted for use has a part of a door closing mechanism. The gas spring includes a piston assembly which is disposed within an elongated fluid chamber and which upon relative rotation of the shaft with respect to the tubular body, permits the user to adjust the shaft extension velocity. The gas spring is fully functional in any shaft orientation.

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Florence, SC, United States of America

Mark S Jeffries