The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 07, 2000
David J. Ineson, Oakville, CT (US);
Howard France, Watertown, CT (US);
Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
This invention offers advantages over the prior art by providing a simple, inexpensive mechanism and method for reducing the shock load on the drive of a rotary or linear actuator when the motion of the actuator output shaft is slowed, even to the point of stopping. This is referred to as bringing the actuator to a “soft stop.” This invention uses a single spring wherein the spring may be a torsion, ribbon or compression spring. The mechanism generally includes a spring, a spring cup and a drive cup. When the motion of the output shaft is slowed or reaches its limit of travel, the spring begins to store energy and brings the drive cup to a soft stop.