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:
Mar. 09, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 22, 2002
Andrzej Dec, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
The Gates Corporation, Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
A damping strut. An inner damping member is axially engaged with an outer housing. The outer housing is connectable to a tensioner arm. A wedge member connected to an immoveable mounting member is axially engaged with an inner portion of the inner damping member. The outer housing is axially moveable relative to the wedge member. A spring bears upon and urges the outer housing away from an end cap. The end cap comprises a rod, which extends axially within the wedge member and has an end connected to the inner damping member. The rod transmits a spring load force from the end cap to the inner damping member such that the inner damping member radially expands against the outer housing in response to the spring load force, thereby creating a frictional force between the inner damping member and the outer housing which damps an outer housing movement in proportion to the spring force.