GB2505639A - A spring actuator - Google Patents

A spring actuator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2505639A
GB2505639A GB1214874.8A GB201214874A GB2505639A GB 2505639 A GB2505639 A GB 2505639A GB 201214874 A GB201214874 A GB 201214874A GB 2505639 A GB2505639 A GB 2505639A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
spring
free end
slider
housing
channel member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB1214874.8A
Other versions
GB2505639B (en
GB201214874D0 (en
Inventor
Roger David Boulton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SPRINGTHING LIMITED
Original Assignee
SPRINGTHING Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by SPRINGTHING Ltd filed Critical SPRINGTHING Ltd
Priority to GB1214874.8A priority Critical patent/GB2505639B/en
Publication of GB201214874D0 publication Critical patent/GB201214874D0/en
Priority to US14/422,804 priority patent/US20150225166A1/en
Priority to EP13767054.3A priority patent/EP2890622A2/en
Priority to PCT/GB2013/052208 priority patent/WO2014029997A2/en
Publication of GB2505639A publication Critical patent/GB2505639A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2505639B publication Critical patent/GB2505639B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/04—Wound springs
    • F16F1/10—Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/04—Wound springs
    • F16F1/06—Wound springs with turns lying in cylindrical surfaces
    • F16F1/065—Wound springs with turns lying in cylindrical surfaces characterised by loading of the coils in a radial direction

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)

Abstract

A spring actuator 1 is provided. A constant force spiral extension spring 10 has a central coil end 11 and a free end 13. A channel member 4 is provided to house the spiral spring 10 with means 5A, 5B to secure the spring free end 13 in a fixed position and to allow the spiral spring 10 to unwind in the channel member 4 away from the free end 13 and to wind up in the channel member 4 towards the free end 13. A slider 20 is provided to slide in the channel 4 and abut against the spiral extension spring 10 and to be biased towards the spring free end 13 when the spring is unwound. In use the slider 20 is engageable with an object to provide a spring bias on the object as the slider 20 is biased toward the spring free end 13.

Description

Title: Spring Actuator The present invention relates to a spring actuator, and especially to a spring actuator which delivers a constant force.
According to the present invention there is provided a spring actuator comprising: a) a constant force spiral extension spring having a central coil end and a free end, b) a channel member to house the spring with means to secure the spring free end in a fixed position and to allow the spiral spring to unwind in the channel member away from the free end and to wind up in the channel member towards the free end, and c) a slider to slide in the channel and abut against the spiral extension spring and to be biased towards the spring free end when the spring is unwound, in use the slider being engageable with an object to provide a spring bias on the object as the slider is biased toward the spring free end.
In one embodiment the channel member is an elongate rectangular housing with the spring free end secured to one end of the housing.
In one embodiment, the slider may include a projection for engagement with an object which extends through a slot in an elongate side wall of the housing.
In another embodiment, the slider may be connected to a rod which extends through an end wall in the elongate housing.
The housing may include a flange on an end wall to secure the housing to an object.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment with the spring wound up, Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment with the spring unwound, and Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a spring actuator I. Actuator 1 has a rectangular housing 2 with a removable side wall cover plate 3 with an elongate slot 3A. Housing 2 provides a channel member 4.
A constant force spiral extension spring lOis provided having a central coil end 11 wound on a spool 12, and a free end 13 secured in a fixed position to one end of the channel member 4 by retaining flanges 5A,SB on the inside wall of housing 2.
Housing 2 has a flange 6 at one end remote from flanges SA,SB with apertures 7A,7B to secure the actuator in a fixed position to an object.
Channel member 4 allows the spiral spring 10 to unwind in the channel member away from the free end (see Figure 2) and to wind up in the channel member towards the free end (see Figure 1).
A slider 20 is provided to slide in the channel member 4 and abut against the spiral extension spring and to be biased towards the spring free end when the spring is unwound. Slider 20 has a projection 21 which extends through slot 3A in cover plate 3.
In use the slider projection 21 can be engaged with an object to provide a spring bias on the object as the slider is biased toward the spring free end. The use of the constant force spiral extension spring 10 ensures a constant biasing force is applied to the object.
As shown in Figure 3 the slider 20 may be connected to one end 30A of a rod 30 which extends through an aperture SA in an end wall S in the elongate housing, and the other end 30B of rod 30 can be engaged with an object to provide a spring bias on the object.
The invention may take a form different to that specifically described above.
Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

  1. SCLAIMS1. A spring actuator comprising: a) a constant force spiral extension spring having a central coil end and a free end, b) a channel member to house the spring with means to secure the spring free end in a fixed position and to allow the spiral spring to unwind in the channel member away from the free end and to wind up in the channel member towards the free end, and c) a slider to slide in the channel and abut against the spiral extension spring and to be biased towards the spring free end when the spring is unwound, in use the slider being engageable with an object to provide a spring bias on the object as the slider is biased toward the spring free end.
  2. 2. A spring actuator according to claim 1, wherein the channel member is an elongate rectangular housing with the spring free end secured to one end of the housing.
  3. 3. A spring actuator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slider includes a projection for engagement with an object which extends through a slot in an elongatc side wall of the housing.
  4. 4. A spring actuator according to claim I or 2, wherein the slider is connected to a rod which extends through an end wall in the elongate housing.
  5. 5. A spring actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing includes a flange on an end wall to secure the housing to an object.
  6. 6. A spring actuator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB1214874.8A 2012-08-21 2012-08-21 Spring actuator Expired - Fee Related GB2505639B (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1214874.8A GB2505639B (en) 2012-08-21 2012-08-21 Spring actuator
US14/422,804 US20150225166A1 (en) 2012-08-21 2013-08-21 Spring actuator and wipe dispensing container
EP13767054.3A EP2890622A2 (en) 2012-08-21 2013-08-21 Spring actuator
PCT/GB2013/052208 WO2014029997A2 (en) 2012-08-21 2013-08-21 Spring actuator and wipe dispensing container

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1214874.8A GB2505639B (en) 2012-08-21 2012-08-21 Spring actuator

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201214874D0 GB201214874D0 (en) 2012-10-03
GB2505639A true GB2505639A (en) 2014-03-12
GB2505639B GB2505639B (en) 2014-08-06

Family

ID=47017082

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1214874.8A Expired - Fee Related GB2505639B (en) 2012-08-21 2012-08-21 Spring actuator

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2505639B (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002276710A (en) * 2001-03-19 2002-09-25 Nhk Spring Co Ltd Constant force spiral spring
EP1526238A2 (en) * 2003-10-22 2005-04-27 ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd Actuator assembly
EP1650626A1 (en) * 2004-10-20 2006-04-26 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Neutral position returning mechanism and input device using the same

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002276710A (en) * 2001-03-19 2002-09-25 Nhk Spring Co Ltd Constant force spiral spring
EP1526238A2 (en) * 2003-10-22 2005-04-27 ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd Actuator assembly
EP1650626A1 (en) * 2004-10-20 2006-04-26 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Neutral position returning mechanism and input device using the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2505639B (en) 2014-08-06
GB201214874D0 (en) 2012-10-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
COOA Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application

Owner name: JEANNETTE SCHAEFER

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ROGER DAVID BOULTON

Owner name: ROGER DAVID BOULTON

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: ROGER DAVID BOULTON

COOA Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application

Owner name: SPRINGTHING LIMITED

Free format text: FORMER OWNERS: ROGER DAVID BOULTON;JEANNETTE SCHAEFER

732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20170105 AND 20170111

PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20180821