US 12,135,067 B2
Damping apparatus
James T. Kull, Denver, NC (US); Patrick A. Hartman, Belmont, NC (US); Rodney Armstrong, Gastonia, NC (US); and Edward William Twist, Gastonia, NC (US)
Assigned to Stabilus GmbH, Koblenz (DE)
Appl. No. 17/260,627
Filed by Stabilus GmbH, Koblenz (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/041998
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 15, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/018532, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0277973 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. F16F 1/12 (2006.01); F16M 11/10 (2006.01); F16M 13/02 (2006.01); F24S 30/40 (2018.01); H02S 20/32 (2014.01); F24S 30/00 (2018.01); G05G 5/05 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 1/128 (2013.01) [F16F 1/12 (2013.01); F16M 11/10 (2013.01); F16M 13/022 (2013.01); F24S 30/40 (2018.05); H02S 20/32 (2014.12); F16F 2228/08 (2013.01); F16F 2230/0005 (2013.01); F16F 2230/0023 (2013.01); F16F 2230/007 (2013.01); F16F 2230/04 (2013.01); F16F 2230/30 (2013.01); F16F 2232/08 (2013.01); F16F 2234/02 (2013.01); F24S 2030/19 (2018.05); G05G 5/05 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A damping apparatus comprising:
(a) a housing defining an interior, the housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
(b) a rod partially positioned within the interior of the housing, the housing having an opening at the first end for receiving the rod therethrough, the rod moveable between an extended position and a compressed position; and
(c) a single mechanical spring operatively connected to the rod and contained within the interior of the housing, wherein the mechanical spring applies force to an outer surface of the rod and the interior surface of the housing, wherein the mechanical spring biases the rod to a centered position when the rod is moved to the extension position and biases the rod to a centered position when the rod is moved to the compression position, whereby the dampening apparatus is self-centering.