The invention relates to a one-way braking device according to the preamble of claim 1.[0001]
More particularly, the invention relates to rotary attenuators. Rotary attenuators usually have a braking rotor which is rotatably supported in a casing. There is a viscous fluid in the housing, e.g. silicone oil. When the rotor rotates a respective resistance is produced which makes itself felt as a braking torque. An interaction with a toothed rod or toothed segment which is mounted on the component to be braked becomes possible via a shaft led out of the housing. The shaft has mostly seated thereon a pinion. Such rotary attenuators exist in most varied embodiments. They are employed, above all, in automobiles, electronic devices and the like. They have relatively small dimensions.[0002]
Unless particular provisions are made the braking action of such rotary brakes is symmetric. The braking torque obtained in either sense of rotation is approximately the same. However, a one-sided braking effect is desirable in some applications so that freewheeling is intended to act in the inverse direction. Known freewheeling systems require a wrap spring, a bipartite axle as well as an extra metallic bushing with a lubrication to transmit forces. The wrap spring cannot be mounted by automatic machines so that mounting one-way rotary attenuators of this type involves relatively great expenditure .[0003]
It is the object of the invention to improve a braking device of the aforementioned type in such a way that this reduces the mounting expenditure and allows to realize a small size of construction.[0004]
This object is attained by the features of claim 1.[0005]
In the inventive braking device, the freewheel is formed between the housing of the rotary braking device and another housing which receives the first housing. The first housing is floatingly received in the chamber of the second housing and the circumference of the first housing and a portion of the wall of the second chamber are formed such that a positive interengagement takes place between these portions if they are moved against each other because of a linear force component acting between these portions. In such a case, a force acting on the pinion of the braking device is braked by means of the braking rotor. On the contrary, if the first and second housings are acted on in a way that they get under a force opposed to the first force component the first housing can freely rotate in the second chamber of the second housing. Freewheeling is established for this case. The positive interengagement between the first and second housings allows to transmit a large torque. In contrast, the torque is approximately zero in the freewheel direction.[0006]
According to an aspect of the invention, a circumference of the first housing has a toothing and the second chamber has a toothed segment, the toothing and the toothed segment getting in engagement with each other in a braking operation and getting out of engagement in a freewheeling operation.[0007]
According to another aspect of the invention, the locking portion is defined by spaced locking edges which cooperate with the preferably cup-shaped or grooveshaped recesses at the circular circumference of the first casing.[0008]
According to another aspect of the invention, the circumference of the first housing is a polygon in section and the locking portion is shaped as a complementary polygonal portion. A positive interengagement is obtained also here when the first and second housings are pulled towards each other in such a way that the first housing gets into engagement with the locking portion of the second housing.[0009]
Since the attenuator of the invention is symmetric freewheeling may be obtained in either direction in different mounting situations. Thus, a braking device is provided which is independent on the direction in which a braking torque or freewheeling is to be produced. Thus, only one series of tools needs to be manufactured to produce the parts of the inventive braking device which are preferably made of a plastic material.[0010]
Another advantage is that the assembly of the braking device may be fully automatic. This makes unnecessary any manual preassembly as has been required for former one-way rotary brakes.[0011]
The size of construction of the inventive braking device is random and, in particular, may be built to be very small.[0012]
The material for the braking rotor and casing may be the same and preferably is a plastic. This also reduces the expenditure for the inventive braking device.[0013]
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to embodiments.[0014]
FIG. 1 schematically shows a first embodiment of a braking device according to the invention.[0015]
FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of a braking device according to the invention.[0016]
FIG. 3 Schematically shows a third embodiment of a braking device according to the invention.[0017]
FIG. 4 shows a section through the representation of FIG. 3 along line[0018]4-4.
FIGS.[0019]5-8 show the braking device of FIG. 4 at different stages of assembly.
FIGS. 1 through 3 schematically show three rotary attenuators which respectively have a[0020]housing10a,10b,10cwith diametrically opposedflanges12,14 to be fixed to a substrate. The housings10athrough10crespectively have aninternal chamber16a,16b,16c. The chamber respectively has disposed therein asecond housing18a,18b,18c.
The outer circumference of the[0021]casing18ais configured as a polygon. The outer circumference of the casing18bis circular and is formed with groove-shaped indentations20 at the circumference. The circumference of thecasing18cis circular and is provided with atoothing22. It can be seen that the wall of thechamber16ais formed with a complementary polygon of thecasing18aover a certain area at24. In FIG. 2, in the area of theupper flange12, the chamber16bhas anextension26 by which twolocking edges28 and30 are defined at the ends of theextension26, as viewed in a circumferential direction. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the wall of thechamber16chas atoothed portion32.
The internal structure of the rotary attenuators illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 is apparent from FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is intended to be a section through the representation of FIG. 3, but could also represent a section through FIGS. 1 and 2.[0022]
The[0023]flange portions12,14 form part of acomponent34 of thehousing10cwhich has alower plate36 and anannular portion38.Plate36 andannular portion38 define thechamber16c. Theannular portion38 has put thereon acap40 which forms a snapping connection along with the outer side of the annular portion as can be seen at42. The top wall of thecap40 has acentral aperture44.
The[0024]housing18chas afirst portion46 and asecond portion48 which are introduced into each other and are appropriately connected to each other. Thehousing18chas formed therein achamber48 which accommodates abraking rotor50 which is rotatably and sealedly supported by ashaft butt end52 in thehousing portion46. The shaft butt end extends to the outside of thehousing10cthrough anopening44 and the outer portion of theshaft butt end52 has seated thereon apinion54. While thebraking rotor50 rotates relative to thehousing18cin the chamber48 a braking action appears if thechamber38 is filled with a viscous liquid, e.g. silicone oil. This action is generally known for rotary attenuators up to this point.
It is evident from FIGS. 1 through 3 that a positive interengagement can be established, for instance, between the[0025]housings10aand18ain FIG. 1 and prevents a relative rotation between the housings when thehousing18ais moved towardsportion24. In this case, a torque applied to thepinion54 is braked in a known manner. On the contrary, if thehousing18ais moved to the opposite direction a free rotation may occur betweencasings10aand18a, which results in freewheeling if a torque is applied to thepinion54.
The rotary attenuator of FIG. 2 reacts similarly. In this case, the positive interengagement is established with the indentations[0026]16bby the locking edges28 and30. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the positive interengagement is established between thetoothing22 of thehousing18cand thetoothed portion32 of thehousing10c.
The effect described presupposes that, apart from a torque applied to the pinion, a linear force component will act on the[0027]housing18ato18cwhich either establishes or eliminates the positive interengagement described. This is the case, for instance, if a toothed rod engages thepinion54 as is described in the context of FIGS. 5 through 8. It further presupposes that thehousing18a,18b, and18cis floatingly received each in thechamber18a,18b, and18cof thehousing10a,10b,10c, respectively.
FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate the[0028]rotary brake30d in a way approximately similar to that of FIG. 2 in different positions. In FIG. 5, a toothed rod22ais disposed below apinion40dand a braking effect will result when thetoothed rod22dmoves to the right, and a freewheeling effect will result when it moves to the left. The housing of FIG. 6 is disposed as that of FIG. 5, but thetoothed rod22dis disposed above thepinion40d. A rightward movement of thetoothed rod22dagain results in braking and a leftward movement results in freewheeling.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the[0029]housing32dis turned through 180°. A rightward movement of thetoothed rod22dof FIG. 7 which is disposed above results in freewheeling and a leftward movement results in braking. Thetoothed rod22dof FIG. 8 which is disposed below causes a freewheeling effect when moved to the right and causes braking when moved to the left.