Force damper
A force damper arranged to progressively arrest a first force imparted by an object moving in a first direction is disclosed. The force damper includes a housing enclosure having a first housing end and a second housing end. The first housing end includes a first connection point, and the second housing end includes an opening. A driving member is disposed within the housing enclosure and includes a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a shaft therebetween. The first shaft end includes a stop and the second shaft end includes a second connection point. A compressible member is disposed within the housing enclosure between the stop and the opening. The compressible member is formed from a material that at least partially undergoes plastic deformation when the first force is arrested and imparts a second force on the stop toward first housing end.
1 . A force damper operatively arranged for a single-use when a first force is applied to the force damper in a first direction, the force damper providing a readily observable characteristic that the first force has been applied to the force damper in the first direction, the force damper arranged to progressively arrest the first force applied in the first direction, the force damper comprising:
a housing enclosure comprising a first housing end and a second housing end, the first housing end including a first connection point, and the second housing end including an opening;
a driving member disposed within the housing enclosure and comprising a first shaft end, a second shaft end, and a shaft therebetween, the first shaft end comprising a stop and the second shaft end comprising a second connection point; and,
an elastically compressible member disposed within the housing enclosure between the stop and the opening, the elastically compressible member formed from a material that at least partially undergoes plastic deformation upon first application of the first force in the first direction and the first force is arrested, the elastically compressible member imparting a second force on the stop toward first housing end when the first force is applied, and,
wherein, when the first force is applied and arrested, the at least partial plastic deformation of the elastically compressible member provides the readily observable characteristic that the first force has been applied to the force damper.
2 . The force damper of claim 1 , wherein the elastically compressible member comprises one or more of a compression spring, a semi-resilient member, or a Belleville washer.
3 . The force damper of claim 1 comprising a plurality of elastically compressible members including at least each of a compression spring, a semi-resilient member, and a Belleville-washer, the second housing end opening comprising a through bore in an end wall thereof, and the second shaft end passes through the through bore.
4 . The force damper of claim 3 , wherein the semi-resilient member and the Belleville washer are disposed between the stop and the end wall.
5 . The force damper of claim 3 , comprising a first semi-resilient member and a second semi-resilient member, wherein the first semi-resilient member is disposed between a first terminal end of the compression spring and the stop, and the second semi-resilient member is disposed between a second terminal end of the compression spring opposite the first end, and the end wall.
6 . The force damper of claim 3 , wherein the semi-resilient member comprises a urethane washer.
7 . The force damper of claim 3 , wherein the Belleville washer is composed of one or more of a polymer, a metal, a frangible or fracturable material, or combinations thereof.