Rotary damper
A rotary damper includes an actuator including an extension side that is connected to a linkage. The rotary damper includes the linkage, a cam follower, and a cam wheel. The linkage is connected to the cam follower and the cam follower is movable relative to the cam wheel. The cam follower contacts a first portion of the cam wheel when in a locked state. The cam follower contacts a second portion of the cam wheel when a rotational force is applied to the cam wheel and the extension side of the actuator extends to apply an actuator force that counteracts a portion of the rotational force.
1. A rotary damper, comprising:
an actuator including an extension side that is extendable with respect to the actuator and is connected to a linkage;
the linkage, which is connected to a cam follower;
the cam follower, which is movable relative to a cam wheel; and
the cam wheel,
wherein the cam follower contacts a first portion of the cam wheel when in a locked state,
the cam follower moves along a second portion of the cam wheel when a rotational force is applied to the cam wheel and the extension side of the actuator extends to apply an actuator force that counteracts a portion of the rotational force.
2. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , wherein the cam follower contacts the second portion of the cam wheel in a floating state.
3. The rotary damper according to claim 2 , wherein the extension side of the actuator is in a most retracted position in the floating state.
4. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a relief regulator that controls the actuator force associated with extending the extension side of the actuator.
5. The rotary damper according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a speed controller that controls a speed at which the extension side of the actuator extends.
6. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator force is proportional to a rotational speed associated with the rotational force.
7. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the cam wheel is a curved notch portion.
8. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the cam wheel is a curved semicircular portion.
9. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , wherein the cam wheel does not rotate when the cam follower contacts the first portion of the cam wheel.
10. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , wherein the cam wheel rotates when the cam follower contacts the second portion of the cam wheel.
11. A rotary damper, comprising:
an actuator including an extension side that is extendable with respect to the actuator and is connected to a linkage;
the linkage, which is connected to a cam follower;
the cam follower, which is movable relative to a cam wheel; and
the cam wheel,
wherein the cam follower contacts a first portion of the cam wheel responsive to a first actuator force applied by retracting the extension side of the actuator,
the cam follower is moved so as not to contact the cam wheel responsive to a second actuator force applied by extending the extension side of the actuator, and
the cam follower moves along a second portion of the cam wheel responsive to a third actuator force applied by the actuator.
12. The rotary damper according to claim 11 , wherein the third actuator force is applied by retracting the extension side of the actuator.
13. The rotary damper according to claim 11 , wherein the third actuator force is applied by extending the extension side of the actuator.
14. The rotary damper according to claim 13 , wherein the extension side of the actuator extends responsive to a rotational force applied to the cam wheel.
15. The rotary damper according to claim 14 , wherein the rotational force is variable.
16. The rotary damper according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a relief regulator that controls the third actuator force associated with extending the extension side of the actuator; and
a speed controller that controls a speed at which the extension side of the actuator extends.
17. The rotary damper according to claim 14 , wherein the third actuator force is proportional to a rotational speed associated with the rotational force.
18. The rotary damper according to claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the cam wheel is a curved notch portion.
19. The rotary damper according to claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the cam wheel is a curved semicircular portion.