Rotary damping mechanism with pivotal vanes

Abstract

A damping mechanism that includes a housing having fluid disposed therein and an inner circumferential surface, an axle shaft that is rotatable with respect to the housing, and a first vane having a distal end and being pivotally associated with the axle shaft. When the axle shaft rotates in a first direction, the first vane pivots to a deployed position, and when the axle shaft rotates in a second direction, the first vane pivots to a stowed position. A first clearance is defined between the distal end of the first vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the first vane is in the deployed position, and a second clearance is defined between the distal end of the first vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the first vane is in the stowed position. The second clearance is greater than the first clearance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A damping mechanism comprising:
 a housing that defines a housing interior that includes a volume of fluid disposed therein, wherein the housing includes an inner circumferential surface,   an axle shaft that is rotatable with respect to the housing, and   at least a first vane having a distal end and being pivotally associated with the axle shaft and positioned in the housing interior and within the volume of fluid,   wherein when the axle shaft and first vane rotate in a first direction, the first vane pivots to a deployed position, and wherein when the axle shaft and first vane rotate in a second direction, the first vane pivots to a stowed position,   wherein a first clearance is defined between the distal end of the first vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the first vane is in the deployed position, wherein a second clearance is defined between the distal end of the first vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the first vane is in the stowed position, and wherein the second clearance is greater than the first clearance.   
     
     
         2 . The damping mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the housing has an opening defined therein through which the axle shaft extends. 
     
     
         3 . The damping mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the axle shaft includes a hub member mounted thereon, and wherein the first vane is pivotally mounted to the hub member. 
     
     
         4 . The damping mechanism of  claim 3  wherein the first vane includes opposing concave and convex surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The damping mechanism of  claim 4  wherein when the hub member rotates in the first direction, the concave surface of the first vane leads and the convex surface trails, and wherein when the hub member rotates in the second direction, the convex surface of the first vane leads and the concave surface trails. 
     
     
         6 . The damping mechanism of  claim 5  further comprising at least a second vane having a distal end, wherein the second vane is pivotally mounted to the hub member and is positioned in the housing interior and within the volume of fluid, wherein when the axle shaft and second vane rotate in a first direction, the second vane pivots to a deployed position, and wherein when the axle shaft and second vane rotate in a second direction, the second vane pivots to a stowed position, wherein a first clearance is defined between the distal end of the second vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the second vane is in the deployed position, wherein a second clearance is defined between the distal end of the second vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the second vane is in the stowed position, and wherein the second clearance is greater than the first clearance. 
     
     
         7 . The damping mechanism of  claim 6  wherein the first and second vanes are positioned approximately 180° apart on the hub member. 
     
     
         8 . The damping mechanism of  claim 7  further comprising a flange extending radially outwardly from the housing, wherein the flange includes at least one attachment opening defined therein. 
     
     
         9 . The damping mechanism of  claim 3  wherein the first vane is pivotally mounted to the hub member by a pivot pin. 
     
     
         10 . The damping mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the first vane includes a stop member that prevents the first vane from pivoting beyond the deployed position. 
     
     
         11 . A damping mechanism comprising:
 a housing that defines a housing interior that includes a volume of fluid disposed therein, wherein the housing includes an inner circumferential surface,   an axle shaft that extends through an axial opening in the housing,   a hub member mounted on the axle shaft, and   first and second vanes pivotally mounted to the hub member approximately 180° apart and extending radially outwardly therefrom, wherein the first and second vanes each include a distal end and are positioned in the housing interior and within the volume of fluid,   wherein when the axle shaft rotates in a first direction, the first and second vanes pivot to a deployed position, and wherein when the axle shaft rotates in a second direction, the first and second vanes pivot to a stowed position,   wherein the distance in a radial direction between the distal ends of the first and second vanes and the inner circumferential surface of the housing is greater when the first and second vanes are in the stowed position than when the first and second vanes are in the deployed position.   
     
     
         12 . The damping mechanism of  claim 11  wherein the first and second vanes each include opposing concave and convex surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The damping mechanism of  claim 12  wherein when the axle shaft rotates in the first direction, the concave surfaces of the first and second vanes lead and the convex surfaces trail, and wherein when the hub member rotates in the second direction, the convex surfaces of the first and second vanes lead and the concave surfaces trail. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a damping mechanism that includes
 a housing that defines a housing interior that includes an inner circumferential surface and a volume of fluid disposed therein, 
   rotating an axle shaft in a first direction, wherein a first vane that is positioned within the volume of fluid and has a distal end pivots to a deployed position and a first clearance is defined between the distal end and the inner circumferential surface of the housing, and   rotating the axle shaft in a second direction, wherein the first vane pivots to a stowed position and a second clearance is defined between the distal end and the inner circumferential surface of the housing, wherein the second clearance is greater than the first clearance.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the housing is affixed to a first object and the axle shaft is affixed to a second object, and wherein the first and second objects are pivotal with respect to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first object is stationary and the second object pivots with respect to the first object. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the first vane includes opposing concave and convex surfaces, wherein when the axle shaft rotates in the first direction, the concave surface of the first vane leads and the convex surface trails, and wherein when the axle shaft rotates in the second direction, the convex surface of the first vane leads and the concave surface trails. 
     
     
         18 . An overhead stowage bin comprising:
 an upper portion,   a bucket, wherein the bucket and the upper portion combine to define a bin interior, and   at least one damping mechanism that includes
 a housing that defines a housing interior that includes a volume of fluid disposed therein, wherein the housing includes an inner circumferential surface, 
 an axle shaft that is rotatable with respect to the housing, and 
 at least a first vane having a distal end and being pivotally associated with the axle shaft and positioned in the housing interior and within the volume of fluid, 
 wherein when the axle shaft and first vane rotate in a first direction, the first vane pivots to a deployed position, and wherein when the axle shaft and first vane rotate in a second direction, the first vane pivots to a stowed position, 
 wherein a first clearance is defined between the distal end of the first vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the first vane is in the deployed position, wherein a second clearance is defined between the distal end of the first vane and the inner circumferential surface of the housing when the first vane is in the stowed position, and wherein the second clearance is greater than the first clearance, 
   wherein the axle shaft is secured to one of the upper portion or the bucket, and wherein the housing is secure to the other of the upper portion or the bucket, whereby the bucket can pivot with respect to the upper portion.