An actuating drive includes an actuating arm pivotally supported about a pivoting axis, and movably supported between a closed position and an open position. A force storage member applies a force to the actuating arm, and a coupling device can brake or prevent a pivotal movement of the actuating arm. The coupling device includes a movably-supported first coupling element having a tooth arrangement, and the first coupling element can engage a second coupling element when a predetermined pivotal speed of the actuating arm is exceeded to brake or prevent the pivotal movement of the actuating arm. The second coupling element includes an engagement section for engaging the two coupling elements together, and includes a freewheel section separate from the engagement section. In the closed position, the first coupling element is within the freewheel section of the second coupling element, whereby the two coupling elements are decoupled from one another.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for variable fluid damping. The apparatus comprises a mount. The apparatus also comprises a damper coupled to the mount to apply a damping force in response to movement of the mount. The apparatus further comprises an electrical element positioned to correspond to the damper. The apparatus additionally comprises a rheological fluid disposed in the damper. The rheological fluid changes viscosity in response to a change in an output of the electrical element to change the damping force of the damper. The apparatus also comprises a controller to provide input to the electrical element in response to a normal operating condition or an emergency operating condition.

The present invention discloses a multi-link hinge device, wherein the multi-link hinge device includes a bottom lever installed on a main body of a member with a door and having a first bottom fastening hole and a second bottom fastening hole formed to be spaced apart from an end side; a top lever installed on the door of the main body and having a first top fastening hole and a second top fastening hole spaced apart from each other; a body lever having one end pivotally connected to the first bottom fastening hole and having a first body fastening hole formed at the other end and a second body fastening hole formed inside; a first link pivotally connected to the first top fastening hole and the first body fastening hole; a second link pivotally connected to the second top fastening hole and the second body fastening hole, and having a link central fastening hole formed inside; a third link pivotally connected to the link central fastening hole and the second bottom fastening hole; and a rocker arm that is pivotally connected to the first link and guides the door to move to a closing position selectively by elasticity when the top lever for opening and closing the door is operated; wherein the top lever includes a latching member that is rotatably provided so as to be selectively latch-positioned on an elastic action section formed on the rocker arm, and receives an elastic force from an elastic member provided on the rocker arm to guide the door to elastically move along the elastic action section.

A device has at least two components that can be moved relative to each other. A drive device is provided with a drive housing and a drive shaft in order to bring about a relative movement of a first component to a second component. If the drive shaft is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the second component, the drive housing is rotatably accommodated on one of the two components and can be coupled by an actuator in a rotationally fixed manner to the first component and can be decoupled therefrom. If the drive housing is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the second component, the drive shaft can be coupled by an actuator in a rotationally fixed manner to the first component and can be decoupled therefrom.

A damper for a glove box includes a cylinder including a cylinder body defining a space therein, a partition that divides the space into a first space and a second space and in which a hole is disposed, and guide holes disposed in the cylinder body to communicate with the second space, a piston disposed in the first space to be movable in a first direction, a valve disposed in the second space, and an elastic support unit disposed in the second space to elastically support the valve. The guide holes include a first guide hole and a second guide hole disposed apart from each other along a circumference of the cylinder body, and a protrusion of the valve is disposed in one of the first guide hole and the second guide hole.

Systems and devices to control rotational and/or arcuate motion are provided herein. In some examples, a hinge system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door. In some examples, a hinge system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door by employing a shear thickening fluid. In some examples, a door closure system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door by employing two opposing springs.

Systems and devices to control rotational and/or arcuate motion are provided herein. In some examples, a hinge system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door. In some examples, a hinge system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door by employing a shear thickening fluid. In some examples, a door closure system is configured to replace a conventional door hinge and to control motion of the door by employing two opposing springs.

A refrigerator includes: a cabinet having a storage space; a hinge bracket coupled to the cabinet; a door which is rotatably coupled to a shaft provided at the hinge bracket, and which open/close the storage space; and an automatic closing device which is provided at the door at a position spaced from the rotational center line of the door, and which operates together with the hinge bracket during closing of the door, so that the door automatically closes, where the automatic closing device includes: a lever that rotates around a rotational center line spaced from the rotational center line of the door; an elastic member connected to the lever; and a body which is provided at the door and which rotatably supports the lever.

A hinged device with dampening of the opening (A) and/or closing (C) end strokes of a door of an appliance includes a first element (3) to be fixed to a body and a second element (5) to be fixed to the door of the appliance and hinged by a hinge pin (7) so that the door rotates along the opening (A) and closing (C) end strokes and an intermediate (I) stroke around the hinge pin (7). The device includes a cradle (11) sliding into the first element (3) and a connecting rod (13) connected to the cradle (11) and to the second element (5) for translation, following the door rotation, of the cradle (11) that slidably houses a damper (21) of variable length and provided with sliding members (25, 27) sliding into first slots (31) of the cradle (11) and into second slots (33) of the first element (3).

A power drive mechanism includes an electric motor configured to rotate a drive member, a housing having an inner wall bounding a cavity, and an extensible actuation member linearly moveable in a first direction to move a vehicle swing door in an opening direction and in a second direction to move the vehicle swing door in a closing direction. A clutch/brake assembly is disposed in the cavity of the housing. The clutch/brake assembly operably connects the drive member with the extensible actuation member. The clutch/brake assembly is moveable from a disengaged state, whereat the extensible actuation member is inhibited from moving relative to the housing, to an engaged state, whereat the extensible actuation member moves relative to the housing. The clutch/brake assembly moves mechanically from the engaged state to the disengaged state in response to the electric motor changing from the energized state to the de-energized state.