Apparatus and method for automatically pivoting a first member relative to a second member

摘要

An apparatus for automatically pivoting a first member relative to a second member comprises a housing connectable to the second member; a shaft connectable to the first member and juxtaposed to rotate about its axis within the housing between a rest position and an open position, the shaft having first and second rates of rotation in a closing direction from the open to the rest position; a torsion spring assembly connected between the housing and the shaft; a dampening assembly connected between the housing and the shaft for exerting a dampening torque upon the shaft during at least one direction of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing; a time delay assembly connected between the housing and the shaft for variably exerting a braking torque on the shaft; a shift assembly connected between the housing and the shaft and operable to enable and disable the time delay assembly; and, a clutch assembly for engaging the shaft with the dampening assembly and the time delay assembly when torque is applied to rotate the shaft in the closing direction.