Abstract: A shock isolation device for supporting the weight of an object and provig shock and isolation vibration is disclosed which includes a compressible elastomeric material. Apertures are drilled in the compressible elastomeric material for receiving buckling fibers. The buckling fibers are supported in the respective apertures by a buckling support plate positioned on a bottom surface of the compressible elastomeric material. The fibers extend above the top surface of the compressible elastomeric material to support an object above the top surface under normal conditions when no shocks occur. When a shock occurs, the buckling fibers are elastically or plastically buckled under an applied force caused by acceleration of the object and the object contacts the compressible elastomeric material to isolate the shock. A plurality of the buckling fibers are spaced evenly throughout the elastomeric material to support objects of different sizes and weights.

Abstract: A transverse support arrangement, consisting of two support sections extending parallel to one another, both of which have closed cross-sections and a common wall, is made in one piece as an extruded member and, in addition, is designed so that, upon impact, a conversion of energy is effected by reverse deformation of a support section.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device comprising: an elongate body arranged along a longitudinal axis to receive an axial impact force at a first end thereof; apparatus arranged adjacent a second end of the body for deformation thereof; die apparatus for producing deformation of the body and a ring fixed to the die apparatus and surrounding the body. Also disclosed is a repeatable energy absorption device including crushing apparatus having threaded apparatus on its outside surface. Upon receipt of the axial impact, the first end of the body moves from a first position away from the crushing apparatus to a second position closer to the crushing apparatus. The device additionally includes threaded sleeve apparatus having a first end for supporting the crushing apparatus and for moving the crushing apparatus toward the first end after the axial impact, to return the first end of the body to the first position.

Abstract: A strut assembly includes an axially elastically deformable tube assembly comprising a plurality of nested concentric tubes arranged in series and an axially extensible actuator attached between the ends of the tube assembly so that reciprocal extensions of the actuator cause elastic longitudinal displacements of the strut assembly. The tubes are rigidly fixed to one another.

Abstract: To permit absorption of sudden impacts or shock overloads, or gradual overloads, on a cable stretched to retain stones, rocks or snow masses, for example in road or railway cuts, a tube is bent to form an open loop, the end portions of which are held together by a clamp so that the end portions are frictionally engaged against each other, and the cable is threaded through the tube. Upon overload, the tube can plastically deform, thereby reducing the diameter of the loop or ring formed thereby, and accept overloads without overloading or unduly stressing the cable.

Abstract: An inexpensive damper adapted to the stress frequency in the form of a shock absorber, in particular for vehicle seats, consists of an abutment (8), in which an absorber sleeve (2) of a thermoplastic material with a piston (1) guided therein with expansion bead (10) is clamped, wherein the absorber sleeve (2) is composed of a thermoplastic material having a tensile strength .sigma..sub.R of at least 40 MPa, an elongation at break .epsilon..sub.R of at least 60%, a tensile stress at yield .sigma..sub.S of at least 40 MPa and an elongation at yield .epsilon..sub.S of at least 3.5% (according to ISO/R 527 or DIN 53 455 in each case).

Abstract: An energy absorbing device, suitable for use in the leg structure of aircraft passenger seating for the purpose of attenuating crash forces, having first and second attachment fittings 11, 21 with a tube 10 of fiber reinforced plastics material extending between them. Tube 10 has a crush initiation band 17 at which buckling of the tube commences upon compressive overload. Long, tough fibers are used as the reinforcing material in the tube so that, when compression of the device has concluded, there is a residual tensile capability. Successful operation of the device is facilitated by providing attachment fitting 12 with a slider 15 which helps to maintain the collapsing portion of the tube in axial alignment with the uncollapsed portion. The slider also acts as a tube wall straightener to unbuckle the collapsed fibers when tensile load is applied.

Abstract: In an energy absorbing damping device for safety belts of motor vehicles, for the purpose of controlled reduction of the deceleration force which acts on the belt user in the event of a collision, a strip element, which is connected to the safety belt, is pulled out of a coil and, by plastically deformed deformation members arranged on both sides of the strip element. The deformation members are formed as two toothed rollers, which engage with one another, so that the strip element, as it is pulled out of the coil, is first deformed sectionally and subsequently pulled straight again.

Abstract: A load bearing connective damper for service in tensile, compression, and torsion as a shock and vibration isolation mounting device. Dampers are constructed using a multidimensionally braided textile shape and a viscoelastic material disposed in the interstrand spaces of the textile shape.

Abstract: Several embodiments (10, 30, 80) of an energy absorption system are designed for permitting progressive collapse of the system by absorbing energy within the system. In one embodiment, a system (10) comprises conical bodies (12) separated by cables (20), which system progressively collapses through plastic deformation of compression members (16) cooperating with each cable (20). In another embodiment, a system (30) incorporates plastically collapsible compression members (44, 46, 48) which collapse progressively to permit the bodies (32) to move together. In another embodiment, a system (80) is provided where the progressive collapse is permitted by frictional sliding of a securing device (92) along a track (90) which permits bodies (82) to move together.

Abstract: An impact energy absorbing mechanism for a steering device of a motor vehicle includes guides each having a generally U-shaped guide surface. Each guide is mounted to a steering column which is movable in the axial direction when the operator's body is thrown out onto a steering wheel due a collision of the vehicle. A retaining portion is provided integrally with the guide and at a predetermined distance from the guide surface. An absorbing plate is fixed at one end to the vehicle body and left free at the other end. The free end of the absorbing plate is inserted and retained in a gap defined between the guide surface and retaining portion of the guide, so that the absorbing plate is held in a generally U-shaped bent position along the guide surface. When the guide is moved together with the steering column, the bent portion of the absorbing plate is sequentially shifted while maintaining the shape which is defined by the guide, thereby absorbing impact energy.

Abstract: A device for relieving mechanical loads on electrical conductors and line poles. The device includes arms pivoted to one another and a rod connected to the arms so that upon pivoting movement of the arms towards a full open position the rod is elongated. An indicator link is provided for indicating deformation of the rod.

Abstract: An inversion tube energy absorber, that absorbs energy by inverting a tube, is made to be capable of infinitely variable loading within a prescribed range by addition of a constricting device surrounding the inverted tube where it emerges from its housing. In this device, spherical balls in contact with the tube can be forced inwardly in radial directions by incline surfaces inside a rotatable ring surrounding the balls. This ring can be rotated as desired by turning a dial that is connected to the ring by a flexible shaft via gear systems.The invention also includes the method for making a variable-load energy absorber by addition of a device that creates additional force through plastic deformation in a selective manner in the basic device.

Abstract: A crashworthy helicopter crew seat, which includes a seat bucket connected to a support structure by an adjustable energy attenuator of the wire bending type. The attenuator includes a frame carried by the seat bucket, three parallel, vertically disposed wires connected at opposite ends to the attenuator frame, and a trolley assembly affixed to the support structure containing three sets of three rollers, rotatable about three vertically spaced horizontal axes, about which the three wires are respectfully bent and unbent as the seat bucket strokes downward during a crash of the helicopter. The lower two rollers of two of these sets of three rollers are displaceable along their axes between an engaged position and a disengaged position relative to a wire associated with these rollers.

Abstract: A light-weight aircraft passenger seat, which includes a plurality of integrally mounted wire-bending energy attenuators, and which can be floor mounted to face either forward or backward. Four seat legs, pivotally connected between the seat and floor, extend upward at the same angle from the floor, which is determined by two energy attenuators also pivotally connected between the seat and the floor, and extending upward from the floor in an opposite direction from the seat legs. When facing forward, the seat is stroked forward and downward. When facing backward, the seat is stroked backward and downward. In either a forward or backward facing disposition, the free ends of the energy attenuations extend into the back of the seat. Also the seat is flexibly connected to the seat legs and energy attenuators, which, in turn are connected by swivels to the floor to provide seat articulation as the floor distorts during a crash.

Abstract: A load limiter or a crash attenuation device based on wire bending principals is disclosed. Excessive tensile shocks, such as the accelerative forces imposed on a low stretch load restraint in a helicopter if it crashes, are absorbed by forcing a bifurcated double coil to successively bend and straighten as it travels through a pair of wire guides in response to the forces being transmitted into the limiter by the load restraint. The reaction force absorbed is a function of the wire diameter and stiffness while the reaction stroke is a function of the number of turns in the coil reels. The device further has an adjustment mechanism so it can easily be adapted to a wide variety of design conditions without changing the basic configuration of the limiter.