Abstract: A washing machine having improved resistance toward frictional walking. The washer comprises a cabinet, a tub assembly disposed in the cabinet for processing a wash load and a suspension including a truss-like pedestal for supporting the tub assembly and for permitting the tub assembly to pivot. The supporting feet of the washer are rotatably coupled to the suspension. Preferably, the number of members comprising the suspension is greater than or equal to three times the number of joints comprising the suspension minus eight. With this arrangement, a statically determinant suspension is provided. The substantially continuous contact between the supporting feet and the floor (i.e. the feet automatically conform to the floor surface) increases the frictional resistance, thereby decreasing the probability of frictional walking.

Abstract: The device makes use of, firstly, four-sided hollow profile sections having a longitudinal slot along one side and cut-outs on the opposite side of the profile and, secondly, damping elements of rubber or rubber-like elastic material, which can be inserted in the hollow profile for the purpose of sound-insulation. Each damping element has a through hole for a connecting bolt and a shoulder that surrounds the hole and projects beyond a damping element's bearing surface which comes into contact with the profile. Because the shape and size of the projecting shoulder, the longitudinal slot, and the cut-outs match, the device provides for a wide range of possible uses and mounting configurations with a small number of simple, standardized components.

Abstract: An improved lower suspension ball or collet for a washing machine hung suspension system, the collet providing an axial channel for receiving a hung suspension rod therethrough, the collet supporting a portion of a floating base which holds the vibration inducing components, such as rotating washing machine components, the suspension rod attached at its top end to a frame such as a washing machine cabinet, the collet resiliently supported off of a bottom end of the suspension rod, the collet channel fashioned to act as a friction bushing in a spring-mass-damper arrangement. The collet comprises a tube portion having the axial channel which grips the rod to act as the friction bushing. The channel has an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of the rod. The tube portion provides two axially arranged slots cut therethrough offset by 90.degree.. The slots being at opposite axial ends of the tube portion and terminate shy of the respective opposite axial end of the tube portion.

Abstract: A fixture for appliance manufacturing and transport of the assembled appliance supports vertically movable components of the appliance at differing elevations during manufacturing and continues to at least partially support the components during the transport after assembly. A particular use of the fixture is in the manufacture of a washing machine which has a suspended wash tub and drive assembly and an outer cabinet. The fixture is composed of a main support and a cabinet support with the main support being vertically movable relative to the cabinet support, yet held by the cabinet support in a fixed horizontal position. The wash tub and drive assembly is supported during use by a suspension system connected between the wash tub and cabinet and with the use of the fixture, a portion of the weight of the wash tub is supported at all times during the assembly process and during shipping, relieving the cabinet from bearing that weight.

Abstract: A motor mounting structure for washing machines includes a motor mount mounted on the outer bottom of a water-receiving tub by bolts and having an upper surface and short columnar rubber buffers interposed between a bracket of a motor and the upper surface of the motor mount. Metallic end plates are secured to upper and lower ends of each rubber buffer so that each rubber buffer is coupled to the motor bracket and the upper surface of the motor mount, respectively.

Abstract: A suspension system for supporting pipes under generally constant tension comprises a main spring system including a main spring located between a suspension portion and a load-bearing portion for applying spring-biasing forces to the suspension portion. An additional spring system includes an additional spring which compensates for variations in the spring-biasing forces of the main spring through associated cam and cam followers. An auxiliary hydraulically operated mechanism is provided for applying a supplementary predetermined biasing force to increase or decrease the biasing forces of the main springs in response to detected value/parameters.

Abstract: A spring support for a clevis or a pipe in which a main central bolt and two additional auxiliary bolts on opposite sides thereof are used to prestress the spring, wherein tightening of nuts on the auxiliary bolts raise an operative member causing an initial compression of the spring, and subsequent tightening of the nut on the main bolt completes the compression of the spring and also relieves the spring pressure on the auxiliary bolts to thereby facilitate their removal, both of the aforesaid spring compressions being achieved without any change in the horizontal supported position of the pipe.

Abstract: A hanger apparatus for supporting a tubular member relative to a body, having a flexible elongate member with a resilient member fastened to a first end for attachment of the elongate member to the body, and clip means fastened to a second end for attachment to an intermediate portion of the elongate member, thereby forming a loop between the second end and the intermediate portion of said elongate member within which the tubular member may be supported.

Abstract: A support unit for suspending a pipe or similar article from an overhead structure comprises a frame having a base and a pair of opposed sides. The base has an opening therein to accommodate a vertically-oriented hanger-rod means extending downwardly therethrough for support of the pipe. A resilient element having a lower peripheral shoulder is mounted within the frame and is adapted to support the hanger-rod. A retention clip is provided with a generally circular central portion adapted to embrace the resilient element above said shoulder and a pair of opposed ears extending horizontally outward from said central portion, the frame having a pair of opposed slots dimensioned to accept the ears and retain the clip and the embraced resilient element in position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring device capable of softly dissipating the energy of an accelerated mass which is relatively great with respect to the inert mass of a reference system coupled to said spring device. The force deflection curve of said spring device exhibits an abrupt steep rise within the linear working range of the force deflection curve so that the required deflection is reduced. The spring device can include a soft suspension spring coupled to a control spring.

Abstract: A computer disk assembly has a power supply-wiring harness unit and a disk pack unit for housing and mounting a hard disk drive. This disk drive is suspended within its housing on a vibration isolating suspension system which utilizes a plurality of spring steel coils, this suspension system being designed to isolate the disk from external vibrations and shock. The power supply-wiring harness unit is removably connected to the disk pack unit through a fastening system which includes an elongated plate member which slides into a channel formed in the bottom of the disk pack unit and a latching fastener member which is driven by a handle and engages a mating receptacle in the disk pack unit.

Abstract: The power line support of the present invention comprises a support tower having a lower end supported on the ground and having an upper end. A power line energy absorber is attached to the upper end of the support tower and comprises a housing attached to the support tower, a reciprocating piston within the housing and pneumatic damping chambers within the housing on opposite sides of the piston for yieldably resisting reciprocating movement of the piston within the housing. A cable is connected to the piston and extends over a pulley downwardly to the electrical insulator which connects to the power line where it supports the power line above the ground. Dynamic energy from the power line is transferred upwardly through the cable to the piston and is absorbed by virtue of the compression and expansion of the air within the chambers on opposite sides of the piston.

Abstract: An improved heat-insulating support device is disclosed which is capable of supporting a coolant tank to a vacuum vessel in a manner such that when the vacuum tank is subjected to a great external force after the coolant tank has been cooled down to a cryogenic temperature, the coolant tank and hence cryogenic equipment mounted thereon are held in place and prevented from being displaced beyond a prescribed allowable range, without impairing the intended heat-insulating capability thereof.

Abstract: The instant invention is an apparatus for introducing resilient forces into a line when the line is tensioned. The apparatus comprises a housing to form and maintain a section of line into a loop or bight portion lying generally in planes substantially parallel to the line portions exterior of the housing when the line is in a tensioned condition. The apparatus further contains a resilient member to maintain the loop or bight in a relatively large diameter condition when the line is not tensioned. The resilient member resists a lessening in diameter of the loop or bight upon tensioning of the line.

Abstract: A rubber vibration isolator is used as a muffler hanger or muffler mount between a car body and a muffler to hang the latter from the former. The isolator includes a body made of rubber-like elastic material whose damping factor is high, two holes, upper and lower, formed in the center of the body of rubber-like elastic material, and a weight provided between the two holes and supported at opposite sides thereof by rubber-like elastic members. The rubber vibration isolator is advantageous in that coefficients of transfer of vibrations of both high and low frequencies, respectively, are lowered.

Abstract: A convertible suspension mounting system for ceiling fans having a disk-shaped fixing support for being secured on the ceiling surface, a housing body of a bowl shape connected to the fixing support, a connecting device flexibly coupled with the housing body at one end and screw-connected to a pipe fitting of a ceiling fan structure. The connecting device includes a tubular connecting member with screw threads and a through hole respectively formed at each end, a circular coupling member screw-connected to the connecting member at the upper portion, and an axially flexible pipe sleeve fastened between the circular coupling member and the bottom side of the housing body with the upper portion of the connecting member flexibly received therein, so that the connecting member is provided with an axial deviation for adapting to various ceiling surface conditions, and the suspension system can be conveniently converted into a direct coupling system without the connecting device.

Abstract: A disk drive shock mount is provided which attenuates shocks and vibrations to a disk drive (1, FIG. 1). The mount comprises a cradle 20 which is affixed to the disk drive housing, and a mounting plate 10 which may be used to suitably secure the disk drive assembly 1 to the next higher level of assembly. Flexible, compressible vibration isolators 50 of rubber or plastic are used to couple the cradle to the mounting plate. Rigid pins 70 on the cradle mate with grommet-enclosed apertures 60, 61 in the mounting plate to limit the degrees of motion permitted between the cradle and the mounting plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for lifting equipment for interposing in the force flow path between the lifting equipment or the driving mechanism thereof and a load to be moved, with e.g. a transducer for detecting the load states. In known lifting equipment, it has been found that critical load states are admittedly detected, but are not adequately compensated or cannot be counteracted soon enough. For this purpose, the invention provides at least one mechanism for intermediately storing or at least partly converting the mechanical energy introduced by a load movement into other energy forms, the transducer being coupled in non-positive manner to the mechanism.

Abstract: A tension rod for the immediate suspension of a conduit is provided with a threaded-on abutment element for abutment of a spring casing from above or from below. The spring casing contains a compression spring for tensioning between the bottom of the casing and a spring disk secured to the tension rod, an internal sleeve extending from the bottom of the casing prevents complete compression of the spring; the threaded on abutment adjustably limits decompression of the spring; through supplemental structure the tension rod can be locked to the casing in a load independent fashion.

Abstract: The mount has a metal stirrup (2) to be fixed to the vehicle base (1), a metal hanger stirrup (12) connected to the exhaust system and a spring element (4) which connects the two stirrups and is made of an elastomer material. The spring element (4), approximately in its center, has an annular, inner mount part (5) and at a distance concentrically thereto an approximately annular mount part (6) and also spring struts (7) which connect the two mount parts (5,6) and only partially fill the intermediate space. The inner mount part (5) is provided with a aperture (10) for accommodating the hanger stirrup (12). The metal stirrup (2) is provided such that it at least partially encloses the outer mount part (6) of the spring element (4).

Abstract: An assembly for providing support to a component, such as an ultrasonic component, including converters, boosters and horns which are subjected to continuous and repeated impacts and stresses. Such devices generally have integral nodal flanges for support purposes. In this assembly, shock-absorbing means are placed on each side of the nodal flange. A grip ring assembly is then bolted or otherwise removably fastened, together over the shock-absorbing means and nodal flange, compressing the shock-absorbing means. The component is prevented from rotating with respect to the grip ring assembly by pegs which are driven through holes provided in the grip ring assembly and into slots formed lengthwise in the nodal flange. Hence the flange itself, via the shock-absorbing means, absorbs all of the lengthwise force applied to the component by the grip ring assembly, and the pegs are required to absorb none of it.

Abstract: A suspension element for the exhaust system components of an internal combustion engine incorporates interengaging resilient rings. However, these rings are not in direct contact with one another. Instead, they extend about an elastic, air-filled spherical member. This spherical member provides for the vibrations generated by the exhaust system being effectively attenuated by the suspension element before being transmitted to the floor of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: In the body of a pipe support a piston supported on a compression spring is movable relative to the body. A turnbuckle suspended from the piston passes down out of the body and, in use, is connected to a pipe to be supported. The body and the piston have adjacent each other oppositely inclined slots. The piston may be clamped to the body by a lock nut and a lock washer which are interconnected through registering portions of the slots by a bolt. The bolt can be slackened off to allow the nut and washer to slide in the slots so that the piston can move freely in the body. The oppositely inclined slots allow the piston to be clamped to the body at any position within its range of movement.

Abstract: A suspension device for suspendingly supporting loads under a generally constant spring-biasing support force defined by two relatively movable portions, a first of the portions being secured to a support and a second of the portions being secured to a load to be suspendingly supported thereby, a main spring for biasingly mounting the first and second portions relative to each other, the second portion being an elongated member having an upper end portion, at least one compensatory spring adjacent the upper end portion of the elongated member, a pivoted lever between the one spring and the elongated member upper end portion, and a cam and cam follower carried by the lever and its elongated member upper end portion which compensates the tension and/or compression forces of the main spring as the cam and cam follower operate relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention pertains to apparatus for tensioning chains as may be used to tie down and position cargo. A pair of elongated members each have an outer end on which a tension transmitting fitting is mounted, and at their inner ends the members are telescopingly interrelated and adjustably interconnected through a resilient impact cushion placed under compression by tension forces transmitted between the members. A non-compressible sleeve prevents overcompression of the impact cushion and the apparatus includes adjustable elements for precompressing the cushion.

Abstract: An essentially tubular spring housing (FIGS. 5, 6) is formed with longitudinal slits (8d, 8e) into which the support spring blocking structure (1, 10) can be assembled. The support spring blocking structure, in one form (FIGS. 1, 2) is a longitudinal rail retaining a plurality of stacked blocking plates (2) therein, between abutments (3, 4) which are spaced wider than the length of the stack of plates (2) to permit engagement of a spring plate (7) between selected blocking plates, and thus lock the spring plate, and hence the spring, in selected position. In another embodiment (FIGS. 3, 4), the stacked plates (9) are slidable in a holder band or strip (10a). The holders (1a, 10a) are formed with a longitudinal, externally projecting holding hook (5, 11) to permit storing the blocking structure on the spring holder (right side, FIGS. 5, 6) in readily accessible position.

Abstract: A spring hanger comprising a casing, a coil compression spring in the casing, a piston plate in the casing engageable with one end of the spring and adapted for connection to a load to be supported by the hanger, and a spring reaction member in the casing engageable by the other end of the spring, the piston, when connected to the load, being adapted for movement in the casing to compress the spring. Support members hold the reaction member in fixed position with respect to the casing against the expansionary force exerted by the spring when the latter is compressed against the reaction member.

Abstract: A position adjusting means of a link mechanism which hangingly supports a swing joint in three-wheeled motor vehicle having front body laterally swingable relative to a rear body. The position adjusting means includes a pair of flexible stops, one being positioned behind one end of a sleeve member which supports a pair of link members, and the other being positioned in front of the sleeve member. These stops are mounted onto a pair of frame members positioned in the front body and extending in parallel along travel direction of the vehicle, or mounted onto one of said frame members so as to position at least one end of said sleeve between the stops. The link members each have an upper end integrally connected to a supporting member and a stop is secured to the lower surface of each supporting member. The supporting members extend in horizontal plane and opposite direction relative to the sleeve along travel direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A friction-based, motion damping assembly for a chairlift or the like is disclosed in which the damping assembly is mounted between a hub provided on a cable grip assembly and the chairlift hanger arm. The improved damping assembly is formed as a sleeve mounted to the hub of the cable grip with concentric rubber block members mounted around the sleeve. The hanger arm is formed with a collar having tapered surfaces, and an axially displaceable nut on the hub is used to wedge the rubber blocks into radial compressive engagement of the sleeve to generate the necessary compression of the sleeve about the hub for frictional damping.

Abstract: A shock absorbing cable anchor for mobile equipment has an open-ended sleeve or housing with a slot along one side thereof through which an electrical cable may be inserted, with both ends of the cable passing through one of the open ends of the sleeve and the cable defining a loop or bight portion projecting out of the other open end of the sleeve. The sleeve is tapered from said one end to the other open end and is larger in width at said other open end. A wedge shaped complementally to the sleeve is inserted through said other open end of the sleeve and presses the cable outwardly against the sleeve sides to prevent the cable from being pulled out of the sleeve. A spring device is connected between the sleeve and an anchor point to resiliently support the sleeve and cable.

Abstract: A spring support particularly intended for supporting pipes in installations where the pipes are liable to move laterally while in use, as for example in the case of pipes through which steam is conveyed, has provision for locking its compression spring means against movement relative to a body of the spring support in a plurality of positions longitudinally of the axis of operating movement of the spring. Preferably the spring means can be locked in an infinite number of positions within the operating range of its longitudinal movement. Thus if for any reason it is desired to resist movement for a while of a pipe which is supported by the spring support during use, the spring means can be readily locked against movement in the operative position it was occupying, without first having to move the spring means to another position before the spring means may be locked.

Abstract: An acoustical panel mounting element for isolating the panel through its connection to a supporting structure against vibration and noise transmitted therefrom, with the element providing an outer metallic shell for insertion into a pocket formed in the panel and an inner mounting screw receiving sleeve embedded in an elastomer ring carried within the shell.

Abstract: A cushion mount for mounting a prime mover or the like is formed with a rigid outer ring portion of reinforced polypropylene. The outer ring portion has an outer peripheral configuration adapted for engaging a mounting bracket or the like of such prime mover, an inwardly projecting rib on its inner periphery. A relatively elastic, resilient inner ring portion of the cushion mount is formed of an elastomer blend of a poly(monoalkenyl arene)/hydrogenated polydiene/poly (monoalkenyl arene) block copolymer with a polyamide polymer and is molded directly to the inner periphery of the outer ring portion, the inner ring portion having an inner peripheral configuration adapted for mounting engagement with a part of the prime mover.

Abstract: A rotary energy storage device comprises a rotor and a hub for mounting the rotor on a shaft. The rotor is joined to the hub by an interlayer disposed between the rotor and hub. One surface of the interlayer is bonded to a mounting surface of the hub. A second surface of the interlayer, which is opposite the first surface, is bonded to a surface of the rotor which is opposite and spaced from the mounting surface of the hub. Due to differences in their constructions, such as their relative dimensions, the rotor and the hub experience different strains due to the centrifugal forces exerted during rotation of the energy storage device. The difference between the strain at the mounting surface of the hub and the strain at the opposed surface of the rotor induces a shear stress in the interlayer. To accommodate the induced shear stress, the interlayer has a thickness and a shear modulus which permit the interlayer to deflect in response to the difference in strains without structural or bond failure.

Abstract: A suspension for an automatic clothes washer tub which supports the clothes container, agitator and driving mechanism, comprises a combination skate and rocking support device, the machine frame supporting the device for horizontal movement and the device supporting the tub for rocking movements. Connection of the tub with the device is effected by means of oblique cooperating surfaces on the tub support structure and on the device in generally pyramidal orientation and providing substantial stability for the tub in normal operation of the machine. Biasing means between the tub and the frame normally biases the tub and the device toward an equilibrium position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension device for a rotating machine lacking balance, comprising at least one elastic support defining a first chamber filled with liquid, wherein said first chamber is connected to a second chamber, likewise filled with liquid, closed by a flexible wall subjected to alternate displacements of frequency and phase equal to the frequency of the lack of balance to be compensated.

Abstract: Support devices for automobile engine comprising attaching two buffers each comprising connecting the exterior surface of a metal shaft with the interior surface of a metal hollow cylinder arranged so as to surround the shaft in spaced relation by means of an elastic rubber member to provide higher and lower directions of the rigidities between the shaft and the metal cylinder at a plane perpendicular to the coextensive axes of the shaft and the metal cylinder in horizontal relation with respect to the coextensive direction of the shaft and the metal cylinder and connecting one end of either the shaft or the metal cylinder with the car body and another end thereof with the engine so that the coextensive line of the direction having higher rigidity intersects with a vertical plane through the center of gravity of the engine at a position below the intersection of the coextensive line directed to the direction having lower rigidity with the above-mentioned vertical plane to support symmetrically the engine on t