Abstract: A gearshift lever assembly provides vibration isolation between the gearshift lever and its associated housing and additionally provides elastic restoring forces in opposition to movement of the gearshift lever into one of its shift positions. In the preferred embodiment the gearshift lever is supported by a member made from elastic material which surrounds the gearshift lever and is assembled with permanent pretensioning in a direction opposite to the movement of the lever into one of its shift positions.

Abstract: A rotary sliding vane compressor having means for biasing the vanes outwardly. Such means include an elastomeric element fastened to the radially inward edge of the vane and means for applying tensile stress to stretch the elastomeric element responsive to a radially inward movement of the vane. The restoring force provided by stretching the elastomeric element in tension ensures that the vanes will be moved outwardly during the expansion phase of rotor travel.

Abstract: A rubber spring for vehicle suspensions of generally cylindrical form, and with smooth, uninterrupted external side faces, and having an axial cavity of divergent/convergent form. The cavity has a small cross-sectional area at the end faces of the spring, and has a maximum cross-sectional area preferably at two transverse planes spaced on opposite sides on the axial center of the spring. The cross-sectional area of the rubber is minimized at these two transverse planes, and is maximized at the central transverse plane which corresponds to the minimum diameter of the cavity. As used in a preferred suspension, the spring is held within a metal cylinder, which serves both to restrict lateral expansion so increasing the spring rate at heavy loads, and also applies frictional damping forces to the sides of the rubber spring.

Abstract: An isolation mount is provided having triple spring rate capability. The mount provides a first spring rate to absorb and isolate engine shock and vibration to a first deflection limit and then a higher spring rate to a second deflection limit. If desired, a still higher spring rate above the second deflection limit is provided. The mount includes annular inner and outer bushings separated by an annular ring and a plurality of resilient supporting bushings. The ring and bushings are sized with respect to each other so that initial radial loading is taken by the plurality of resilient bushings until a first gap between the ring and the outer bushings is closed. This effectively removes the contribution of a pair of the resilient bushings to the spring rate. Thereafter, a further increase of the load will close a second gap between the ring and the inner bushing and effectively remove the remaining resilient bushing's contribution to the spring rate.

Abstract: A cushioning pad is provided in the form of a plate member having a cushion of resilient material secured to at least one side of the plate, the cushion having novel dowel and recess means for cooperating with the recess and dowel of an adjacent similar pad to facilitate accurate gathering and alignment of a group or stack of such pads.

Abstract: A telescopic shock absorber having means in the slide path of the piston rod for producing resistance to sliding and braking of the return movement of the rod including a plurality of compressible spheres with expansion and centering rings positioned between the spheres. Also included are a pair of slanting brake discs secured to the rod, as well as a slanting wedge positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A compression mounting comprises a body of elastomer and a pair of load-transmitting devices that engage and cover two opposed and spaced apart surfaces of the elastomeric body. The two load-transmitting devices are disposed and configured to expose a circumferential surface of the body of elastomer. At least a circumferential portion of the surfaces so exposed is completely covered and enclosed by a shell or housing. The shell includes a filamentary structure that provides a plurality of substantially parallel and juxtaposed filament portions oriented to circumscribe the surface of the elastomeric body. The filament portions are less extensible than the elastomer of the elastomeric body. A matrix material encases the filament portions and flexibly bonds adjacent filament portions to one another. The shell snugly fits the surface of the elastomeric body and is more resistant to circumferential expansion than the elastomeric body.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved spring of the type in which an elastomer is subjected to hydrostatic compression and is constituted by a mass of elastomer contained in an enclosure which comprises a casing in which a piston is mounted to slide. In said mass of elastomer is included a body, whose volume, in a certain range of temperatures, increases as the temperature drops. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this body is advantageously water contained in at least one sealed and deformable bag.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing device suitable as an automobile bumper using sinuous (corrugated), elastomeric ribs, which can be either attached to a connecting member at one end and unattached at the other end or unattached at both ends. These ribs buckle in a direction normal to the impact force and modulate that force.

Abstract: Energy storage device characterized in that energy storing body formed of hollow cone of polyurethane is provided between pair of guide members in form of inverted hollow cones. These assemblies are serially arranged one upon another and held in cylinder body under piston pressure. Compressive force developed between pair of guide members deforms energy storing cone and restoring force of body is taken out as hydraulic power.

Abstract: A workpiece, such as an interponent of a teleprinter is mounted for linear and pivoting movement in an elastomeric mounting element having a central section to which the workpiece is secured, a pair of end sections, and a pair of stretchable webs connecting the central section to the end sections. The end sections are mounted to a support so that the webs are stretched along a transverse mounting axis, and the workpiece is thereafter positioned by the mounting element in a stable initial position. From the initial position, the workpiece may be moved linearly or pivoted, or both, by external forces; and when so moved rotary and linear spring forces are generated in the elastomeric mounting element tending to return the workpiece toward the initial position when the external forces are removed.