Abstract: An all plastic compression spring assembly includes a slotted tubular spring element formed from a tensile polymer material and upper and lower loading cones received at opposing upper and lower ends of the slotted tubular spring element. The upper loading cone may be axially compressible towards the lower loading cone within the slotted tubular spring element whereby the slotted tubular spring element radially expands in tension to create an opposing radial contraction force, and in turn, an axial extension spring force. When released, the spring element elastically returns to its normal at rest shape, returning the cones to their normal at rest positions. In some dispenser configurations, the lower loading cone may be stationary or fixed within the dispensing head and the upper loading cone may be downwardly compressible toward the lower loading cone by movement of a nozzle head.

Abstract: A strut including a housing, a plunger within a space in the housing and including a tapered outer circumferential surface, a primary spring engaged with the housing, a wedge element within the space and including a tapered inner circumferential surface engageable with the outer circumferential surface, and a secondary spring engaged with the wedge element and the plunger to urge the plunger in an axial direction. The primary spring urges the plunger in the axial direction with a first force. In a fully extended mode, the plunger is maximally displaced in the axial direction. In a contracted mode, the plunger is displaced in an opposite axial direction in response to application of a second force, sufficiently greater than the first force, on the plunger in the opposite axial direction. When the second force is sufficiently decreased, the plunger displaces with respect to the housing in the axial direction.

Abstract: Fuel injector assemblies with frictionally damped fuel supply members, including fuel feed strips. More particularly, the invention provides friction dampers and/or assemblies that frictionally damp movement of fuel supply members in at least one direction as a function of frequency. Accordingly, low frequency vibration can be undamped, while vibration above a prescribed frequency can be damped. Some of the embodiments provide a friction damper that is easily serviceable, and can be installed after final assembly of a fuel injector. Aspects of the invention are applicable to other components of fuel injectors and gas turbine engines in addition to fuel supply members.

Abstract: A system for limiting the exchange of shock and vibration motions and forces between a load and its supporting structure including an isolator. In one aspect, the isolator is designed for in-line mounting with a support strut. The isolator includes an elastomer member that may be substantially permanently maintained in a compression/shear state.

Abstract: An ice dispenser has a duct cap and a controller to control movement of the duct cap. The controller includes a guide, a first control surface, and a second control surface. A first frictional force between the guide and the first control surface is greater than a second frictional force between the guide and the second control surface. The first frictional force controls the duct cap to move at a first rate and the second friction force controls the duct cap to move at a second rate faster than the first rate.

Abstract: An auxiliary handle device, in particular for a hand-held power tool, has an auxiliary handle and a damping unit with at least one absorber mass element. The absorber mass element is designed in the shape of a sleeve along a main extension direction of the auxiliary handle device.

Abstract: A refrigerator with an ice dispenser includes a spiral type time delay unit for controlling the opening and closing of an ice duct. A duct cap opens and closes an ice duct formed in the refrigerator. A rotating shaft of the time delay unit is operably connected to the duct cap. Foldaway catching members on a rotating shaft intersect with a threaded cylindrical body. The catching members fold back to allow a quick opening of the ice duct. The catching members then interact with the threaded cylindrical body as the ice duct closes to delay the closing process.

Abstract: Friction device includes at least two members, one of which is mobile, or potentially mobile, in terms of relative displacement with respect to the other under the action of an external stimulus. The relative displacement is liable to cause the relative displacement of two friction surfaces subjected to pressing forces, so as to convert the external stimulus into a friction force and to thus control the displacement of the mobile or potentially mobile member. The pressing forces are produced by pre-stressing mechanisms and the members are able to act on the effects of the pre-stressing mechanisms so as to use the resultant effect of the relative displacement of the mobile or potentially mobile member to reduce the pressing forces.

Abstract: A spool-shaped damper piston which is slideably mounted on a damper rod and has an external foam friction element engaging the inner surface of the cylindrical damper body. A pair of axially movable limiting disks are spaced from the spool-shaped damper a predetermined distance to allow movement of the damper rod a predetermined amount before the spool-shaped damper is engaged. In one embodiment, the disks include axially extending tabs which extend through slots in the ends of the spool and selectively engage the foam friction element when the motion of the damping rod exceeds a predetermined threshold. In another embodiment of the invention, the limiting disks include spring fingers extending between the disks and the spool ends to cushion the initial engagement between the disks and the spool as the free space threshold is exceeded.

Abstract: A rotary damper includes a housing and a rotor rotatable in the housing. A clutch is movable toward and away from the housing when said rotor is rotated in first and second directions.

Abstract: Solid friction shock absorber operated by a pressurized fluid which enables the quick dissipation, through solid friction, of the elastic energy absorbed by vehicles' suspensions. The pressurized bag presses the brake pads with brake linings against the inner wall of the body, creating a solid friction which dissipates the elastic energy absorbed. The pressurized fluid bag and the brake linings are installed on the shaft by presses. The pressurized fluid bag is fed by a feeder tube, a pressurized disk, or by a compressor.

Abstract: A friction damper comprises a channel member including at least one friction channel and a wedge member including at least one friction wedge received by a corresponding friction channel for sliding motion along the channel relative to the channel member. Each friction channel has a pair of internal sidewalls connected by an internal transverse wall, wherein at least one of the pair of sidewalls forms an obtuse angle with the transverse wall. In a preferred construction, the sidewalls are symmetrically convergent as they approach the connecting transverse wall. Each friction wedge includes a pair of external sidewalls parallel to the internal sidewalls of the channel, wherein the external sidewalls of the friction wedge are movable into surface-to-surface engagement with the internal sidewalls of the friction channel by adjusting the depth of receipt of the friction wedge in the friction channel.

Abstract: A shock absorber, the shock-absorbing function of which can be turned on/off during movement and includes a basement, a clutch assembly, a control assembly and a shock-absorbing spring, the shock-absorbing spring provides damper elastic force for the respective components of the shock absorber. The shock-absorbing function can be turned off when riding up a slope, so as to prevent the drag force being increased by the up and down motion of the shock absorber. The shock-absorbing function can be turned on when riding on a horizontal road, and it can be turned off again when riding down a slope, so as to prevent the increase of the front tilt angle of the bike and leading to turnover.

Abstract: A single-end-mount seismic isolator for protecting a structure from the effects of seismic shock or other external applied forces includes a load shaft that is secured at its first end to a mounting surface on which the structure is supported. So secured, the load shaft projects beyond a base of the structure, on which an actuator is supported. A resilient element, such as a friction spring, is operably interposed between the load shaft and the actuator to allow relative motion between the structure and the mounting surface in the event of a seismic shock or other external applied force. The resilient element also absorbs energy of such motion. The single-end-mount design facilitates seismic retrofitting of existing structures and servicing of seismic isolators in the field. In dual-action embodiments, the resilient element includes primary and secondary resilient elements for damping in two directions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damping device for movable furniture parts, for example for doors or drawers, comprising a piston or plunger which is slidably guided in a hollow body, e.g. a cylinder, with said piston or plunger being impinged upon by spring force into its pushed-out position. According to the invention, the hollow body comprises at least one section of a spiral-shaped stay of the internal screw thread, and/or the piston or plunger comprises at least one section of a spiral-shaped stay of the external screw thread. The stays of the screw threads are glidingly supported one on top of the other, or cams or journals of the hollow body or of the piston or plunger are supported on a screw-thread section of the other component. The pitch of the stays of the screw threads is greater than the pitch at which self-locking occurs.

Abstract: A damping strut. An inner damping member is axially engaged with an outer housing. The outer housing is connectable to a tensioner arm. A wedge member connected to an immoveable mounting member is axially engaged with an inner portion of the inner damping member. The outer housing is axially moveable relative to the wedge member. A spring bears upon and urges the outer housing away from an end cap. The end cap comprises a rod, which extends axially within the wedge member and has an end connected to the inner damping member. The rod transmits a spring load force from the end cap to the inner damping member such that the inner damping member radially expands against the outer housing in response to the spring load force, thereby creating a frictional force between the inner damping member and the outer housing which damps an outer housing movement in proportion to the spring force.

Abstract: A surface effect damper comprising a housing having a wall that defines a chamber, the housing having a first end, a second end and an axis; at least one contact element movable through the chamber between the housing ends in a first direction and in a second direction; and at least two damping elements substantially surrounding each contact element, each of the at least two damping elements being movable away from the axis and into frictional engagement with the wall as the at least one contact element is moved in a first direction and each of the at least two damping elements being movable toward the axis as the at least one contact element is moved in a second direction.

Abstract: Timing of movements of a spring between a stressed and a free state is delayed by dampening the spring movement through incorporation of a component having a restricted access diameter whereby frictional contact of the spring through the component will prolong the time required to move the spring between states to enhance control of the spring actuation.

Abstract: A double acting mechanical shock isolator that includes a stack of friction springs contained within a housing. The stack is retained between the end walls of the housing by a pair of opposed slides. A sleeve passes through the stack and the ends of the sleeve are contained within opposing slides. The ends of the sleeve are connected to the slides by lost motion devices so that the sleeve is engaged by one of the containing slides when the sleeve moves toward the opposing slide and releases the slide when the sleeve moves in the opposite direction so that the stack is loaded in compression when the sleeve is moved axially in either direction.

Abstract: A damper includes a barrel axially slidably mounted on a shaft, an elastic ring mounted inside the barrel around the shaft, arched pressure blocks mounted abutted against one another inside the elastic ring around the shaft, each arched pressure block having an axially extended sloping groove, steel balls respectively arranged in the sloping groove of each arched pressure block in contact with the periphery of the shaft, a rigid locating ring mounted inside the barrel to support the steel balls in the sloping groove of each arched pressure block, a screw cap threaded into one side of the barrel, a compression spring stopped between the screw cap and the locating ring, a hollow adjustment screw member threaded into one side of the barrel to support the steel balls in the sloping groove of each arched pressure block against the locating ring.

Abstract: A mechanical device for controlling changeover between two modes of relative displacement between two objects comprising: two assemblies capable of moving in guided relative translation, one assembly being fixed, and the other assembly moving, the device further comprising: resilient controller interposed between the two assemblies with a controlled clearance to define the mode of relative displacement; and an inertial mass associated with one of the assemblies and adapted to act selectively on the controller as a function of the time profile of moving assembly displacement in order to modify the clearance and the mode of relative displacement.

Abstract: A damper device comprising a first and second assembly suitable for guided relative displacement. The first assembly is supported stationarily with respect to a reference. The second assembly is supported for guided relative displacement with respect to the first assembly and the reference. A driving connection connects the second assembly and a system to be damped. A shoe rests against the first assembly and a resilient control that works in buckling is interposed between the shoe and the second assembly. The resilient control exerts a force on the shoe tending to urge the shoe against the first assembly during an active stage of damper device loading, corresponding to relative displacement in a first direction between the first and second assemblies and to reduce the force exerted by the shoe during a passive stage of damper device loading corresponding to relative displacement in a second direction between the first and second assemblies.

Abstract: A rotary friction damper in a device for connecting a door to an adjacent structure such that the door pivots about an axis during opening and closing of the same and including a torsion spring operatively connected to the door and to the structure for movement about the pivot axis to store energy during opening of the door and to release energy to provide closing during closing of the door. The rotary friction damper is operatively associated with the torsion spring and has an axis of rotation disposed substantially parallel to the pivot axis for controlling the door closing speed. A damper housing rotates in response to application of input rotational force, and damper shoes within the housing are moved radially outwardly into frictional engagement with the housing. An arrangement of disc springs applies biasing force in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the damper, and the biasing force is directed to cause radial outward movement of the shoes.

Abstract: A force transmitting load alleviator apparatus 10 and method are provided for rotatably and pivotally driving a member to be protected against overload torsional and bending (moment) forces. The load alleviator 10 includes at least one bias spring 42 to resiliently bias cam followers 18 and cam surfaces 22 together and to maintain them in locked engagement unless a predetermined load is exceeded whereupon a center housing 12 is pivotal or rotational with respect to a crown assembly 14. This pivotal and rotational movement results in frictional dissipation of the overload force by an energy dissipator 16. The energy dissipator 16 can be provided to dissipate substantially more energy from the overload force than from the bias force that automatically resets the center housing 12 and crown assembly 14 to the normally fixed centered alignment. The torsional and bending (moment) overload levels can designed independently of each other.

Abstract: A bicycle suspension system is provided that may be located in the head tube at the front of the bicycle frame. The system may be hydraulic, hydro-pneumatic or spring based, but in each case the degree of damping provided may be adjusted by a rotatable knob at the top of the head tube that is easily operable by a rider.

Abstract: An equipment mount for isolating equipment from shock loads and acoustic vibrations has a ring-shaped base mounted to a foundation. A generally cylindrical retainer has an X-shaped cross section and a pair of contact surfaces forming the X-shaped cross section and disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the retainer. The retainer is movable relative to the base. A generally cylindrical resilient member is disposed between the base and the retainer. The resilient member includes a kick segment at either end thereof projecting outwardly at an angle relative to the axis of the resilient member and having an end contacting one of the retainer contact surfaces when free standing. The resilient member is deformable under load so that a greater portion of at least one of the kick segments contacts at least one of the retainer contact surfaces to isolate the equipment from the load.

Abstract: A motion buffer for stopping a car traveling along a guide rail is provided, having a wedge and a biasing apparatus for biasing against the wedge. If the car travels far enough along the guide rail to encounter the wedge, the biasing apparatus becomes biased against the wedge, thereby stopping the car.

Abstract: An impact energy absorption system for aircraft seats and the like, comprising seat mounting means, a seat movable between a first unloaded position and a second crash induced position, a deforming die and an additional set of die jaws connected to the seat mounting and defining an aperture of variable size, and a deformable rod having a shoulder connecting the seat to the mounting the rod passing through the deforming die and the variable die jaws. During crash induced movement of the seat between its two positions the rod is pulled through the deforming die and the die jaws to absorb impact energy by deformation of the rod. The aperture defined by the die jaws is variable being adapted to allow for self adjustment of the aperture size and respective impact energy absorbing capacity corespondent to the weight of the seat occupant.

Abstract: A method of repairing railway trucks in which the sloped surfaces of the truck bolster ends have become worn during service is provided that avoids the hetertofore required restoring of the sloped surfaces with weld material. An improved replacement friction shoe having tapered elastomeric pads which conform to the abutting service worn sloped surfaces of the bolster ends is installed to greatly reduce further wear on the bolster ends.

Abstract: The strut includes a bidirectional frictional damping assembly which provides frictional damping under rebound and jounce conditions. A separate rebound frictional damping assembly, or a separate jounce frictional damping assembly, or both, provide differential rebound and jounce damping, with and without bidirectional frictional damping.

Abstract: The draft gear includes a single center friction plate and a pair of spaced apart friction wedges. Six major friction surfaces are defined, four of which are engaged upon contact with the follower, the other two being engaged after about one-half inch of travel. Three major groups of angles are defined, a first being between the friction wedges and the shoes, a second between the friction wedges and the release wedge and a third between the shoes and the spring seat. These groups of angles cooperate to insure that the draft gear will release upon removal of external force.

Abstract: A mount for a record player with variable antivibration controls that make it possible for the user of the player to separately establish an optimum antivibration setting depending on the conditions of the specific surface that the player is resting on and on the overall acoustical conditions with respect to footstep and acoustical feedback.