Abstract: An impact absorber is provided for absorbing impact forces especially in case of a collision of a motor vehicle. The impact absorber includes an inner tube (1), which can be pushed into an outer tube (2) in a telescopic manner and which is closed with a bottom plate (3) at its free end projecting from the outer tube (2). Starting from the bottom plate (3) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (4) of the impact absorber, a gas space (5) filled with pressurized gas and a first, a fluid-filled liquid space (7), which is separated from the gas space (5) by a wall (6) displaceable in the inner tube (1), are arranged in the interior of the inner tube (1). The liquid space (7) is in connection through a throttle element with a second, fluid-filled liquid space (13), which adjoins the first liquid space (7) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (4) and is closed by a piston (9) fixed in the outer tube (2) towards the free end of the outer tube (2) in a liquid-tight manner.

Abstract: An air spring spacer for use in mounting an associated air spring in spaced relation to an associated vehicle component. The air spring spacer includes a spacer body, a first indexing feature, and a second indexing feature complementary to the first indexing feature. The indexing features providing for self-alignment of the spacer in a predetermined orientation upon the application of an axial force. A kit is also described.

Abstract: An air spring assembly, for use on an associated vehicle suspension system having a mounting member and a damping member, includes spaced apart first and second end members. A flexible wall is secured on the first and second end members and defines a spring chamber therebetween. An isolator is supported on and sealingly engages the first end member. The isolator includes and isolator passage sealingly receiving the damping member. The isolator and the first end member at least partially form a first load transmission path such that a damping member load is distributed to the mounting member through the isolator and the first end member. The first end member at least partially forms a second load transmission path such that an air spring load is distributed to the mounting member through the first end member without substantial transmission through the isolator.

Abstract: An air spring includes a flexible member, a roll-off piston and a cover plate. The piston includes a slot at its upper end for receiving the end of the flexible member applied with the aid of a clamp ring. The piston includes a flange for deflecting the flexible member. The outer diameter of the flange corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the clamp ring and the roll-off diameter of the piston. The flexible member is tapered at its lower region to avoid an uncontrollable collapse in the pressureless state of the air spring or a sharp snap-in of the flexible member exiting from the attachment. The flexible member exits at approximately 90° in the radial direction from the attachment. The peripheral slot and the flange are so configured that, in the pressureless state, a clear diameter jump is present between clamping diameter and diameter of the remainder of the flexible member.

Abstract: In a pneumatic vibration isolator that includes a housing, an upper part with a first cylindrical side wall and a lower part with a second cylindrical side wall, a pneumatic spring is disposed in an annular gap between the first and the second cylindrical side wall and which opposes radially directed relative movements between the upper part and the lower part and a bearing in axial direction between the upper part and the lower part which permits relative movements of the upper part and the lower part in radial direction such that the stiffness and or the damping of the pneumatic spring are controlled or changed from the outside by means of a pressure control or respectively an adjustable throttle that are part of a pneumatic line system connected to the pneumatic spring.

Abstract: A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.

Abstract: A hydraulic antivibration support comprises two rigid strength members interconnected by an elastomer body which defines a working hydraulic chamber communicating with a compensation chamber via a constricted passage. The two hydraulic chambers are separated by a rigid partition formed by two grids disposed side by side, and a decoupling valve member is clamped between the grids. The decoupling valve member comprises a deformable membrane that, in the rest position, is closer to the second grid than to the first grid.

Abstract: A pneumatic-spring wheel-suspension leg for motor vehicles. The leg comprises a bellows (1) that can be rolled up over a jacket (3) and accommodates a pneumatics chamber (9), a hydraulic dashpot inside the bellows or jacket, and a piston rod (5) that travels into and out of the dashpot and is attached axially and resiliently directly or indirectly at one end to the vehicle's chassis. The object is to relieve the dashpot of difficult attenuation tasks when a hard wheel suspension is necessary. The leg accordingly includes another pneumatics chamber (10) and the communication between the two pneumatics chambers can be partly or entirely blocked by a valve.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension includes a dock height holding device. First and second jounce bumper portions preferably each include a surface configuration that faces generally toward the oppositely facing jounce bumper portion. By moving at least one of the jounce bumper portions between first and second alignment positions, the clearance between suspension components is controlled in a manner that controls the height of a truck bed or trailer deck. In one example, each jounce bumper portion includes four projections and four spaced recesses. In the first alignment position the projections on one jounce bumper portion are received within the recesses on the oppositely facing portion during normal driving conditions. In the second alignment position, the projections of the jounce bumper portions engage each other and maintain a larger clearance between the suspension components to ensure an appropriate deck height when the vehicle is parked for loading or unloading.

Abstract: A fluid-filled elastic mount of suspension type, wherein a lower open-end of a cylindrical portion of a second mounting member is fluid-tightly closed by a first mounting member and a tapered elastic body interposed therebetween, extending from the lower open-end into the cylindrical portion. An upper open-end portion of the cylindrical portion is closed by a flexible layer for forming a fluid-filled chamber between the elastic body and the flexible layer and being divided by a partition member into a pressure-receiving chamber defined by the elastic body and an equilibrium chamber defined by the flexible layer, which are held in communication by an orifice passage An elastic restricting projection is bonded to the partition member to protrude and be located in an intermediate portion between the radially opposite elastic body and the cylindrical portion, for restricting an annular region of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: An air spring assembly has a pair of spaced end plates and a flexible sleeve extending therebetween forming an internal fluid chamber. One of the end plates is a bead plate which is crimped to an open end of the sleeve. An insert having an internally threaded hole is mounted in a central hole formed in the bead plate. An externally threaded coupler having a hollow bore is mounted in a central opening formed in an end member of an auxiliary reservoir and is threadably engaged with the internally threaded hole to mount the auxiliary reservoir in an abutting relationship on the air spring bead plate to provide a variable rate air spring. A fluid path is provided through the threaded connection for the flow of fluid between the air spring and auxiliary reservoir.

Abstract: The vibration isolating apparatus includes, an outer tube, an inner tube disposed at an inner peripheral side of the outer tube, an elastic body disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube, a main fluid chamber which contains a fluid with the elastic body serving as a portion of a partitioning wall of the main fluid chamber and whose internal volume changes due to deformation of the elastic body, a first auxiliary fluid chamber which contains a fluid and a portion of a partitioning wall of the first auxiliary fluid chamber is formed by a diaphragm so as to expand and contract a space between the first auxiliary fluid chamber and the outer tube, a first passage which communicates the main fluid chamber and the first auxiliary fluid chamber, and a second passage which communicates the main fluid chamber and the first auxiliary fluid chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic hearing, including a supporting bearing (1) and a bearing member (2), which are supported against each other by an elastic spring element (3) made of rubber elastic material, and delimit a working chamber (4) and the compensating chamber (5); the working chamber (4) and a compensating chamber (5) each being filled with damping fluid (6) and being in fluid communication with each other; the bearing member (2) essentially being formed in the shape of a pot; the supporting bearing (1) and the elastic spring element (3) essentially being disposed in the interior space (7) defined by the pot-shaped bearing member (2); the bearing member (2) having a two-shell design on its peripheral side, and an outer ring (8) which encloses an inner ring (9) with a radial clearance; the compensating chamber (5) being disposed in the gap formed by the clearance, and being delimited by a boundary wall (11), which extends in the axial direction, can expand in a radial direction, and essentially accommodates an increase

Abstract: A spring strut comprises a pneumatic spring and an oscillation damper and is fitted between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle. The oscillation damper has a piston rod movable on an axis and a container concentric to the axis. The pneumatic spring has a spring chamber delimited by a rolling bellows which is firmly connected to the receptacle and to the container or a rolling-contact piston fixed to the container. An end wall that is in operative connection with the oscillation damper is acted upon on one side by the pressure in the spring chamber and has an effective area that extends obliquely to the axis of the oscillation damper and exerts a transverse force that is dependent on the pressure in the spring chamber and is perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating shock loads includes a flexible, non-rigid outer impervious envelope. The envelope is formed from a high strain resistance material. An inner, pervious baffle extends across the envelope between the first and second sides. The inner baffle is also a flexible, non-rigid material of high strain resistance. The envelope is inflated with gas at a superatmospheric pressure. An impact on one side of the structure will compress that side, increasing the pressure of the gas between that side and the baffle. The gas will then flow through the pervious baffle to the other side, dissipating energy, spreading the load over the second side of the envelope and causing a time delay in the build-up of pressure on the second side. In preferred embodiments of the invention, there are plural, parallel baffles in the envelope to provide a multi-stage energy dissipation.

Abstract: A variable spring constant type damper filed with visco fluid which has a great damping effect over a wide frequency band from a low frequency band to a high frequency band and to suppress a resonance magnification at a resonance frequency of a supported body. It is such constituted that the changes are given to a flexible portion (9) made of an elastic body like rubber connecting the flexible portion (9) and a cylindrical portion (8), whereby a spring constant is allowed to depend upon an amplitude.

Abstract: A fluid and elastomer device for isolating dynamic loading between members connected to the device, the fluid and elastomer device comprising: an inner member that defines a compliance chamber; an outer member that defines an outer housing chamber; an elastomeric element flexibly interconnecting said inner member relative to said outer member; a passageway located in the compliance chamber and flow connecting the compliance chamber with a primary working chamber; a secondary compliance member joined to the passageway in the compliance chamber; a volume compensator located in the housing chamber the volume compensator comprising spring means, piston member at one spring end and a diaphragm member that overlies the piston; a member located between the compliance and housing chambers, the member being moveable with the outer housing, the moveable member in combination with the diaphragm defining a compensator chamber; and a volume of working fluid in said chambers and passageway.

Abstract: A fluid spring assembly. The spring assembly preferably includes a body that slidably supports a piston that is attached to a piston rod. The piston serves to define a fluid chamber within the body that is charged with a pressurized fluid medium. The piston is retained within the body by a rigid retainer member. A biasing member is provided between the retaining member and the piston for resisting the force generated by the fluid medium within the fluid chamber.

Abstract: If the height of a train car is reduced by the regrinding of the tread of each wheel and then reincreased to the original level by simply increasing the height of air springs, the compression stroke of the air springs changes. An arrangement is proposed to maintain a constant compression stroke after height adjustment. A stopper has movement restricting portions arranged circumferentially at predetermined intervals for restricting the downward movement of the outer cylinder. The stopper is rotatably mounted on the inner member. The outer cylinder has surfaces to be supported, and second surfaces to be supported provided circumferentially alternating with the first surfaces at a level lower than the first surfaces such that when the stopper is turned, the restricting protrusions move from the position where they support the first surfaces to the position where they support the second surfaces. The stopper has a lever so that it can be turned by operating the lever from outside.

Abstract: A spacer for an air spring assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body having a substantially planar mounting surface. The body includes a central hub, an outer rim, and a plurality of structural arms connecting the outer rim to the central hub. The central hub includes a pair of concentric hub walls with a plurality of spoke ribs disposed between the hub walls. The outer rim includes an annular groove in its upper surface as well as a plurality of support ribs. Each of the structural arms has a T-shaped cross section. The spacer has five bolt holes that are configured to work with a single center mount, two point, three point, or a four point mounting pattern. The spacer is fabricated from a non-metallic material such as a high strength, lightweight plastic or fiber reinforced plastic.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is directed toward an improved airspring bumper (20) and an airspring (10) comprising the improved bumper (20). The bumper (20) is defined by a dual reinforcing structure comprising concentric sets of ribs (50, 58) for absorbing and distributing loads generated from contact between the bumper (20) and an opposing retainer (16). The bumper (20) is secured to one of the airspring retainers (18) by a compression fit between the retainer (18) and the bumper (20) or by a central barbed post (36).

Abstract: A railcar cushioning device with a gas charged cylinder and a piston contained in the cylinder for cushioning buff and draft impacts. An elastomer spring is contained in the cylinder between the piston and an end of the cylinder to locate the piston in a neutral position.

Abstract: A vibration control system is provided for an appendage such as an antenna 10 coupled to a platform such as a spacecraft 12. The antenna 10 is coupled at a base 14 so as to extend from the spacecraft 12. A plurality of guidelines 20 extend between remote portions 22 of the antenna 10 and the antenna base 14. A plurality of motion control elements 36 are provided within the antenna structure for reducing oscillation settling time of the antenna 10 relative to the spacecraft 12. The motion control elements 36 include a material disposed therein having its damping response changed according to the magnitude of an electric or magnetic field applied thereto.

Abstract: A fluid damper to damp unwanted vibration between a first member (21) and a second member (23, 23'), such as between a rotor blade and hub within a helicopter rotor system. According to a first aspect, the fluid damper (20) includes an outer member (22), first and second inner members (24, 24'), first and second elastomeric elements (26, 26'), a hollow (28), a divider (30) subdividing hollow (28) into first (32) and second (32') operating chambers, a connector (34) interconnecting first (24) and second (24') inner members, a fluid passageway (36) interconnecting operating chambers (32, 32'), a fluid (38) contained within said passageway (36) and operating chambers (32, 32'), and a volume compensator (40) including a compensator chamber (42) housed within one of first (24) and second (24') inner members. In another aspect, an annular bubble trap (58) is formed in a wall portion (62) of the operating chamber (32) to focus any air bubbles into a fill port (54) during fill.

Abstract: A bellows cylinder (10) provided with a bellows part (13) at least at a part is formed so that a first surface 16 of a cylinder wall of the above bellows part is tilted to the radial direction of the bellows part and is directed to one end of the bellows part with a ridge (14) as a boundary. A second surface 18 is parallelized to the radial direction of the bellows part and is directed to the other end of the bellows part or is tilted on the side of the first surface. The second surface is pressed inside the first surface when the bellows part is compressed.

Abstract: A fluid-filled vibration damping device wherein two mutually spaced-apart mounting member are elastically connected by an elastic body, which cooperates with a first movable member to define a primary fluid chamber communicating through an orifice with an auxiliary fluid chamber partially defined by a second movable member, and the first and second movable members partially define respective mutually independent first and second working air chambers on their sides remote from the primary and auxiliary fluid chambers, and are oscillated by periodic change of air pressures in the working air chambers.

Abstract: In a first type, there is provided, inside an inner tube of a twin-tube type of damper, a pressurizing chamber to be defined by a free piston which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod. A fluid pressure from an outside pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber to push down a damper piston via the free piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a second type, there is provided inside an inner tube a cylinder which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod, and a piston mounted on the rod is inserted into the cylinder. A fluid pressure from the pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber inside the cylinder to push down the rod via the piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a third type, a rod is slidably inserted into a partition wall in an intermediate portion of a damper main body of a mono-tube type of damper.

Abstract: A vibration damper includes at least one damper mass and at least one bush bearing, the bush bearing having an inner supporting core surrounded with radial clearance by an outer supporting sleeve, a spring mass made of elastomer material that extends essentially radially and joins the supporting core and the supporting casing being arranged in the gap formed by the clearance. The damper mass has an essentially pot-shaped recess, in which the bush bearing is arranged, the supporting casing being pressed in an essentially airtight manner into the recess, and the hollow space delimited by the damper mass and the bush bearing being designed as a pneumatic spring.

Abstract: A vibration isolating apparatus is provided which absorbs vibration over a wide frequency range. A main fluid chamber and a first sub-fluid chamber are separated from each other by a partitioning member and communicates with each other by a first restricting passage. The main fluid chamber and a second sub-fluid chamber communicate with each other by a second restricting passage. A concave portion is formed in the partitioning member and an elastic-membrane fixing pipe is inserted in and fixed to the concave portion. An outer periphery of an elastic membrane is adhered by vulcanization to an inner peripheral surface of the elastic-membrane fixing pipe. The space between the elastic membrane and the bottom of the concave portion is a gas chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damper for a slip-controlled brake system of a vehicle. An elastic damper body is disposed in a damper chamber cut as a bore into a hydraulic housing block of the vehicle brake system. The elastic damper body includes an encompassing sealing edge that partitions the damper chamber into a chamber that can be acted upon by fluid and a residual volume. During pressurization, this damper body is elastically compressed or expanded. The advantages of the damper of the invention are a simple design, good damping properties and its ability to avoid the formation of cracks in its damper body.

Abstract: A novel pneumatic isolator stabilizing assembly is provided for use with a tow vehicle and a trailer for improving ride characteristics for a driver and passengers and for minimizing the possibility of damage to the tow vehicle and the trailer. The assembly includes a frame, structure for attaching the frame to the tow vehicle, structure for attaching the frame to the trailer, and an air spring for providing a cushion between the tow vehicle and the trailer when traveling over the roads. In one embodiment, the air spring is offset from the attachment point of the frame to the trailer and in another embodiment, the air spring is generally vertically aligned with this attachment point. The frame in each embodiment includes a first subassembly fixed relative to the trailer and a second subassembly fixed relative to the tow vehicle. The subassemblies are connected together such that they can move relative to each other.

Abstract: A fluid type of vibration damper apparatus containing fluid in a rigid fluid container divided by a partition formed with an orifice into two fluid chambers in communication with each other through the orifice, one of the fluid chambers being closed up air-tightly by an elastic top wall to which a subject body of vibration is attached and containing a predetermined quantity of gas so as to be in direct contact with the fluid therein.

Abstract: A gas charged monotube strut carries the accumulator outside the damper's cylinder tube and within the strut mount. A substantially direct flow path is provided between the damper and the accumulator through the damper's piston rod. Air to oil separation is maintained by a gas cup and a low profile of packaging is provided.

Abstract: A shock absorber with a pneumatic spring, has a spring carrier against which a roller tube is braced, which roller tube together with a spring bellows and an outer tube forms a spring chamber. There can also be an end cap braced against that end of the spring carrier facing the outer tube, wherein that the roller tube and the end cap are connected to form a structural unit, whereby the connection permits axial relative movement between the end cap and the roller tube, at least for assembly.

Abstract: Air suspension system with a compressed air container of an air suspension system for a motor vehicle with a vehicle frame and a vehicle body, comprising a number of elastic air springs which are connected to the reservoir, whereby the air springs and the reservoir are to be considered as compressed air containers, characterized by the fact that at least one compressed air container is located inside a cavity formed by at least one vehicle part which is independent of the air suspension system strictly speaking.

Abstract: A bottomed cylindrical second mounting metal member which defines with a diaphragm a closed air chamber is press-fitted in a fluid bath on a cylindrical metal member secured to an outer periphery of a lower side of a rubber elastic block having a downwadly opening cavity to assemble the second mounting metal member to the cylindrical metal member. As the press-fitting of the second mounting metal member proceeds, the internal pressure of the closed air chamber is increased and the diaphragm is deformed to pressurize the fluid inside a fluid-filled chamber.

Abstract: A buffer assembly for front forks has an oil-cylinder type buffer device disposed in one stay and a spring type buffer device disposed in the other stay. The oil-cylinder type buffer device has an adjustable screw, an adjusting rod, an adjusting device, an oil cylinder, elastic members, padding members, a shaft, a hollow seat, a spring, and a lower stay. The spring type buffer device has an adjustable bolt, an upper stay, an upper rod, an upper seat, soft pads, hard pads, a lower seat and a lower rod.

Abstract: A hybrid fluid and elastomer damper. A damper, which may be utilized as a lead-lag damper for a helicopter rotor application, reduces vibratory motion transmitted axially, torsionally and angularly between a pair of components such as a rotor and a blade by hysteresis of the elastomer and throttling and shearing of the fluid through a narrow annular passageway. The hybrid damper captures the best features of both the elastomer and fluid dampers while avoiding many of the disadvantages of each.

Abstract: An active positioning element for a rubber mount, including a space surrounded by a housing, a positioning member and a working member which is designed as a spring element arranged within the space. The positioning member and the working member are movable back and forth in the direction of oscillations introduced into the rubber mount, and the positioning member is sealed in the housing. The positioning member is formed by a gas pressure spring which can be acted on by gas under pressure, the gas pressure spring comprising at least one piston-cylinder unit which has a roller membrane for sealing the piston off from the housing. The spring element is formed by a compression spring which, in the direction of the oscillations introduced, rests under elastic initial stress, on one side against the positioning member and on another side against the support bearing of the rubber mount.

Abstract: A radial bush bearing, in particular for motor vehicles, includes a cylindrical outer sleeve, a central bush core disposed in and spaced from the outer sleeve defining an annular gap therebetween, at least one elastomer body being fixed in and completely circumferentially filling the annular gap, and hollow conduits with given cross sections penetrating at least a portion of the at least one elastomer body. The hollow conduits have Venturi-like constrictions and also have enlargements with the given cross sections following the constrictions.

Abstract: To overcome problems with the pistons of an energy cell rotating and becoming misaligned with one another in response to the forces exerted on the energy cell by a riser tensioner system, a two-piece elastomeric spring is disposed about each piston to create an elastomeric strut. Each piece of the spring is composed of a plurality of elastomeric layers separated by relatively inelastic spacers. These springs facilitate the longitudinally flexing of the elastomeric strut while substantially preventing rotation and misalignment in the radial direction.

Abstract: The spring includes a composite elastomeric body having in one embodiment a closed end and an open end. A coil spring is embedded both within the body wall and the closed end, and provides reinforcement of both the body wall and the closed end. The body may be of cylindrical, conical, or other shape, depending upon the required function of the spring. It may also take an essentially hourglass shape or the shape of a cylinder flanged at both ends. Alternately, the spring may be internally pressurized to provide load leveling or air spring effects in addition to the variable rate load versus deflection curve normally obtained. The body may be attached directly to any surface to create an airtight seal. Alternately, a closure plate may be provided to seal an open end of the coil spring.

Abstract: Hydraulically damping rubber engine mount comprising an inner tube (1) and an outer tube (2) surrounding the inner tube at a radial distance therefrom, the tubes being joined together by a rubber-elastic cushion (3) having two liquid-filled working chambers (4, 5) separated from one another by a dividing wall (6) capable of vibration and are joined to one another by at least one connecting passage (7). A gas-filled cavity (8) is disposed within the first working chamber (4) and defined by inflatable walls which have in at least a partial area an opening to the atmosphere and are surrounded at least partially by the working chamber.

Abstract: An upper mounting structure for a wheel suspension includes a coil spring and a strut assembly each of which is adapted to be connected at its lower end with a wheel, while an upper end of the coil spring is coupled with a vehicle body through a spring insulator of high stiffness and an upper end of the strut assembly is coupled with the vehicle body through a strut mounting insulator of low stiffness. The structure further includes an additional insulator connecting between the upper ends of the coil spring and the strut assembly, which additional insulator has higher stiffness than the spring insulator within higher frequency range. Therefore, the strut assembly is capable of absorbing a surge vibration of the coil spring within the higher frequency range in spite of low stiffness of the strut mounting insulator.

Abstract: A fluid and tension band-operated hitch adapter mounted in the bed of a pickup truck or similar towing vehicle for cushioning the fifth wheel, receiving pin or ball coupling element and dampening the resulting trailer load. In a preferred embodiment the fluid and tension band-operated hitch adapter is fitted with a fluid-operated bag, a tension band and fluid-operated cylinders and is attached to the vehicle bed by hinges, to cushion road shock.

Abstract: A steer-sensitive jounce bumper and bump plate are adapted for use with a steerable hydraulic strut. The jounce bumper is a generally tubular member formed from a compressible material having a pattern of predetermined indentations formed in its lower end. The jounce bumper is mounted about a piston rod of the strut and secured to a mount assembly. A bump plate having a series of alignment pins is mounted to an upper end of the strut. As a wheel assembly is steered, the bump plate is rotated so that misalignment occurs between the pins and the indentations. When misaligned, compression of the jounce bumper is reduced, thereby reducing the compression stroke of the strut.

Abstract: To overcome problems with the pistons of an energy cell rotating and becoming misaligned with one another in response to the forces exerted on the energy cell by a riser tensioner system, a two-piece elastomeric spring is disposed about each piston to create an elastomeric strut. Each piece of the spring is composed of a plurality of elastomeric layers separated by relatively inelastic spacers. These springs facilitate the longitudinally flexing of the elastomeric strut while substantially preventing rotation and misalignment in the radial direction.

Abstract: The hydraulic anti-vibration device comprises: an annular rigid endpiece (1) about a vertical axis (X); a rigid stud disposed coaxially with the endpiece; a frustoconical annular wall (3) made of elastomer that withstands axial compression and that is interposed between the endpiece and the stud; a watertight flexible membrane (4); a rigid intermediate partition (5) dividing the assembly into a working chamber (A) and a compensation chamber (B); a throttled passage (6) between the chambers; and a mass of liquid (L) filling the chambers and the passage, the stud being disposed inside the working chamber and constituting the head (2.sub.1) of a suspension rod (2), and the downwardly flared annular wall (3) extending upwards inside the bottom annular portion (12) of the working chamber. At least the bottom of said bottom annular portion is provided with at least one flexible blade-like obstacle (13).

Abstract: A hydraulic damping device for preventing the transmission of vibrations of wide-ranging frequencies. The device includes a thick vibration damping rubber body which defines a main liquid chamber therewithin, first and second deformable rubber diaphragms which respectively define first and second auxiliary liquid chambers, first and second passageways for respectively connecting the auxiliary liquid chambers to the main liquid chamber, each passageway generating liquid resonance in a predetermined frequency vibration range different from each other, and a bottom plate for defining a pressure chamber with the first deformable rubber diaphragm which defines the first auxiliary liquid chamber connected with the main liquid chamber by the first passageway generating liquid resonance in a high-frequency vibration range. The pressure chamber is selectively brought into communication with the atmosphere or a negative pressure source.

Abstract: An air spring structure, for preventing the shaking of a suspended rotator by absorbing/preventing the vibrations of the rotator in a commercial or household machine, comprises a body made of soft rubber materials, the body being provided with an inner cylindrical and outer cylindrical portion and an upper and lower supporting portions to thereby form an annular air chamber therein, a longitudinal through hole being defined by an inner cylindrical portion at the center. The hardness of the soft rubber materials forming the body are below 30 to 40 Shore (A). The thicknesses of the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion are thinner than those of the upper and lower supporting portions, and the ratio of horizontal stiffness (kh) to vertical stiffness (kv) is between 0.7 to 1.