Abstract: A wire rope vibration isolator employing a wire cable passed in a continuous loop through lateral hollow, cylindrical members, holes, channels or the like, formed therethrough in one or more mounting blocks or entrapment members. The mounting blocks manipulate the wire cable into a geometric shape, such as a coil or helix, that is capable of imparting elastic, spring-like qualities in the wire rope. The geometric shape of the wire rope is maintained and secured by driving dowel pins of sufficient length through the outer surface of the mounting block into the lateral hole contained therein to stake the wire rope into locking contact with the mounting block. The dowel pins are composed of material that has a harder consistency than the material composing the mounting block and wire rope. The ends of the dowel pins not engaging the wire rope are pressed flush to the top surface of the mounting block.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for protecting a structural object from the potentially harmful effects of a cyclic event such as an earthquake or high wind loads. A fluid spring is employed to stiffen the structural object and absorb kinetic energy stored by the spring. Fluid from the spring is exchanged with an accumulator where kinetic energy is dissipated as heat. A flow circuit regulates the exchange of fluid between the spring chamber and the accumulator chamber under controlled conditions to absorb the harmful effects of high external loads and to release the structural object when a high shock load is experienced.

Abstract: A wire rope isolator having a pair of opposed mounting blocks, each having parallel holes formed therein so that the holes in one block are perpendicular to holes in the second block. One block contains two parallel holes passing through the block while the second contains three parallel holes, one of which passes through the block and the remaining holes being blind holes passing inwardly from opposite sides of the block. One end of the rope is secured in one blind hole and the rope is threaded through the block in a clover leaf pattern and the opposite end secured in the other blind hole.

Abstract: A control apparatus associated with a hydraulic lock that contains a piston rod and an operating pin slidably contained within piston rod. A conduit contains a proximal end connected to a push button unit and a distal end connected to a lever arm assembly. The lever arm assembly contains a platform secured to the terminal end of the piston rod and a lever arm rotatably mounted over the operating pin. A cable extends through the conduit between a rocker arm in the push button unit and the lever arm so that when the button is depressed, the operating pin is moved from an inoperative position to an operative position. A locking plate is pivotally mounted upon the distal end of the conduit and arranged to move over the top surface of the platform into locking engagement with the piston rod. A cutout is formed in the plate which engages a groove formed in the terminal end of the piston rod to lock the lever arm assembly to the rod with the lever arm in position to engage the operating shaft.

Abstract: A double acting shock isolator that includes a cylindrical housing having a radially expanded chamber therein. The housing is closed at one end and open at the other end and a connector is mounted at the closed end. A stack of friction rings are mounted in a preloaded condition between the ends of the expanded chamber and a rod passes into the open end of the housing and through the stack. A pair of spaced apart raised flanges are mounted upon the rod that engages either end of the stack. A second connector is mounted upon the distal end of the rod outside of the housing so that the stack of friction rings is further compressed uniformly when either a tensile force or a compressive force is applied to the connectors.

Abstract: A wire rope isolator includes a wire rope and a pair of mounting blocks. The mounting blocks comprise of a pair of cylindrical elongated end flanges that are connected tangentially to each other by a web that has a thickness that is less than the diameter of the flanges thereby allowing the lower section of each flange to extend downward from each web. A hole passes axially through each flange. Wire rope is passed through each flange hole so that the lower surface of each web faces that of the other web and the pair of flanges of one mounting block are offset 90° to the pair of flanges of the opposing mounting block. Four U-shaped half loops of wire rope, with sufficient slack to impart elastic qualities to the wire rope, are formed. The U-shaped half loops extend outward at angles of about 45° from the mounting blocks in a cloverleaf formation.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing the unwanted extension of a hydraulic lock when the lock is subjected to relatively high dynamic loads. The lock includes a hydraulic cylinder having a piston slidably mounted therein. The piston is secured to a piston rod which passes outwardly through one end wall of the cylinder. The lock is placed in tension when the piston rod is being extended and in compression when the rod is being retracted. A flow channel is formed in the piston through which fluid is exchanged from one side of the piston to the other. A manually operated spring biased control valve is mounted in the flow channel which is normally held closed by a set spring. Fluid is allowed to flow when the valve is manually opened or when the lock is placed in tension by some external force that overcomes the biasing force of the set spring. A velocity sensitive restrictor is also mounted in the flow channel that closes the channel when the lock is placed in tension by a dynamic force above a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder arrangement, in particular a shock absorber (1), has a housing (2) as well as a piston (3) guided therein and pushed against a damping medium, and on which a piston rod (5) acts. The shock absorber has a screw-in-plug (10), within which a position transmitter (19), constructed as a proximity sensor, is housed. The screw-in plug with the proximity sensor (19) located therein and evaluation electronics are arranged coaxially on the rear end of the shock absorber housing (2). The piston is connected on the rear end to a magnet (15), and the proximity sensor is constructed of at least one magnetic field-dependent sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for both attenuating vibrations below a given load and absorbing shock above the given load. A hydraulic damper unit is equipped with a spring that preloads the device and positions the damper in a neutral or centered position. The spring holds the damper unit centered until the preload force is exceeded in either tension or compression. Elastomeric rod ends connect the damper unit to a mass to be protected and a supporting structure. The elastomeric rod ends have a response such that they attenuate vibrations up to the preloading force of the spring whereupon the elastomer is fully compressed thus permitting the damper to be displaced to absorb shock loads that are greater than the preload break-away force.

Abstract: An adjustable energy absorption device whose setting can be rendered tamper-proof, and a method of rendering the setting of an adjustable energy absorption device tamper-proof. The device is of the type that includes an outer cylinder and an adjustment member extending from one end thereof, the rotational position of the adjustment member determining the resisting force setting of the device. A frangible portion connects a first end portion of the adjustment member to a second end portion thereof, the first end portion being freely accessible from outside the outer cylinder, and the second end portion being retained within the outer cylinder. The resisting force setting of the device is adjusted to a predetermined setting by gripping the first end portion and rotating the adjustment member. The first end portion is then broken away from the second end portion at the frangible portion to thus render the setting of the device tamper-proof and, for all practical purposes, permanent.

Abstract: An installation kit for installing an absorption device on a piece of equipment and then rendering the device tamper-proof with respect to the damping setting thereof, including an absorption device having an adjustment member for adjusting the damping setting thereof, and locking mechanism for locking the adjustment member after the damping setting has been set to a desired level. The kit also includes an obstruction element to be applied to the locking mechanism for prohibiting access to the locking mechanism. The obstruction element is a mass of deformable material disposed on a sheet material that facilitates alignment of the mass of deformable material with the locking mechanism during transfer of the mass of deformable material into the locking mechanism. The invention also relates to a method of adjusting the damping setting of an absorption device and then rendering the device tamper-proof with respect to the damping setting thereof.

Abstract: A damper is provided which includes a first cylinder containing a viscous fluid. The first cylinder is sealed at both ends by end plates. The first cylinder is adapted for connection to a structure such as a building or a bridge. A piston head within the first cylinder is adapted for reciprocation with respect to the first cylinder. A piston rod is connected to the piston head. The other end of the piston rod extends through the end plate and is adapted for connection to the structure. A second piston rod extends from the piston head through the second end plate. A first ring surrounds the piston head and is constructed from a material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion such as plastic. A second ring surrounds the first ring and is constructed from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion such as metal.

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: An adjustable energy absorption device includes an outer cylinder and a shock tube that is rotatably secured within the outer cylinder. The shock tube includes a series of groups of holes passing from the interior to the exterior surface of the tube. The device is also provided with a piston slidably retained within the shock tube for engaging contact with a body in motion. An accumulator for collecting fluid from the interior of the shock tube is provided within the sealed outer cylinder. A spiral groove is formed on the interior wall of the outer cylinder and extends from adjacent the distal end of the cylinder to the accumulator. The spiral groove forms a corresponding land segment between consecutive turns of the groove so that rotation between the shock tube and the outer cylinder moves each group of holes relative to the groove and land to adjustably vary the orifice area between the shock tube and the outer cylinder.

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. The rotary friction damper is adjustable and variable. A mechanism operatively associated with the damper varies the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring to produce a controlled uniform closing speed of the door and for reducing the resistance of the damper to movement of the torsion spring when the door nears the closed position to allow the torsion spring to close the door in an unrestricted manner.

Abstract: A wire rope vibration isolator includes a coil of wire rope having a predetermined number of individual consecutive coils, a first crimp bar, and a second crimp bar. Each of the crimp bars is essentially rectangular in shape and has a pair of opposing side surfaces. A series of lateral holes extending from one side surface to the other side surface of each of the bars is provided so that the predetermined number of individual consecutive coils may be threaded through the series of lateral holes of each of the bars. A crimping force is applied to each of the two crimp bars at a point where each of the individual coils passes through a respective bar. The coils are thereby secured in a fixed position relative to one another while remaining elastically deformable. A spring-like quality is thus imparted to the coil of wire rope so that the first crimp bar and the second crimp bar may move relative to each other to dissipate vibrational energy.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of a closure object, comprising an outer cylinder whose inner chamber, contains hydraulic fluid, a distal end of the outer cylinder being attachable to either a closure object or an object to be closed. A circumferential single groove is located in an inner wall of the outer cylinder and a piston shaft telescopically received within the outer cylinder extends proximally therefrom, being attachable to either a closure object or an object to be closed, and distally into the inner chamber. A piston head is mounted distally on the piston shaft. The piston head contains a bore therethrough, a peripherally located circumferential retaining groove, and an inclined outer surface which increases in cross section in the distal direction. A seal prevents hydraulic fluid from passing around the piston head between the distal chamber and the proximal chamber. A snap ring, partially housed within the single groove, engages the inclined outer surface of the piston head.

Abstract: A dasphpot damper for acting between two objects subject to move toward and away from one another including a housing including an elongated cavity, a piston mounted within the housing cavity for reciprocating movement therealong and dividing the cavity into two variable-volume, hydraulic fluid chambers, and a network of passages permitting hydraulic fluid to flow between the two variable-volume chambers as the housing and piston move relative to one another in response to relative movements between the two objects utilizes unitary flow control cartridge mounted within the housing and defining a passageway through which hydraulic fluid is forced to flow when passing between the two variable-volume chambers. The flow control cartridge also includes a check valve device associated with the passageway for controllably restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid in one direction through the passageway and for permitting substantially unrestricted flow of hydraulic fluid in the other direction through the passageway.

Abstract: A rotary damper is disclosed having a hollow casing and a power receiving shaft extending exteriorly of the casing. The power receiving shaft turns a movable vane within the casing to pressurize a working fluid. A stationary partition member including a dividing wall and a dividing vane is positioned within the casing and journals the movable vane for rotation within the casing. The movable vane is provided with a through hole equipped with a one-way valve and the dividing wall is provided with a plurality of arcuately spaced orifices. The orifices are positioned to be serially covered by the movable vane as it is rotated to thereby provide increased resistance to fluid flow as the movable vane is further rotated.

Abstract: A stroke-limiting stop for a fluid locking device wherein movement between a piston and cylinder is influenced by fluid in the device, the stop comprising a housing having internal shape and dimension enabling one end of the cylinder to move longitudinally within at least one formation on the inner surface of the housing, and a stop element within the housing and having a portion adapted to engage the formation establishing a fixed position on the stop element along the housing longitudinal axis, the stop element being supported within the housing for movement between positions wherein the portion of the element either engages the formation or is out of engagement therewith with so that the stop element in the first position acts as an abutment to contact the cylinder upon movement into the housing thereby limiting the extent of relative movement between the piston and cylinder.