Abstract: In order to stop a moving vehicle without injury to occupants, a vehicle barrier is provided having a pair of platforms disposed on opposite sides of a roadway, and a capture net extending across the roadway between the platforms. Each platform has a rotatably mounted spool attached to a different end of the net, and a dual acting extension-compression shock absorber pivotally mounted to the spool, such that when the force or energy of an impacting vehicle on the net is applied to the shock absorbers, via rotation of the spools. Rotation of spools operate the shock absorbers in compression, and if needed, in extension. In railroad crossing application, two of the vehicle barriers are provided on either side of the railroad tracks to prevent vehicles from crossing the railroad tracks.

Abstract: A shock-isolation structure for supporting a relatively light load on a supporting surface and having a plurality of spring units operable in both tension and compression oriented in a truss configuration with first ends of said spring units connected to the supporting surface for universal movement and with second ends of said spring units connected to the load for universal movement, with each of the spring units including a coil spring, an end cap, and a rod which extends outwardly through the end cap with a clearance fit in a nonextended position, a clevis body on the end of each of the rods, a groove in each of the end caps, and a ridge on each of the clevis bodies for mating engagement when the rod is in the nonextended position to thereby center each of the rods in each of the end caps.

Abstract: A motion-magnifying seismic shock-absorbing construction for placement in the frame of an extremely stiff building structure wherein there is a relatively small horizontal movement between the floors of the building in response to a seismic event including a first link connected to the structure and having a shock-absorbing member therein, a plurality of additional links connected between the structure and the first link to transmit to the first link and to the shock-absorbing member therein the relatively small horizontal movement between the floors of the structure due to the seismic event, and the plurality of links including a motion-magnifying linkage for magnifying the aforementioned relatively small relative movement so that a magnified movement is applied to the shock-absorbing member. A building structure containing a plurality of the above motion-magnifying shock-absorbing constructions.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a space between the inner and outer cylinders, first and second end walls in the inner cylinder, a piston rod extending only through the first end wall and supported therein by a ball bearing assembly, a first portion of the piston on one side of the first end wall and within the inner cylinder, a second portion of the piston on the opposite side of the first end wall and external to the inner cylinder, a piston head on the first portion of the piston rod within the inner cylinder, a first chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the first end wall, a second chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the second end wall, an accumulator in communication with the second chamber, a fluid-containing seal between the first end wall and the second portion of the piston rod, and a closed fluid circuit between the accumulator and the fluid-containing seal through the space between the inner and outer cylinders.

Abstract: A motion-magnifying seismic shock-absorbing construction for placement in the frame of an extremely stiff building structure wherein there is a relatively small horizontal movement between the floors of the building in response to a seismic event including a first link connected to the structure and having a shock-absorbing member therein, a plurality of additional links connected between the structure and the first link to transmit to the first link and to the shock-absorbing member therein the relatively small horizontal movement between the floors of the structure due to the seismic event, and the plurality of links including a motion-magnifying linkage for magnifying the aforementioned relatively small relative movement so that a magnified movement is applied to the shock-absorbing member. A building structure containing a plurality of the above motion-magnifying shock-absorbing constructions.

Abstract: A damper including a cylinder, opposite end walls in the cylinder, an elongated shaft mounted for axial movement in seals in the end walls, a piston head on the shaft between the end walls, fluid-tight bellows mounted in sealed relationship between the shaft and the end walls, fluid in the cylinder and in the bellows, and flexible washers mounted between the shaft and the end walls for maintaining the shaft centered in the seals. The damper can function as a snubber when it utilizes a valved piston head.

Abstract: A self-centering spring assembly which is a column located between first and second vertically spaced frame members including a first end on the column movably secured to the first frame member, a second end on the column secured to the second frame member, a member having a first end movably mounted on the column and a second end in movable engagement with the first frame member, and a liquid spring connected between the second end of the movable member and the column.

Abstract: A toggle linkage for incorporation into a frame of a structure, such as a building, including a first link having a shock absorber therein, a first end on the first link connected to a first area of the frame, a second link having a first end connected to a second area of the frame remote from the first area, a second end on the second link, a third link having a first end connected to a third area on the frame remote from the first and second areas, and a second end on the third link. The second ends of the second and third links are connected to each other by a metal plate structure which has a bending axis, and the second end of the first link is pivotally connected to the second ends of the second and third links along an axis which is coincident with the bending axis of the metal plate structure.

Abstract: A self-centering spring assembly including a liquid spring having a cylinder and a piston, a casing slidably mounted on the cylinder and having the outer end of the piston connected thereto, a first pivotal connector between an extension of the cylinder and a bracket member and a second pivotal connection between a member extending laterally of the casing and an external member, the second pivotal connection lying outwardly of the first pivotal connection.The foregoing basic structure plus a liquid spring axially mounted thereon. The foregoing basic structure plus a resilient rubber sleeve mounted between the liquid spring and an external sleeve which supports a member.

Abstract: A toggle linkage for incorporation into a frame of a structure, such as a building, including a first link having a shock absorber therein, a first end on the first link connected to a first area of the frame, a second link having a first end connected to a second area of the frame remote from the first area, a second end on the second link, a third link having a first end connected to a third area on the frame remote from the first and second areas, a second end on the third link, a second end on the first link connected proximate the second end of the second link, and the second ends of the second and third links being connected to each other by a metal plate which is welded therebetween and which flexes in the direction of its thickness and not in the direction of its width so as to maintain the longitudinal axes of the second and third links in the same plane when the toggle linkage is activated by a seismic event as before the toggle linkage was activated.

Abstract: A seismic shock isolator and method of strengthening structures against seismic shock is disclosed. The shock isolator includes a cylinder having a damping chamber and an accumulator chamber and a piston movable into the damping chamber. The damping chamber can contain compressible liquid or incompressible liquid. The piston has a damping head and a first control orifice, and the accumulator chamber is separated from the damping chamber by a wall having a second control orifice having a higher exponent than the first control orifice. Movement of the piston into the damping chamber creates a combination of damping and stiffening having a spring component. When the isolator has compressible liquid therein, the spring and stiffening is produced by a compression of the liquid. When the isolator contains an incompressible liquid, the stiffening and spring component are obtained by a yielding of a column which movably supports the wall which divides the damping chamber from the accumulator chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper including a cylinder and a piston rod and a seal for the piston rod and a metal bellows fixedly mounted between the cylinder and the piston rod for accepting leakage of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder, and a spring arrangement encircling the cylinder and piston rod, the spring arrangement consisting of two equal length, equal size springs wound in opposite directions with their outer ends fixed to the cylinder and piston rod and having their inner ends bearing against each other to eliminate the application of torque from the springs to the bellows.

Abstract: A seismic shock isolator and method of strengthening structures against seismic shock. The shock isolator includes a cylinder having a damping chamber and an accumulator chamber and a piston movable into the damping chamber. The damping chamber can contain compressible liquid or incompressible liquid. The piston has a damping head and a first control orifice, and the accumulator chamber is separated from the damping chamber by a wall having a second control orifice having a higher exponent than the first control orifice. Movement of the piston into the damping chamber creates a combination of damping and stiffening having a spring component. When the isolator has compressible liquid therein, the spring and stiffening is produced by a compression of the liquid. When the isolator contains an incompressible liquid, the stiffening and spring component are obtained by a yielding of a column which movably supports the wall which divides the damping chamber from the accumulator chamber.

Abstract: A golf club heat consisting of a completely closed hollow metal body, a yieldable ball striking face on the hollow body, a pressurized compressible silicone fluid in the follow body, a hosel connected to the hollow metal body, a threaded port in the hosel through which the silicone fluid is placed in the hollow body, and a sealing plug in the threaded port.

Abstract: A dry friction shock absorber including a casing having an internal surface, a piston of low coefficient of friction bearing material having an external surface in contiguous relationship with the internal surface of the casing, attachment fittings on the piston and the casing for moving the piston into the casing when the shock absorber is subjected to shock forces, and expanding structure within the piston for tending to move the external surface of the piston outwardly toward the internal surface of the casing to increase the friction therebetween when the shock absorbing force is applied to the shock absorber for moving the piston into the casing. Adjustment structure is provided for varying the expanding force on the piston. A shock absorber of the foregoing type wherein the expanding structure is not activated when the piston moves slowly relative to the casing but which produces an expanding force on the piston when the shock absorber is subjected to shock forces both in tension and compression.

Abstract: A spring consisting of a rope having a plurality of strands each containing a plurality of monofilaments, and a cured binder which has saturated the rope under pressure to cause it to be self-sustaining in spring form. A method of fabricating a spring including the steps of providing a conventional rope composed of a plurality of monofilaments, saturating the rope under pressure with a binder to form a combined rope and binder, forming the combined rope and binder into a predetermined spring shape, and curing the binder to cause the spring to be self-sustaining in the formed predetermined spring shape. A self-damping spring formed by the foregoing method wherein the rope is of the twisted type, and the amount of damping being dependent on the angularity of the twisting. A spring consisting of a first portion of a rope impregnated with binder to hold the spring in a self-sustaining shape and an untreated second rope portion formed integrally with the first portion.

Abstract: A spring consisting of a rope having a plurality of strands each containing a plurality of monofilaments, and a cured binder which has saturated the rope under pressure to cause it to be self-sustaining in spring form. A method of fabricating a spring including the steps of providing a conventional rope composed of a plurality of monofilaments, saturating the rope under pressure with a binder to form a combined rope and binder, forming the combined rope and binder into a predetermined spring shape, and curing the binder to cause the spring to be self-sustaining in the formed predetermined spring shape. A self-damping spring formed by the foregoing method wherein the rope is of the twisted type, and the amount of damping being dependent on the angularity of the twisting. A spring consisting of a first portion of a rope impregnated with binder to hold the spring in a self-sustaining shape and an untreated second rope portion formed integrally with the first portion.

Abstract: A system for mounting a device on board ship which experiences normal vibrations of a predetermined frequency and which may be subjected to high intensity shock forces including a plurality of preloaded liquid springs operable in tension and compression and oriented in a truss configuration between the deck of the ship and the device, the casings of the liquid springs having a natural frequency in excess of the normal shipboard vibrational frequencies and by virtue of being preloaded providing rigid linkages for transmitting normal shipboard vibrational frequencies to the device, the preloading being of such a magnitude to permit the liquid springs to yield in either tension or compression when the ship is subjected to high intensity shock forces such as weapons effect pulses, and the liquid springs resetting the device to its normal position relative to the ship after termination of the high intensity shock forces.

Abstract: An adjustable fluid amplified shock absorber including a casing having a chamber, a piston rod slidable in the casing, a piston head mounted on the piston rod within the chamber, an adjustable channel located between the piston head and piston rod for providing different levels of fluid amplified flow, the adjustable channel being changed in size by axially moving the piston head relative to the piston rod by a threaded connection therebetween, and serrations on the piston head for engagement with grooves on the casing to hold the piston head against rotation while the piston rod is being turned during adjustment.

Abstract: A fluid shock absorber of either the pneumatic or liquid type having a frustoconical threaded bleed plug for varying the shock absorbing capacity of the shock absorber. A shock absorber construction utilizing air or liquid having a piston which is expandable whereby expansion to the associated cylinder wall exerts a frictional resistance proportional to the variation in back pressure resulting from the variable restricted flow past the frustoconical bleed plug. A liquid-type shock absorber having a self-contained chamber and a frustoconical bleed plug arrangement wherein liquid from the cylinder is forced into the chamber through the frustoconical bleed plug arrangement. In certain embodiments the bleed arrangement is located in the cylinder wall, and in another embodiment it is located in the piston head.