Abstract: A shock absorber having a casing containing compressible fluid and a piston head with structure for providing fluid amplification during normal piston head movement, the piston head having a central bore therein for slidably mounting the piston head for axial movement on the piston rod and being biased against a holding member by Bellville washers, a valve on the holding member obstructing conduits between the piston rod and the piston head when the piston head is biased against the holding member, the conduits being uncovered by the valve to permit flow therethrough from one side of the piston head to the other when the pressure in the shock absorber in the area of the holding member exceeds a predetermined value, the conduits between the piston head and piston rod being of a shape to provide a second stage of fluid amplified flow.

Abstract: An end cap for a fluid cylinder having a central body portion and opposite end portions, flexible annular lips on the opposite end portions, an annular barb on one of the end portions for mating engagement with a groove with a cylinder for retaining the end cap in position, and an enlarged protuberance on the other annular portion of a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the cylinder for providing an interference fit therewith.

Abstract: A boot seal in the form of a bellows for a shock absorber in the form of a liquid spring mounted in a sleeve having a sleeve flanged secured to a deck by bolts, the boot seal including a collapsible central bellows portion, an upper cylindrical boot portion attached to the liquid spring casing by means of a hose clamp, a lower annular resilient boot flange extending substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the boot and having a plurality of first scalloped cutouts in its outer periphery, an annular trim ring overlying the annular boot flange and having second scalloped cutouts in its outer periphery overlying the first scalloped cutouts of the boot flange, retention and spacer washers having lower washer portions extending through the aligned first and second scalloped cutouts and having upper washer flange portions bearing on the trim ring, the lower washer portions being of a length which is less than the combined thickness of the trim ring and the annular boot flange so that when the bolts

Abstract: A frictionless hydraulic damper having a cylinder and a piston head and piston rod connected to the piston head, with the piston head dividing the cylinder into chambers on opposite sides thereof and with the piston rod extending beyond the cylinder, and with sealed bellows extending between the end walls of the cylinder and opposite sides of the piston which confine the fluid to the space between the outside of the bellows and the wall of the cylinder and thus prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder and eliminate the need for fluid seals on the piston rod.

Abstract: An energy absorber device including a plastic cylinder having a smaller and larger diameter portion with a shoulder at the junction therebetween, a screw-in plastic seal at one end of the casing surrounding a piston member, a metal housing having smaller and larger diameter portions for sliding engagement with the smaller and larger diameter portions of the casing and having a shoulder for abutting engagement with the shoulder on the casing, and an abutment member carried by the housing for engaging the outer end of the piston member.

Abstract: A caliber bar for locating the centerline of the bore at the muzzle of a gun including a frame, first and second trunnion housings axially mounted on the frame, each of the trunnion housings pivotally mounting three centering arms circumferentially spaced at 120.degree. from each other for contacting the side of a bore at axially spaced locations, and first and second liquid springs mounted on the first and second trunnion housings, respectively, for biasing the centering arms associated with each trunnion housing simultaneously outwardly equal amounts into engagement with the side of the bore, and detents for removably holding the first and second trunnion housings in the frame.

Abstract: A frictionless hydraulic damper including a cylinder having end walls mounting the opposite ends of a shaft in bushings with a clearance, bellows seals between each end wall and the portions of the shaft extending beyond each end wall, a piston head on the shaft within the cylinder, hydraulic fluid in the cylinder and in both bellows seals, an orifice construction located relative to the piston head for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid past the piston head to produce damping, and a conduit in the shaft for effecting communication between the two bellows. The damper as described above also functions as a snubber by including a valve construction which selectively closes the orifice construction. The damper as described above also includes structure which effectively closes off the clearances at the relevant bushings when the piston head travels above a predetermined velocity, to thereby prevent leakage past the bushings and thus enhance the snubbing action.

Abstract: A fluid energy absorber device, such as a fluid spring or shock absorber, or combination of both, having a composite casing, compressible fluid in the composite casing, and a piston in the composite casing, the composite casing including an inner plastic cylinder having an outer surface, and an outer high strength plastic cylinder on the outer surface for reinforcing the inner plastic cylinder, the outer high strength plastic cylinder including fibers of metal or plastic extending longitudinally of the inner cylinder and plastic stretchable fibers extending circumferentially of the inner cylinder so as to permit radial expansion of the inner cylinder to provide a high spring rate as compared to a fluid energy absorber device, such as a fluid spring, having a simple plastic casing, the fibers of the outer cylinder being encased in a resin.

Abstract: A fluid energy absorber device, such as a fluid spring or shock absorber, or a combination of both, having a composite casing of an outer cylinder of molded plastic around an inner high strength plastic cylinder having high strength fibers therein, the high strength fibers extending both longitudinally and circumferentially, with the circumferential fibers preferably being a high strength plastic which will permit the casing to expand radially. The inner cylinder may be a separate plastic cylinder containing the high strength fibers and to which the outer cylinder is bonded, or the inner cylinder may be formed by a matrix of plastic which is a continuation of the outer cylinder. The high strength cylinder may be located between inner and outer plastic cylinders which are fused to each other to encapsulate the high strength cylinder.

Abstract: A snubber with an integral test structure which permits the snubber to be tested for drag, lockup and full load pressure characteristics without disconnecting it from between two external members between which it is mounted including a cylinder with opposite end walls, a piston mounted on a piston rod extending through the end walls and dividing the space between the end walls into first and second chambers which are filled with hydraulic fluid, a first clevis connecting one end of the piston rod to a first external member, a housing mounted for sliding movement on the cylinder and including a second clevis connecting it to a second external member, a plurality of selectively removable pins for fixedly attaching the housing to the cylinder or permitting it, when removed, to slide relative thereto, and ports in communication with the two chambers for conducting hydraulic liquid thereto or exhausting hydraulic liquid therefrom.

Abstract: A liquid spring unit operable in both tension and compression includes a liquid spring having a cylinder, a piston, a seal between the cylinder and piston, and compressible liquid in the cylinder. A cylinder extension has diametrically opposed slots therein. A sleeve slidably mounts the cylinder and has diametrically opposed slots in alignment with the slots in the cylinder extension. A link is attached to the piston and has pintles received in the pairs of aligned slots. A first load-receiving member is attached to the sleeve and a second load-receiving member bears on the link to force the piston into the cylinder when the load-receiving members are moved toward each other and causes the cylinder to be moved onto the piston when the load-receiving members are pulled away from each other. A mechanical spring structure having a lower spring force than the liquid spring is interposed between the first and second load-receiving members for attenuating low amplitude forces.

Abstract: An electrically operated valve assembly including a valve member maintained on a seat by a tensioned wire or filament which is heated to permit the valve member to move off of its seat. A piston and cylinder assembly including a conduit therein for permitting pressurized fluid to actuate the piston when an electrically operated valve of the type described above is actuated. A self-contained system including a reservoir, compressible liquid in the reservoir, a squib for pressurizing the compressible liquid, a piston and cylinder, a conduit between the reservoir and the cylinder, and a valve of the above-described type in the conduit for selectively admitting pressurized compressed liquid to the cylinder. A piston and cylinder system including a plurality of the above-described valve assemblies and associated conduits for selectively admitting hydraulic liquid to opposite sides of the piston to move it in opposite directions.

Abstract: A frictionless hydraulic damper including a cylinder having end walls mounting the opposite ends of a shaft with a clearance in labyrinth seals, bellows seals between each end wall and the portions of the shaft extending beyond each end wall, a piston head on the shaft within the cylinder, hydraulic fluid in the cylinder and in both bellows seals, an orifice construction located relative to the piston head for permitting flow of hydraulic fluid past the piston head to produce damping, and a conduit in the shaft for effecting communication between the two bellows. The damper as described above also functions as a snubber by including a valve construction which selectively closes the orifice construction.

Abstract: A liquid spring unit operable in both tension and compression including a cylinder, compressible liquid in the cylinder, a piston and a seal for the piston, a first sleeve mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the cylinder, a collapsible housing consisting of a second sleeve mounted about the first sleeve and a third sleeve mounted on the second sleeve, a first attachment member mounted relative to the first sleeve for attachment to a first external member, a second attachment member on the third sleeve for attachment to a second external member, a stop for preventing the second and third sleeves from extending beyond a predetermined length when tension forces are applied to the first and second attachment members, a slidable connection between the second and third sleeves for permitting the housing to collapse when compressive forces are applied to the first and second attachment members, and a connection between the piston and the housing for driving the piston into the cylinder when both tension

Abstract: A liquid shock absorber device including a plastic cylinder having first and second ends, a piston rod having a first end within the cylinder and a second end externally of the cylinder, a plastic seal formed integrally with the cylinder at the first end and defining an opening for receiving the piston rod in sealing relationship, a closure for closing the second end of the cylinder, and fluid in the cylinder. The closure on the second end may have a piston associated therewith for preloading the fluid.

Abstract: A liquid spring unit operable in both tension and compression includes a liquid spring having a cylinder, a piston, a seal between the cylinder and piston, and compressible liquid in the cylinder. A cylinder extension has diametrically opposed slots therein. A sleeve slidably mounts the cylinder and has diametrically opposed slots in alignment with the slots in the cylinder extension. A link is attached to the piston and has pintles received in the pairs of aligned slots. A first load-receiving member is attached to the sleeve and a second load-receiving member bears on the link to force the piston into the cylinder when the load-receiving members are moved toward each other and causes the cylinder to be moved onto the piston when the load-receiving members are pulled away from each other.

Abstract: A shock absorber including a casing housing an elongated elastomeric member within a chamber, the elastomeric member being distorted from its original cylindrical shape into an undulating shape by being held between a piston and an end wall of the chamber, the undulating shape causing substantial axially extending axially spaced portions to be maintained in frictional engagement with the walls of the casing, said frictional engagement providing a damping force as the piston enters the chamber to further distort the elastomeric member. A shock absorber of the general type set forth above wherein a plurality of helically intertwined elongated elastomeric members are located within the casing, rather than a single elongated elastomeric member.

Abstract: A shock absorber including a casing, a piston rod having a portion in the casing, a piston head mounted on the piston rod for dividing the casing into chambers on opposite sides thereof, a piston head having a central bore therein having an inner peripheral surface which flares outwardly at opposite ends thereof, and a plurality of interspersed grooves and ridges on the piston rod within the bore for permitting flow of liquid between the chambers to thereby provide fluid amplification through the spaces between the inner peripheral surface of the piston head and the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod.

Abstract: A molded plastic cylinder for an energy absorber, fluid cylinder, or the like, which includes a main body portion having a first outer diameter and a first thickness, and an end portion formed integrally with the main body portion and having a second outer diameter which is less than the first diameter and also having a second thickness which is not substantially greater than the first thickness, an internal shoulder located substantially at the junction of the main body portion and the end portion, and an external thread on said main body portion in a low stressed area of said cylinder for attaching said cylinder to an external structure.

Abstract: A damped liquid spring construction in which high instantaneous pressure rises are damped so as not to be experienced at the seal including a cylinder containing compressible liquid with a piston in the cylinder and a seal located in sealing engagement with the piston, and an annular pressure damping ring mounted in contiguous relationship to the seal, the pressure damping ring including an annular surface spaced from the outside surface of the piston for providing an annular space around the piston for restricting transmission of pressure and shock pulses from the main portion of the cylinder to the portion at which the seal is located, to thereby damp high substantially instantaneous pressure rises before the high pressure can affect the seal.