Abstract: An air cushion vehicle including a body, a flexible outer skirt depending downwardly therefrom, a rigid inner skirt within the outer skirt, air moving structure for creating pressure underneath the vehicle for normal driving and for creating a suction within the rigid skirt for holding the vehicle against the ground to withstand ground motion, spikes mounted on the vehicle in a normally retracted position, and structure for driving the spikes into the ground to stabilize the vehicle against lateral forces resulting from overpressure pulses and high winds.

Abstract: A pressure accumulator including a plastic cylinder having first and second cylinder ends, a piston in the cylinder, a bore in the first cylinder end, a piston rod attached to the piston and extending through the bore, a cylinder cap at the second end, a fluid inlet at the second cylinder end for conducting fluid into the cylinder, an external portion on the piston rod located outside of the cylinder, and a composite helical spring encircling the cylinder and having a first end attached proximate the cap and a second end attached to the external portion of the piston rod.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a casing and a piston with a piston head mounted thereon and located in a chamber within the casing containing fluid, an annular peripheral groove on the shock absorber head for mounting an annular turbulence inducing member having an L-shaped cross section which is slidable on the bottom surface of the groove from a passive position which it occupies when the piston head forces liquid from one side thereof to the other in a fluid amplification mode and which moves to an active position for creating turbulence within the groove during the rebound movement of the piston head.

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 surgical bone tie for securing separated sections of bone including a needle for penetrating the separated sections after they have been placed in juxtaposition, a cutting member at the trailing end of the needle for cutting a hole of rectangular cross section as the needle is pulled through the bone, a flexible metal band of rectangular cross section attached to the trailing end of the cutting member to fit into the hole formed by the cutting member, and a flat locking member at the trailing end of the band having a plurality of holes for receiving an intermediate portion of the band and securing this intermediate portion of the band to the locking member, with portions of the band lying above the flat locking member to hold it flat against the bone and with the free end of the band remaining after the needle was cut therefrom being concealed underneath a portion of the locking member so as not to provide an exposed sharp end.

Abstract: A shock absorber which can be used in tension or compression and which is adjustable in either mode of operation including a casing having first and second ends, a piston rod extending through the first end and having a piston head mounted thereon within the casing, a reversible check valve structure mounted in a cartridge for insertion into the second end, a spring within the cartridge, an adjustable member for exerting a force on one end of the spring, and a check valve member biased by the opposite end of the spring.

Abstract: An end cap for a cylinder including a body portion having an outer surface and first and second ends, a bore extending between the first and second ends, an annular sealing lip surrounding the bore, an annular recess surrounding the annular sealing lip, an annular outer body portion surrounding the annular recess, with the annular recess permitting radial flexing of the annular outer body portion both toward and away from the annular sealing lip, and an annular barb on the outer surface extending circumferentially about the annular outer body portion for reception in a mating groove in the cylinder.

Abstract: A liquid energy absorber device including an elongated liquid energy absorber member mounted on a base, an annular elastomeric member also mounted on the base in surrounding relationship to the liquid energy absorber member, a sleeve mounted on the liquid energy absorber member for sliding movement, a plate connected to the sleeve and supported on the end of the annular elastomeric member remote from the base, grooves in the plate and in the portion of the sleeve facing the liquid energy absorber member to conduct atmospheric air to a space which is formed between the sleeve and the elastomeric member as the latter distorts in operation to thereby cool the liquid energy absorber member and the annular elastomeric member, with the annular elastomeric member being longer than the liquid energy absorber member so that there is deflection of the annular elastomeric member prior to the activation of the liquid energy absorber member.

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 suspension for isolating the operator's seat in the cab of an overhead or gantry crane from various forces to which the cab is subjected including a base for mounting the seat, a plurality of cables for suspending the base from the frame of the cab to substantially isolate the base from the various vibratory, oscillatory and torsional forces applied to the cab, and shock absorbers connected between the base and the frame of the cab to dampen any oscillations of the base and to prevent the base from moving rotationally.

Abstract: An energy management system for a vehicle having a vehicle frame, a high strength bumper having a central portion and outer end portions, a first energy absorber unit coupled between the vehicle engine and the central portion of the bumper, additional energy absorber units coupled between the frame and the outer end portions of the bumper, and pivotal connections between the energy absorber units and the bumper to permit the bumper to swing to a deflecting position upon engagement with an obstruction such as a pole while the energy absorber units absorb the shock of impact.

Abstract: A recoil-counter-recoil energy absorber unit including an outer housing for guiding a recoiling mass, an hydraulic energy absorber unit mounted between a portion of the housing and the mass, a recoil spring mounted between the energy absorber unit and the housing, a second housing mounting the hydraulic energy absorber unit and for permitting it to move unrestrictedly in a recoil direction but resisting movement thereof in a counter-recoil direction, whereby the second housing will be stretched after the hydraulic energy absorber moves beyond a predetermined counter-recoil position to thereby absorb counter-recoil energy as a result of being stretched.

Abstract: A simplified but highly efficient fluid-amplified liquid spring shock absorber is provided by incorporating a plurality of DeLaval nozzles in the piston head or dashpot head of a shock absorber.

Abstract: An energy absorber unit including a cylinder, liquid in the cylinder, a piston for movement into the cylinder for providing a liquid energy absorbing capability, and relatively movable parts associated with the cylinder and having frictional engagement for additionally providing a dry energy absorbing capability. An energy absorbing unit including a tubular cylinder, a first tubular member slidable on the cylinder for carrying a force receiving member, and a second tubular member mounted on the first tubular member for mounting the first tubular member on a supporting member. An energy management system for a vehicle having a frame, an engine mounted on the frame and a bumper, including a first energy absorber unit mounted between the engine and the bumper and a plurality of second energy absorber units mounted between the bumper and the frame.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a low variance in suspension frequency of an object including the steps of establishing the natural frequency which is desired, calculating the varying spring rate required to maintain the desired suspension frequency throughout a predetermined load range, selecting a compressible fluid having a varying rate of compressibility which approaches the desired calculated varying spring rate, and utilizing a spring constructed with said compressible fluid to support said object. A vehicle suspension system comprising in combination a vehicle body for functioning over a predetermined load range and a spring suspension having a low variance in natural frequency over said predetermined load range comprising a housing, a piston in said housing, a compressible fluid having a varying compressibility in said housing with the rate of change of the compressibility of the compressible fluid being matched to a varying spring rate which will produce said low variance.

Abstract: A liquid spring shock absorber is provided with an improved piston head-piston rod assembly free of stress force concentrating design features. The shock absorber assembly further includes a slidably extending member for the accomodation of tension loads.