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.

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 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: 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: 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.