Abstract: The damping of transducers having a mass oscillating in the manner of a piston in a cylinder containing damping fluid on both sides of the cylinder is rendered adjustable by the provision of a conduit through the mass for the flow of damping fluid from and to either side of the oscillating mass. An adjustable valve is preferably provided in a part of that conduit for damping control through regulation of damping fluid flow.

Abstract: A vibration transducer has a cylinder for enclosing a viscous damping medium. A seismic mass in the form of a piston is mounted in the cylinder for axial oscillation with the aid of a spring suspension which is flexible in an axial direction and has its maximum stiffness at right angles to that axial direction to retain the piston against radial movement relative to the cylinder. A mounting post extends through a bore in the piston and the spring suspension includes a bridge extending from one side to the opposite side of the piston. The axial oscillation of the piston is damped with the aid of floating seals between the piston and cylinder, between the piston and the mounting post and between the piston and the spring suspension bridge. These floating seals impede the flow of the viscous damping medium past the piston while at the same time avoiding static friction between the moving parts and the piston of the vibration transducer.