Abstract: A passive damper for earthquake hazard reduction includes an inner member received in an outer member, with an elastomeric material disposed in the gaps between the inner and outer member. The elastomeric material has at least a first and a second portion. The first portion is bonded or connected to both the inner member and outer member such that no slippage occurs between the members and the material. The second portion is not bonded or connected to at least one of the inner and outer members such that slippage may occur.

Abstract: The inner periphery of the elastomer portion of a safetied elastomeric sandwich mount assembly is provided with a protrusion that engages the outer periphery of the rigid spacer to hold the three elements of the mount assembly together on either side of the support until the supported member such as an engine or cab of an off-highway vehicle, for example, can be bolted thereto. The protrusion also provides a centering feature that facilitates insertion of the retaining bolt.

Abstract: A dual-stage mounting system having an auxiliary support. A first set of elastomeric mounts connects the vibratory compactor drum to the auxiliary support and a second set of elastomeric mounts interconnect the auxiliary support to the vehicular frame. The dual-stage mounting system reduces by more than 70% the vibration transmitted from the drum to the primary support by a single-stage isolation mounting system thereby extending the life of the vehicle and improving operator comfort.

Abstract: A flexible dual-rate coupling (20) including an outer member (22), and inner member (24), and a free-floating intermediate member (26). First and second elastomers (28) and (44) provide the dual-rate spring rate characteristics for the coupling (20). First elastomer section (28) is disposed between pocket (50) formed in outer member (22) and outer surface (52) of intermediate member (26) and provides a first spring rate. Second elastomer (44) is disposed between intermediate member (26) and inner member (24) and provides a second spring rate. At a low load, one of the elastomer sections (28) or (44) is delimited (snubbed) to provide dual-rate features for the flexible coupling (20). Both the sections (28) and (44) are preferably pure shear sections which are bonded in the same bonding operation.