Abstract: A mount comprising a unitary resilient member where the unitary resilient member comprises a spring portion, an intermediate stiffening portion and a damping layer, and the resilient member is compressible and extendible. The resilient member is substantially enclosed by a casing. The mount further includes damping means located in contact with said damping layer, the damping means providing damping in response to compression and extension of said resilient member.

Abstract: A surface effect damper comprising a housing having a wall that defines a chamber, the housing having a first end, a second end and an axis; at least one contact element movable through the chamber between the housing ends in a first direction and in a second direction; and at least two damping elements substantially surrounding each contact element, each of the at least two damping elements being movable away from the axis and into frictional engagement with the wall as the at least one contact element is moved in a first direction and each of the at least two damping elements being movable toward the axis as the at least one contact element is moved in a second direction.

Abstract: A mount comprising a unitary resilient member where the unitary resilient member comprises a spring portion, an intermediate stiffening portion and a damping layer, and the resilient member is compressible and extendible. The resilient member is substantially enclosed by a casing. The mount further includes damping means located in contact with said damping layer, the damping means providing damping in response to compression and extension of said resilient member.

Abstract: A surface effect damper comprising a housing having a wall that defines a chamber, the housing having a first end, a second end and an axis; at least one contact element movable through the chamber between the housing ends in a first direction and in a second direction; and at least two damping elements substantially surrounding each contact element, each of the at least two damping elements being movable away from the axis and into frictional engagement with the wall as the at least one contact element is moved in a first direction and each of the at least two damping elements being movable toward the axis as the at least one contact element is moved in a second direction.

Abstract: A mount for isolating a vibrating member from its support. An elastomeric element is made up of four components that are preferably bonded to the inclined outer surface of an inner member and the inclined inner surface of an outer member. One of the inner and outer members is bifurcated and drawing the two halves into mating engagement results in the elastomeric components being preloaded simultaneously in compression and shear. The elastomeric element is preferably formed with portions which snub movement in each of three orthogonal directions. The dimensions of the pair of elastomeric components above or below the vibrating member may be different than the other pair since the greater compression strain on one pair of components will make its stiffness characteristics more critical to determining the effective stiffness of the mount.

Abstract: An auxiliary torsional damper of the surface-effect type capable of damping torsional spikes which may occur during operational transition through the system's resonance frequency. Preferably, the auxiliary damper will be designed with a decoupling feature such that the damper will only provide auxiliary torsional damping for torsional oscillations which surpass a threshold amplitude. Since the surface-effect damper is deflection dependent, the larger the magnitude of the torsional spike, the larger the damping that will be applied thereto.

Abstract: A dual-rate surface effect damper with extended useful life. The dual rate is provided by two cylindrical liners which have different inner diameters which engage a damping piston having protrusions which have an interference fit with the liner. Features which extended life include heat dissipative elements such as internal and external fins, a convective heat transfer path for cooling air through the piston and a lubricant of MoS.sub.2 dispersed in a Teflon.RTM.-filled flurosilicone. Maintaining the temperature of the elastomer below about 200.degree. F. (93.3.degree. C.) is critical to avoiding thermal breakdown. In addition, the elastomer and metallic surfaces can undergo a surface treatment to reduce their tendency to abraid and to cause abrasion, respectively.

Abstract: A fluid filled vibration isolator of the type having upper and lower chambers separated by a partition having an inertia track passageway and a decoupler assembly permitting fluid to bypass the inertia track passageway at certain amplitudes. The decoupler assembly includes a plurality of wafers loosely contained within a cavity in the partition. The wafers have a predetermined density and occupies less than the entire cavity when at rest therein. At low amplitudes of vibration, the plurality of wafers oscillates in a dispersed condition as the fluid oscillates through the screened cavity essentially bypassing the inertia track passageway between the chambers. As the amplitude of vibrations increase beyond a certain level, the plurality of wafers compacts alternately against the screens to throttle flow therethrough and thereby cause the fluid to oscillate in the inertia track passageway.

Abstract: A vibration isolator of the type having opposed fluid filled chambers separated by a partition having an elongate inertia track passageway providing fluid communication between the chambers is provided with a decoupler disc and cage configuration which attenuates noise and minimizes leakage while providing a relatively low minimum dynamic stiffness at a predetermined high excitation frequency. The decoupler disc has an edge configuration which cooperates with its cage to permit flexure only about peripheral fulcrums. Decoupler disc displacement inwardly of its peripheral fulcrums is progressively arrested by shapes provided on opposite sides of the decoupler disc and confronting cage structure.

Abstract: A vibration isolator of the type having opposed fluid filled chambers separated by a partition having an elongate inertia track passageway providing fluid communication between the chambers is provided with a decoupler disc and cage configuration which attenuates noise over a broad frequency and amplitude spectrum by permitting disc flexure only about peripheral fulcrums.

Abstract: The attenuator has a chamber filled with hydraulic fluid and bordered by a diaphragm effective to impart oscillatory movement to a slug of such fluid. During high frequency excitation the inertial forces of the oscillating fluid slug minimize the dynamic stiffness of the attenuating device. The particular excitation frequency at which the foregoing occurs is controlled by an annular tuning plate or assembly disposed in non-engaging relationship to the diaphragm and having an opening which may be adjustable in size either automatically or manually.

Abstract: A cab tilt assist mechanism is provided for use with a suspension system in a cab-over-engine truck, which is mounted between the cab and frame on either side of the front of the truck and is operable to provide a fixed pivot point about which the cab may rotate during a tilting operation. The tilt assist mechanism herein carries all of the loads imposed by the weight of the cab during a complete cab tilt operation without affecting the stiffness and damping responses provided by the suspension system between the cab and frame.