Abstract: A morphing energy absorber system includes an energy absorbing structure and an actuator system within the energy absorbing structure to morph the energy absorbing structure.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack and a compression system for providing compressive force to a fuel cell stack having first and second ends is provided. The compression system includes asymmetric leaf springs operatively connected to first and second ends of the fuel cell stack. Each leaf spring includes a slot having first and second connector positions. The compression system also includes tension members connected to the leaf springs. The tension members compress the leaf springs to provide a compressive load to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support device for the gun sight of a military vehicle, incorporating a head to which the gun sight is fastened and a foot which is integral with the vehicle, the head being integral with a column with a vertical axis which is introduced into the foot, the column being made integral with the foot by spring means wherein the spring means are constituted in the form of tongues arranged along at least two parallel planes perpendicular to the vertical axis of the support, each plane incorporating at least three tongues evenly spaced angularly around the column and integral with it by a first end and integral with the foot by their second end, these spring means imparting stiffness to the link between the column and the foot that is less along the vertical axis than along the other directions (X, Y) orthogonal to this vertical axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration isolator comprising a canister which ends are closed by end caps and a shaft able to move inside the canister, wherein the shaft comprises a piston-like shaped part for separating the canister in two parts: the first part being defined between the piston-like shaped part of the shaft and the first end cap, and comprising at least one resilient and damping element able to be compressed by a compression movement of the shaft on a first nominal stroke; the second part being defined between the piston-like shaped part of the shaft and the second end cap, and comprising at least one resilient and damping element able to be compressed by a tension movement of the shaft on a second nominal stroke; the tangential stiffness of the vibration isolator being, on at least one part of the first nominal stroke of the shaft, at least twice as lower as its tangential stiffness on the entire second nominal stroke of the shaft.

Abstract: A composite material comprises a plurality of springs forming a structure embedded within a polymer. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming an entirely polymer-coated structure.

Abstract: Flexible joining element for constructions for placing between contiguous parts of said construction in order to transmit vertical or horizontal loads, which includes at least one body made of braided and pressed steel strands that support said loads, with said braided and pressed steel strands being characterised by a deformation-tension curve that has a zone of shallower slope A and a zone of steeper slope B, with said body using in relation to said curve the zone of greater slope B, thus providing a material especially suited for the stacking of prefabricated modules for construction, particularly due to its deformation-tension characteristics and its high level of predictability which make it very practical for predicting the response of the structure.

Abstract: A damping arrangement or isolator has two terminal members which are connected with each other by a single closed-loop cable band arrangement serving as a damping member. The terminal members each possess at least two eyes to receive the cable strap in the open position of the eyes and means for clamping the cable strap by closing the eyes, said cable strap extending in an alternating fashion from one eye of the one terminal member to an eye in the other terminal member. Accordingly an extremely rapid and simple assembly of the damping arrangement is possible and very even resilient and damping properties are ensured.

Abstract: A damping arrangement is proposed with at least two holding devices (10, 11) that are connected to one another via at least one damping element (12) in the form of a plane element made of a wire mesh or wire fabric, said holding devices (10, 11) being secured to at least two different regions of the damping element (12), and said damping element (12) having at least two curvatures in opposite directions between the holding devices (10, 11). A damping arrangement of this type may be produced cost-effectively in an automated process in such a way that the damping element is constructed to have substantially the same elastic stiffnesses in three mutuallyorthogonal directions.

Abstract: A damping arrangement is proposed with at least two holding devices (10, 11) that are connected to one another via at least one damping element (12) in the form of a plane element made of a wire mesh or wire fabric, said holding devices (10, 11) being secured to at least two different regions of the damping element (12), and said damping element (12) having at least two curvatures in opposite directions between the holding devices (10, 11). A damping arrangement of this type may be produced cost-effectively in an automated process in such a way that elastic stiffnesses and damping characteristics can be adjusted in all spatial directions.

Abstract: A damping arrangement is proposed with at least two holding devices (10, 11) that are connected to one another via at least one damping element (12) in the form of a plane element made of a wire mesh or wire fabric, said holding devices (10, 11) being secured to at least two different regions of the damping element (12), and said damping element (12) having at least two curvatures in opposite directions between the holding devices (10, 11). A damping arrangement of this type may be produced cost-effectively in an automated process in such a way that elastic stiffnesses and damping characteristics can be adjusted in all spatial directions.

Abstract: Present day wire knitting machines are used to make wire mesh used in the manufacture of filters for airbag assemblies, catalytic converter seals, mechanical dampers, and the like, but are unable to knit large diameter wire, especially wire having a diameter greater than 0.025 inches. Provided herein is a looped wire made by wrapping the wire around a mandrel in multiplie layers and then pressed to flatten the loops. Thereafter, the flattened loop is formed using the same processes suitable for forming wire mesh into such articles.

Abstract: An impact absorber for protecting a protected item against damage or injury upon impact includes a formed metallic structure having at least one Nitinol member having a grounded portion in contact with a first structure positioned to engage the protected item, and an impact receiving portion. In one embodiment, the formed metallic structure includes a plurality of Nitinol wires connected together at opposite polar regions in the form of a wire-frame sphere. The wires in the wire-frame sphere may be superelastic austenitic Nitinol in a strained condition. A release device holds the wire-frame sphere in a collapsed condition and may be actuated to release the strained superelastic Nitinol structure to a deployed position at which the deployed superelastic Nitinol structure is positioned to engage and absorb energy from the protected item impacting the impact absorber.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a fluid-free mesh bearing damper, e.g., for a flywheel energy storage device. The disclosed mesh bearing damper is uniquely suitable for use in combination with flywheel assemblies, which typically are evacuated by one or more pumps to create a vacuum to substantially minimize energy loss due to air friction, because, among others, the disclosed bearing damper does not use fluids, e.g., pressurized oil, that may affect deleteriously the operation of the pumps. Moreover, the disclosed bearing damper damps vibrations, i.e., reduces the amplitude of the vibrations, induced by the rotating shaft, deflection of the shaft, and/or by the misalignment, or eccentricity, of the shaft; substantially lowers the load on the bearings, which enhances the life of the bearings and facilitates magnetic levitation; and transfers heat away from the bearings, which, further, enhances the life of the bearings. The disclosed bearing damper comprises at least one, e.g.

Abstract: A spring element is made of a spring material and is formed into a generally elliptical shape. Two mounting pins extend in a normal direction through parallel relatively short segments of said elliptically-shaped spring element. The mounting pins are substantially aligned with the shorter of the two axis of the elliptically-shaped spring element so as to extend both inwardly and outwardly of said elliptically-shaped spring element. An elastomeric coating is applied around substantially all of the spring elements and a pair of blocks, each of which surrounds one of the mounting pins receives one of the mounting pins. A number of spring elements are joined together by two parallel, spaced-apart coupling links which contain cavities therein to receive one of the blocks of each of the spring elements.

Abstract: An anti-vibration block is comprised of two substantially cylindrical coaxial end parts joined together by a cylindrical body coaxial with the end parts and of smaller section than these, the end parts and the cylindrical body defining a groove, a substantially cylindrical axial through-hole passing through the block, the end parts having on their outer faces opposite the groove pairs of projections of I and T-shape respectively.

Abstract: The buffer is preferably made by a method comprising the step of making a substantially cylindrical preform by helically winding a strip made of resilient metal wire in at least two layers of opposite pitch, and the step of compressing the preform axially.

Abstract: A linkage rod for absorbing shocks and vibrations has a housing with a central bore. A spacer tube and a spacer load plate are inserted into the central bore. Several resilient members preferably formed of crimped metal wire strands are located in the central bore between the spacer load plate and a piston load plate. A mounting member has a shoulder formed between body and neck portions. A snubber cap having a central opening with an inwardly-directed wall is positioned around the mounting member. A snubber nut is attached to the mounting member to trap the inwardly-directed wall between the snubber nut and the shoulder. The snubber cap is fastened to the housing and the mounting member may move axially relative to the housing. The resilient members resist axial movement of the mounting member.

Abstract: The exhaust coupling of the invention comprises a first length of tubing having a first assembly flange fixed thereon, a second length of tubing associated with a second assembly flange, clamping means disposed to urge the assembly flanges towards each other via first resilient members, and second resilient members disposed between the assembly flanges in order to be compressed therebetween and to exert a force on the flange which is less than the opposing force exerted thereon by the first resilient members.

Abstract: A resilient anti-vibration sleeve of the invention comprises a mass of compressed steel wire surrounded by a maintaining strip made of metal wire wound helically around the mass of compressed steel wire and having its ends fixed to the mass of compressed steel wire.

Abstract: An isolator with improved uniform spring characteristic response resists transmission of shock and vibration forces between structures, and includes a plurality of arched, individual, flexural support elements arranged circumferentially about an upright axis and spanning the distance between a base connectable to one of the structures, and an elevated support connectable to another of the structures.

Abstract: A nozzle lifting apparatus for a wire cutting electric discharge machine consisting of a nozzle for supplying a processing liquid or dielectric fluid to the electric discharge section of a workpiece, the nozzle being provided on the lower section of an elevating rod vertically movably supported by an upper arm; a slide member provided vertically movably on the inside of a guide frame integrally provided on the elevating rod; and an elevating activation rod supported on the upper arm for vertically activating the elevating rod through the slide member and interlockingly linked to the slide member. A concave section formed in the guide frame of the nozzle lifting apparatus is provided with a shock absorbing member. The slide is also located in the concave section.

Abstract: A grounding and supporting metal mesh provides connection between a circuit board with a cavity and a housing. The mesh is in the form of a spring made by interconnected torsional members. The mesh is plated with a metal which is compatible with the ground planes of the circuit board and housing.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed that includes a housing through which extends a shaft, such as a drill string. A body of wire mesh is carried by the housing and located between the housing and the drill string. The wire mesh is compressed to cause it to expand laterally into engagement with the housing and drill string to hold the housing from movement relative to the drill string, to attach, for example, a stabilizer to the drill string, or to support at least a portion of the weight of the drill string.

Abstract: A shock absorber for use in combination with either or both a seat post and front wheel fork of bicycles and the like. The shock absorber includes a pair of elongated tubes adapted to fit together in a telescopic fashion. The wall of each tube has a pair of slots on opposite sides of the tube so that when the tubes are fitted together, the slots are in general alignment. Plugs are fitted in each tube to compress therebetween a resilient wire mesh pad. A tab is fitted in the slots to keep the tubes together and to enable the tab to slide in the slots of the interior tube as the tubes slide relative to each other. The wire mesh pad serves to absorb vibrations and shocks applied to either tube.