Abstract: A suspension device for an automobile with stoppers that are protrudingly provided in an intermediate portion of a torsion bar, and stopper bearings provided on the inner surface of a cover mounted on the torsion bar to be in contact with the stoppers when the torsion bar is twisted by a prescribed amount, thereby changing the spring constant when the stoppers come into contact with the stopper bearings, while a portion between an engaging portion and the stoppers is rendered smaller in thickness than the remaining portion between the engaging portion and an end provided with no stoppers, thereby providing an increased spring constant. The position of engagement between the cover and the engaging portion is rendered adjustable along the torsional direction, to harmonize comfortableness and operation stability of the automobile.

Abstract: A bush assembly includes an inner cylindrical member for supporting an elongated member, a rigid sleeve slidably fixed to the outer surface of the inner cylindrical member via a slipping member, and an outer cylindrical member fixed to the outer surface of the rigid sleeve via an elastic member. The rigid sleeve has a greater diameter portion at one end thereof so that an annular space is formed between the greater diameter portion and one end of the inner cylindrical member. The bush assembly further includes a sealing member which is disposed in the annular space for preventing muddy water or the like from getting into the interfaces between the slipping member and the inner cylindrical member and between the slipping member and the rigid sleeve. The elastic member has a radially extending projection for interrupting muddy water or the like getting into the interface between the outer cylindrical member and a member which is to be connected another member via the bush assembly.

Abstract: An end attachment assembly for a twisted rope torsion bar includes an anchor nut and a plurality of strap wrenches. A plurality of tie rods and a washer secure the assembly and transmit the torque. The torison bar is preferably fabricated of a lightweight glass fiber/epoxy composite material formed in a rope. In operation, the application of torque to the anchor nut results in a rotating/pivoting action by the strap wrenches. The strap associated with each strap wrench loops around the torsion bar and overlaps itself in the area of engagement with a cross bar that forms a cam. As the cross bar rotates/pivots and presses against the engaging portion of the strap, the strap firmly grips the torsion rod. The strap resists by frictional engagement any sliding motion over the torsion bar and against itself in the overlapping region. This compressive action adjusts for the diametral change of the torsion bar upon the application of torque and results in a tighter and tighter grip to the torsion bar.

Abstract: A nonlinear torsional spring includes an inner torsion member and an outer torsion member. The inner torsion member includes a central axis and has first and second axial ends and the outer torsion member is fixedly secured to the inner member adjacent the first end thereof and extends along the inner member toward the second end. At least one projection and groove are provided in the arrangement for causing the inner member and the outer member to contact one another along the length of the inner member at a position progressively nearer the second end thereof as torque is applied to one of the inner and outer members. The spring may be used as a stabilizer bar in a vehicle and the like or employed in a machine as a nonlinear torsional spring element.

Abstract: A molecular joint for axle struts, connecting rods, and similar parts of motor vehicles comprising a substantially cylindrical housing having a joint pivot lying approximately in the middle axis of the housing, and a sleeve-like joint body of an elastomer material, which is arranged between the housing and the joint pivot and adheres to both, with a prestressing. On the inner surface of the housing, there is provided a material recess in a central or middle zone, which reduces the prestress of the sleeve-like joint body in this zone an thereby produces a progressive characteristic of the molecular joint in the direction of loading.

Abstract: A hollow torsion bar reinforced by a mixture of resin and filler and method of making such a torsion bar. The torsion bar is formed from mild or medium grade steel seamless or welded tubing. The tubing is cut to length and charged preferably with a mixture of substantially uncured thermoset resin and plastic or glass hollow microspheres and/or metal pellets. The mixture may be charged into the tube by injection as a paste or by placing inside the tube a B-stage form insert having preferably between about 10 and 50 percent elongation tensile strength. After the tube has been charged with the reinforcing mixture, the tube is bent to form a torsion bar having a radius arm and a spring portion. In areas that the torsion bar is bent, the reinforcing mixture is provided to act as an internal mandrel preventing collapse of the tube walls. The mixture is then cured and bonded in place by chemical reaction of the rein or by thermally curing the resin mixture within the tube.

Abstract: A rubber sleeve spring of two independently made parts each including two supporting sleeves one radially surrounding another, as well as a spring body of rubber joining the supporting sleeves and with two recesses corresponding to one another in the spring body. The two parts are so configured and assembled in a unit such that the recesses combine to form liquid-filled, sealed chambers which are in liquid-carrying communication with one another through a passage-like opening. The opening includes, in tandem, a first passage and a second passage of two branch passages which are connected parallel. The two branch passages differ from one another by having cross sections of different magnitude and/or different length and/or different cross-sectional variation over their length. They are preferably disposed in the plane of separation of the rubber sleeve spring.

Abstract: There is provided a counterbalance assembly for use in combination with a rotatable robotic arm and the like in a robotic manipulator, where the robotic arm is rotated about an axis by a torque-producing device having a relatively stationary base. The assembly further includes a torsional spring comprising a pair of concentric tubes connected to each other by rubber, with one tube connected to the arm and the other tube connected to the base. In general, any torque created by the influence of gravity acting on the robotic arm, as it is rotated, is counterpoised by torsional wind-up in the spring due to proportional resistance of the rubber to torsional shear. This spring/arm combination thereby reduces the load on the torque-producing device.

Abstract: A twist isolating connection between a distal end of an elastic beam disposed transversely of a vehicle sprung mass and an adjacent end of a torsion rod disposed longitudinally of the sprung mass between a suspension control arm and the elastic beam distal end, the connection including a yoke rigidly attached to the end of the torsion rod with a pair of legs straddling a platform member on the distal end of the elastic beam, and a pair of protuberances on the legs engaging opposite sides of the platform member in a common transverse plane of the sprung mass but at laterally spaced locations. The elastic beam is thus clamped between the protuberances which transfer torsional moments to the elastic beam for resistance in bending modes but which isolate the elastic beam from the torsion rod with respect to twisting of the beam due to beam bending of the torsion rod.

Abstract: A suspension system for a motorized propeller vehicle wherein the weight of the vehicle is supported by torsion springs. The vehicle chassis supports the drive output shafts and are connected to the driven wheels via a splined connection. The vehicle wheels have a stationary wheel drum bracket with an upper bracket section and a lower bracket section located respectively above and below the drive shaft connection to the wheel. The torsion spring suspension includes a pair of upper torsion springs interconnecting the vehicle chassis to the upper bracket section of the wheels and a pair of lower torsion springs interconnecting the vehicle chassis to the lower bracket section of the wheels.

Abstract: A rubber plastic composite cylinder that has a cylindrical hollow elastomeric body bonded internally to a shaft and its external surface bonded to a cylindrical sleeve of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which includes the bonding as by vulcanization two outer shells of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene to the elastomeric cylinder to place the elastomeric cylinder in compression. Such composite cylinder may be spaced along a shaft or utilized effectively as a coaxial shear spring or as conveyor rollers.

Abstract: A sound isolating bearing has concentric inner and outer housings made of steel with a concentric shim between the inner and outer housings sandwiched by layers of a resilient elastomer. The longitudinal cross section of the shim is convex on both inside and outside surfaces with the same radius of curvature to allow cocking of the inner housing relative to the outer housing about a first point on the bearing axis midway between the ends and about a second pivot point outside the bearing in a plane midway between the bearing ends perpendicular to the bearing axis.

Abstract: A structure for swingably supporting a lower suspension arm of a vehicle suspension on the chassis of the vehicle through a bracket. The bracket has a main part swingably supporting the lower suspension arm and connected to the chassis, and an extension extending from the main part in the longitudinal direction of the chassis and connected at a position which is vertically spaced from the position at which said main part is connected to the chassis and on the opposite side of the axis of swinging of the lower suspension arm to the position where the main part is connected to the chassis. With this arrangement, displacement of the bracket by any force transmitted through the lower suspension arm and acting in the longitudinal direction is minimized.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a marine riser tensioner (10, 100, 200, 300) are disclosed for use in tensioning a marine riser (12) on a tension leg platform (14) by the use of elastomeric elements. In one embodiment, a plurality of elastomeric pads (60) are placed in pad shear to provide tension to the marine riser. In another embodiment, elastomeric disks (124) are placed in torsional shear to provide the tension to the marine riser. In other embodiments (200, 300) elastomeric cones (208) deform in ring shear.

Abstract: A bush assemblage having an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve in co-axial and radially-spaced relation thereto, a rigid sleeve member disposed between the inner and outer sleeves, a cylindrical resilient member interposed between the outer sleeve and the rigid sleeve member, and a cylindrical sliding member interposed between the inner sleeve and the rigid sleeve member, a retainer member located at at least one of axial ends of the inner sleeve to extend radially outwardly, and a sealing device for sealing at least between the inner sleeve and the rigid sleeve member. The sealing device includes a rubber member which is disposed on the retainer member and an axial end of the rigid sleeve member corresponding to the at least one axial end of the inner sleeve, and which abuts against the other.

Abstract: A torsion bar suspension unit includes a pair of hubs, one of which is attached to a rotationally oscillatable member, and torsion bar means secured and extending between the two hubs. Various improvements to the structure are provided.

Abstract: A suspension bushing joint, rather than clamping the inner sleeve of the bushing directly between spaced walls on a support bracket, clamps the bushing sleeve between one wall of the bracket and an expandable sleeve anchored to the other bracket wall. The expandable sleeve extends through an initially oversized circular opening in the other bracket wall and is anchored thereto by being expanded outwardly by a conical expander portion of a bolt. No forces are generated that would tend to deform the walls toward one another.

Abstract: A vibration damped apparatus comprising a damping mass which is mechanically coupled to a member subject to vibration. The damping mass is formed from a elastic material throughout which a plurality of sub-masses are distributed. The sub-masses are relatively positioned so that the damping mass has different moduli of elasticity in tension and compression, so as to quickly dampen a broad frequency range of vibrations in the vibrating member. In a preferred embodiment, the vibrating member is a tubular post upon which vibration-sensitive optical components are mounted, the damping mass being disposed within a cavity in the post to damp vibrations of the post and optical components thereon.

Abstract: The device of the present invention provides a mechanism which arranges a set of elastomeric blocks, one adjacent the other, in separate housings, so as to limit rotation between an input and an output of the housings and in which a surface of a bushing arrangement cooperates with the device so as to limit rotation of a shaft and housing arrangement of the bushing. The structural arrangement limits radial loading and, improves wear life of the elastomeric block.