Unidirectional damping system

A unidirectional damping system, comprising:

• a rigid housing;
• a shaft disposed in said housing and extending on one end thereof from said housing, said one end adapted to be coupled to a structure subject to movement;
• a plurality of unidirectional damping modules disposed in said housing, each of said modules fixedly coupled to said shaft at a unique longitudinal location thereof, each of said modules including
• a rigid plate fixed to said shaft at said unique longitudinal location associated with one of said modules,
• a fluid-filled variable-volume chamber coupled to said plate, said chamber including at least one port through which fluid flows based on changes in volume of said first chamber wherein, when said shaft is adapted to have a unidirectional force applied thereto, said chamber decreases in volume, and
• a plurality of springs coupled to and disposed within said chamber for increasing volume of said chamber when the unidirectional force is not applied to said shaft;
• said housing defining a fixed-volume spacing chamber between adjacent ones of said modules;
• and
• a breather valve disposed in said housing and in fluid communication with each said spacing chamber.

A unidirectional damping system, comprising:

• a shaft;
• a plurality of unidirectional damping modules, each of said modules disposed annularly about said shaft wherein said shaft is centrally disposed in each of said modules, each of said modules fixedly coupled to said shaft at a unique longitudinal location thereof, each of said modules including
• a rigid plate fixed to said shaft at said unique longitudinal location associated with one of said modules,
• a fluid-filled variable-volume chamber including at least one port through which fluid flows based on changes in volume of said chamber wherein, when said shaft is adapted to have a unidirectional force applied thereto, said chamber decreases in volume, and
• at least one spring coupled to and disposed within said chamber for increasing volume of said chamber when the unidirectional force is not applied to said shaft;
• and
• a fluid-filled spacer chamber coupled between adjacent ones of said modules and uncoupled from said shaft, said spacer chamber including at least one venting port through which fluid flows based on pressure in said spacer chamber.