US 4,103,760 A · Mechanical shock arrestor

Abstract

Relative axial motion of a pair of strut members is converted into rotation of a shaft which drive a rotatably mounted inertia element. Rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction drives a second rotatably mounted inertia element. The inertia elements are interconnected by a coil spring with the result that the inertia element driven directly by the shaft drives the other inertia element. At a predetermined acceleration, the inertia element driven by the spring will lag, and this changes the spring diameter causing the spring to engage a surrounding housing causing a braking action to limit the acceleration. In a second embodiment, the axial strut load is translated through a fixed shaft into rotation of a nut which drives the inertia element. The nut also transfers the axial load through the inertia element and a single ball bearing set to the other strut member.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A motion snubbing device comprising:

first and second strut members mounted for relative movement;
a pair of inertia elements rotatably mounted on said first strut member;
a threaded shaft fixed to said second strut member;
a nut mounted on said shaft to be rotated by the shaft when the shaft is moved axially relative to said nut;
means connecting said nut to said elements so that relative movement of said members in one direction will drive one of said inertia elements, and relative movement of said members in an opposite direction will drive the other inertia element;
and
means connecting said inertia elements in a manner such that rotating either of the elements below a predetermined motion threshold causes such element to rotate the other inertia element, and attempting to rotate said other inertia element above said threshold initiates braking action on said elements and said members which limits motion to said threshold.

4 more elements

A motion snubbing device comprising:

a first strut member including a tubular support housing and an end plate attached to each end of said housing, and a tubular bearing support attached to each end plate which extends into said housing toward the other of said bearing supports, the housing being spaced from the bearing supports to define an annular space;
a second strut member including an end plate and a tubular casing attached to said end and slidably mounted on said housing, a threaded shaft attached to said end plate of said second strut member and extending through one of the end plates on said first strut member and through said bearing supports, means on the end plate through which the shaft extends for supporting said shaft for axial movement while cooperating with the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft;
a pair of tubular inertia elements positioned within said housing annular space in end to end relation, bearing means rotatably mounting each of said elements on a respective one of said bearing supports;
means for translating axial movement of said shaft relative to said first strut member into rotation of one of said inertia members;
and
means connecting said inertia elements in a manner such that rotating one of said elements in one direction causes such element to rotate the other of said inertia elements below a predetermined motion threshold, and attempting to rotate either of said elements above said threshold initiates braking action on said inertia elements and said strut members.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mechanical shock arrestor

Life of this patent

Mechanical shock arrestor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12