Back to results
US 4,964,516 AGranted
Damped extended-motton strut
AssigneeLord Corporation
InventorRichard P. Thorn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strut assembly for connecting and damping motion between relatively movable objects. The strut assembly includes a casing containing a pair of movable connecting members which cooperate with ribbed slide elements and elastomeric layers in the casing to damp motion by inducing hysteresis in the elastomeric layers and creating friction.
Claims24
A strut assembly for providing a motion-damped tension and compression connection between a first object and a second object comprising:
- an elongate casing adapted to be disposed on an axis extending between said objects,
- a first member movably mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected to said first object,
- a second member movably mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected to said second object,
- said first and second members also being movable relative to one another in said casing,
- intermediate elastomeric means located in said casing between said members for limiting motion toward one another in the axial direction,
- terminal elastomeric means located in said casing for limiting motion of said members away from one another in the axial direction,
- elastomeric means providing in said casing a deformable layer disposed alongside said axis, and
- ribbed means in said casing in pressure engagement with said layer and responsive to the motion of either of said members relative to said casing
- for slidably deforming said elastomeric layer, whereby relative motion in a predetermined range between the first and second objects can be damped and relative motion beyond said range toward or away from one another can be arrested.
6 more elements
A strut assembly for providing a motion-damped tension and compression connection between a first object and a second object comprising:
- an elongate casing adapted to be disposed on an axis extending between said objects,
- a first member movably mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected to said first object,
- a second member mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected to said second object,
- at least said first member being movable relative to said casing,
- intermediate elastomeric means located in said casing between said members for limiting motion toward one another in the axial direction,
- terminal elastomeric means located in said casing in juxtaposition with said first member for limiting motion of said first member away from said second member in the axial direction,
- elastomeric means providing in said casing a deformable layer disposed alongside said first member, and
- ribbed means in said casing in pressure engagement with said layer and responsive to motion relative to said casing for slidably deforming said elastomeric layer,
- whereby relative motion can be damped in opposite axial directions.
6 more elements
A strut assembly for providing a motion-damped tension and compression connection between a first object and a second object comprising:
- an elongate casing adapted to be disposed on an axis extending between said objects, said casing being formed of two substantially identical sections joined together along a medial plane orthogonal to said axis;
- a first member movably mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected to said first object;
- a second member movably mounted in said casing and adapted to be connected to said second object;
- said first and second members also being movable relative to one another in said casing, said first and second members having wedge-shaped surfaces facing away from said plane;
- intermediate elastomeric means located in said casing between said members for limiting motion toward one another in the axial direction;
- terminal elastomeric means located in said casing for limiting motion of said members away from one another in the axial direction, said terminal elastomeric means including opposed elastomeric protrusions slidably engaging said wedge-shaped surfaces on opposite sides of said axis;
- elastomeric means providing in said casing a deformable layer disposed alongside said axis;
- and
- ribbed means in said casing in pressure engagement with said layer and responsive to the motion of either of said members relative to said casing for slidably deforming said elastomeric layer;
- whereby relative motion in opposite directions can be damped between the objects.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.