Buffer cartridge

A buffer cartridge for absorbing energy comprising a hydraulic component cooperatively coupled with an energy-absorbing material component, said hydraulic component comprising a cylinder-piston arrangement, said energy-absorbing material component comprising a stack of pads made from resilient energy-absorbing material, each pad having a wall, and a toroidal configuration and stacked about the cylinder-piston, a spacer plate separating adjoining pads, means intercoupling said cylinder-piston arrangement and said stack of pads for receiving a compressive force to develop reactive forces simultaneously in both of said components, said cylinder-piston arrangement comprises an elongated cylinder having one end fixed to a base, a piston rod having one end defining a piston, means having a bore for closing the other end of said cylinder, the other end of said piston rod extending through said bore, an accumulator enveloping said piston rod and having one end secured to said piston rod adjacent said piston and having the other end clamped to the cylinder by said closing means, said accumulator being formed from elastomeric material, the other end of said accumulator defining a slidable seal about said piston rod, said piston including a piston seal provided with orifice means for movement of hydraulic fluid therethrough.