Surface effect dampers having both hysteresis and a frictional component

An engine mount capable of producing a surface effect damping force having both a frictional and a hysteresis component, said mount comprising:

• a) a housing, at least a portion of said housing having a layer of elastomer bonded thereto, said housing adapted for attachment to one of a frame and an engine;
• b) a piston assembly, said piston assembly having a portion bonded to said housing by means of a frustoconical elastomeric block, said piston assembly including
• i) a piston rod having a first end portion adapted for attachment to another of the frame and the engine;
• ii) said piston rod having a second end portion for mounting a plurality of annular disk members, said second end portion including a first inwardly directed partially spherical surface;
• iii) a piston including
• (a) a first rigid plate member, said rigid plate member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of said piston rod, a first generally spherical recess surrounding said aperture for engaging said first inwardly directed spherical end portion;
• (b) an intermediate portion having a second inwardly directed, partially spherical surface;
• (c) a second rigid plate member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of said piston, a second generally spherical recess surrounding said aperture for engaging said second inwardly directed spherical surface;
• (d) at least one annular disk received between said first and second rigid plate members, each said disk having an inner diameter which is substantially greater than a corresponding outer diameter of said piston rod;
• whereby said plurality of annular disks in said piston can tilt relative to a longitudinal axis of said piston rod.

A uni-directional surface effect device capable of producing a surface effect damping force having both a hysteresis and a frictional component, comprising:

• a) a generally cylindrical housing;
• b) a generally cylindrical piston mounted upon a piston rod and adapted to move with respect to said housing;
• c) a rubbing member associated with and mounted for movement with a first one of said housing and said piston said rubbing member including an elastomeric portion on one surface;
• d) a rubbee member associated with and mounted for movement with another one of said housing and said piston said rubbee member having a plurality of protrusions for engaging the elastomeric portion of said rubbing member to produce hysteresis damping as a result of relative movement between said rubbing member and said rubbee member;
• e) means for moving at least a first portion of said piston relative to said housing a sufficient distance to generate a surface effect damping force as said first portion of said piston moves in at least a first direction;
• f) means for increasing said surface effect force in a non-linear manner over at least a portion of the stroke of said piston in said first direction;
• g) means for exerting a second lesser damping force upon said piston in a second opposite direction;
• whereby said surface effect damping force operating in said first direction is of significantly greater magnitude than said lesser damping force operating in said opposite direction.

An engine mount capable of producing a damping force, said mount comprising:

• a) a housing, said housing adapted for attachment to one of a frame and an engine;
• b) a piston assembly, said piston assembly having a portion bonded to said housing by means of a frustoconical elastomeric block, said piston assembly including;
• i) a piston rod having a first end portion adapted for attachment to another of the frame and the engine and a longitudinal axis;
• ii) said piston rod having a second end portion with a downwardly facing spherical section formed thereon;
• iii) a piston rod extension having a upwardly facing spherical section formed thereon, said piston rod extension connected to said second end portion of said piston rod;
• c) a snubber assembly including a snubber member, said snubber member having a central aperture for receiving a portion of said piston rod, a first upwardly facing spherical recess surrounding said aperture for engaging said first downwardly facing spherical portion formed on said piston rod;
• a second downwardly facing generally spherical recess surrounding said aperture for engaging a second upwardly facing spherical surface formed on said piston rod extension;
• whereby said snubber member can tilt relative to the longitudinal axis of said piston rod.