Vibration isolation and bumper system

Claim 2

In a chain saw machine comprising engine means, cutter chain means, the engine means being drivingly connected with the cutter chain means, the engine means including a crank having an axis of rotation, the engine means and the cutter chain means comprising a vibration generating first assembly, inertia mass means including a fuel tank comprising a vibration dampening second assembly, a plurality of vibration isolation units interconnecting the first and the second assemblies, and the vibration isolating units being operable to impede the transmission of vibration between the first and the second assemblies, and wherein the vibration isolating units include at least one generally U-shaped member comprising two parallel members connected to a generally transversely extending web member by elastomeric vibration absorbing masses and wherein the parallel members are rigidly attached to one of the first and second assemblies and the web member is rigidly attached to the other of the first and second assemblies, the improvement comprising: resilient bumper means disposed generally adjacent at least one of the vibration isolating units; the cutter chain means and the axis of rotation of the crank being arranged to form a primary plane of vibration for the overall chain saw machine; said resilient bumper means and the vibration isolating units being aligned to absorb shock energy directed generally along said primary plane of vibration; said resilient bumper means comprising at least one generally cylindrical elastomeric mass disposed between the parallel members of the at least one generally U-shaped member; and said at least one elastomeric mass being arranged with the axis thereof extending parallel with a longitudinal extension of the parallel members and being generally aligned within said primary plane of vibration.

Claim 3

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein: the vibration isolating units of the chain saw machine are operable To absorb vibrational shock energy in shear during the operation of the chain saw machine; and said resilient bumper means disposed adjacent at least one of the vibration isolating units is simultaneously operable to absorb vibrational shock energy in compression during the operation of the chain saw machine.

Claim 4

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said resilient bumper means is arranged to limit the movement of said first assembly with respect to said second assembly to a degree wherein said vibration isolation units operate only within an efficient range.

Claim 5

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein: an elastomeric mass is mounted on an upper portion of the handle member rigidly attached to the second assembly and extending beneath the vibration generating first assembly within the primary plane of vibration when the chain saw machine is oriented to cut in a vertical plane; and wherein said elastomeric mass on said upper surface of said handle is operable to absorb shock energy upon the impaction of the first assembly thereagainst as the first assembly is forced to move in a direction toward said handle member of the second assembly.

Claim 6

An improvement according to claim 1 wherein said generally cylindrical elastomeric mass disposed between the parallel members of the at least one U-shaped member is secured to the web member at a base axial end of said elastomeric mass and is formed to taper toward a free axial end thereof; and said generally cylindrical elastomeric mass is provided with an axial bore hole extending from said free end partially through the longitudinal length thereof.

Claim 7

An improvement according to claim 5 wherein: a radially extending surface comprising a terminal portion of said free end of said generally cylindrical elastomeric mass is in minimum pressure contact with a surface comprising a portion of the one of the first and second assemblies rigidly connected with the parallel members of the at least one U-shaped vibration isolating unit.

Claim 8

In a chain saw machine comprising engine means, cutter chain means, the engine means being drivingly connected with the cutter chain means, the engine means including a crank having a axis of rotation, the engine means and the cutter chain means comprising a vibration generating first assembly, inertia mass means including a fuel tank comprising a vibration dampening second assembly, a plurality of vibration isolation units interconnecting the first and the second assemblies, and the vibration isolating units being operable to impede the transmission of vibration between the first and the second assemblies, the improvement comprising: resilient bumper means disposed generally adjacent at least one of the vibration isolating units: the cutter chain means and the axis of rotation of the crank being arranged to form a primary plane of vibration for the overall chain saw machine; said resilient bumper means and the vibration isolating units being aligned to absorb shock energy directed generally along said primary plane of vibration; and a handle member rigidly attached to the second assembly and extending beneath the vibration generating first assembly along the primary plane of vibration when the chain saw machine is oriented to cut in a vertical plane; elastomeric means mounted on an upper portion of said handle member; said elastomeric means on said upper portion of said handle member being operable to absorb shock energy upon the impaction of the first assembly thereagainst as the first assembly is forced to move in a direction toward said handle member and the second assembly; and said elastomeric means on said upper portion of said handle member includes first bumper means disposed generally beneath a rear portion of said engine means and second bumper means disposed generally beneath a forward portion of said engine means.

Claim 9

In a chain saw machine comprising engine means, cutter chain means, the engine means being drivingly connected with the cutter chain means, the engine means including a crank having a axis of rotation, the engine means and the cutter chain means comprising a vibration generating first assembly, inertia mass means including a fuel tank comprising a vibration dampening second assembly, a plurality of vibration isolation units interconnecting the first and the second assemblies, and the vibration isolating units being operable to impede the transmission of vibration between the first and the second assemblies, the improvement comprising: resilient bumper means disposed generally adjacent at least one of the vibration isolating units: the cutter chain means and the axis of rotation of the crank being arranged to form a primary plane of vibration for the overall chain saw machine; said resilient bumper means and the vibration isolating units being aligned to absorb shock energy directed generally along said primary plane of vibration; and a handle member rigidly attached to the second assembly and extending beneath the vibration generating first assembly along the primary plane of vibration when the chain saw machine is oriented to cut in a vertical plane; elastomeric means mounted on an upper portion of said handle member; said elastomeric means on said upper portion of said handle member being operable to absorb shock energy upon the impaction of the first assembly thereagainst as the first assembly is forced to move in a direction toward said handle member and the second assembly; and said elastomeric means on said upper portion of said handle member includes first bumper means disposed generally beneath a rear portion of said engine means and second bumper means disposed generally beneath a forward portion of said engine means.

Claim 10

An improvement according to claim 7 wherein said first and said second bumper meAns are disposed in minimum pressure contact with an opposing surface to be vibration dampened.

Claim 11

In a chain saw machine comprising engine means; cutter chain means; the engine means being drivingly connected with the cutter chain means; the engine means including a crank having an axis of rotation; the engine means and the cutter chain means comprising a vibration generating first assembly; inertia mass means including a fuel tank and comprising a vibration dampening second assembly; and a plurality of vibrating isolation units interconnecting the first and the second assemblies; the vibration isolating units including shear means operable to impede the transmission of vibration between the first and the second assemblies by absorbing vibrational energy in shear; the cutter chain means and the axis of rotation of the crank being generally arranged to form a primary plane of vibration for the vibration generating, first assembly; and the improvement comprising: at least one resilient bumper means disposed generally adjacent but operably independent of at least one of the vibration isolating units; said resilient bumper means and the vibration isolating units being generally aligned to concurrently absorb energy directed generally longitudinally of said primary plane of vibration, and limit convergence of said first and second assemblies and prevent non-yielding, impacting contact therebetween; and said bumper means being operably independent of said shear means and operable to limit said convergence by compressively engaging one of said first and second assemblies.

Claim 12

In a chain saw machine comprising engine means; cutter chain means; the engine means being drivingly connected with the cutter chain means; the engine means including a crank having an axis of rotation; the engine means and the cutter chain means comprising a vibration generating first assembly; inertia mass means including a fuel tank and comprising a vibration dampening second assembly; and a plurality of vibrating isolation units interconnecting the first and the second assemblies; the vibration isolating units including shear means operable to impede the transmission of vibration between the first and the second assemblies by absorbing vibrational energy in shear; the cutter chain means and the axis of rotation of the crank being generally arranged to form a primary plane of vibration for the vibration generating, first assembly; and the improvement comprising: at least one resilient bumper means disposed generally adjacent but operably independent of at least one of the vibration isolating units; said resilient bumper means and the vibration isolating units being generally aligned to concurrently absorb energy directed generally longitudinally of said primary plane of vibration, and limit convergence of said first and second assemblies and prevent non-yielding, impacting contact therebetween; and said bumper means being operably independent of said shear means and operable to limit said convergence by compressively engaging one of said first and second assemblies.

Claim 13

An improvement according to claim 9 wherein: the vibration isolating units of the chain saw machine are operable to absorb vibrational shock energy in shear during the operation of the chain saw machine; and said resilient bumper means is disposed generally adjacent at least one of the vibration isolating units and is operable to absorb vibrational shock energy in compression during the operation of the chain saw machine.

Claim 14

An improvement according to claim 9 wherein: said resilient bumper means is arranged to limit the movement of said first assembly with respect to said second assembly to a degree wherein said vibration isolating units operate only within an efficient range.

Claim 15

An improvement according to claim 9 wherein: the vibration isolating units include at least one generally U-shaped unit comprising two members spaced generally transversely of said primary plane of vibration, a generally transversely extending web member, elastomeric vibration absorbing masses interconnecting said web member and said two spaced members, said two spaced members being rigidly attached to one of the first and second assemblies, and said web member being rigidly attached to the other of the first and second assemblies, said resilient bumper means comprises at least one, generally cylindrical elastomeric means disposed between the two spaced members of the at least one, generally U-shaped member; and said at least one generally cylindrical elastomeric means is arranged with the axis thereof extending generally longitudinally of said primary plane of vibration.

Claim 16

An improvement according to claim 16 wherein: said generally cylindrical elastomeric means is disposed between the two spaced members of the least one U-shaped unit, is secured to the web member at a base axial end of said elastomeric means, and is formed to taper toward a free axial end thereof; and said generally cylindrical elastomeric means is provided with an axial bore hole extending from said free axial end at least partially through the longitudinal length thereof; and a radially extending surface, comprising a terminal portion of said free axial end of said generally cylindrical elastomeric means, is disposed in minimum pressure contact with a surface coMprising a portion of the one of the first and second assemblies which is connected with the two spaced members of the at least one U-shaped vibration isolating unit.

Claim 17

In a method for absorbing vibrational energy within a chain saw machine comprising the steps: isolating vibration generating members in a first assembly; providing a vibration dampening inertia mass comprising a second assembly; superposing the first and second assemblies and forming a primary plane of vibration; connecting the first and second assemblies together by vibration isolating connector units including shear means operable to absorb vibrational energy primarily in shear; the improvement residing in: providing bumper means independent of said shear means to elastomerically, and acting in compression, limit the relative converging movement between the first and second assemblies; and disposing both the bumper means and the connector units in general alignment with a plane extending generally longitudinally of the primary plane of vibration limiting said converging movement by causing said bumper means to compressively engage at least one of said first and second assemblies.

Claim 18

In a method for absorbing vibrational energy within a chain saw machine comprising the steps: isolating vibration generating members in a first assembly; providing a vibration dampening inertia mass comprising a second assembly; superposing the first and second assemblies and forming a primary plane of vibration; connecting the first and second assemblies together by vibration isolating connector units including shear means operable to absorb vibrational energy primarily in shear; the improvement residing in: providing bumper means independent of said shear means to elastomerically, and acting in compression, limit the relative converging movement between the first and second assemblies; and disposing both the bumper means and the connector units in general alignment with a plane extending generally longitudinally of the primary plane of vibration limiting said converging movement by causing said bumper means to compressively engage at least one of said first and second assemblies.