Energy absorbing shock isolation stabilizing arrangement

Claim 2

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and the enclosure comprising the structural supporting environment therefor, the improvement comprising, in combination: an enclosure comprising a structural supporting environment; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; engagement means connected to said object; an energy absorbing means operatively connected between said enclosure and said engagement means for supporting said object in said enclosure, and positioned therebetween and having: first energy absorber comprising a substantially constant force energy absorber for absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in a first predetermined direction in said predetermined degree of freedom from a base position to a first displaced position spaced from said base position and for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in a second predetermined direction opposite said first direction in said predetermined degree of freedom from said base position to a second displaced position spaced from said base position; a second energy absorber comprising a substantially variable force energy absorber for absorbing energy at a second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule different from said first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in said first predetermined direction from said base position to said first displaced position spaced from said base position and from said first displaced position to said base position, and for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in said second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction from said base position to said second displaced position and from said second displaced position to said base position; return means connected to said object for returning said object from said first displaced position and said second displaced position to said base position, and said energy absorbing means absorbing energy at said second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule of said second energy absorber of said energy absorbing means for said movement of said object relative to said enclosure by said return means, and said first energy absorber of said energy absorbing means free of energy absorption for said movement of said object relative to Said enclosure by said return means.

Claim 3

The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said return means comprises: a spring means having a preselected spring constant for returning said object to said base position from said first displaced position and said second displaced position at velocities relative to said enclosure less than said preselected relative velocity.

Claim 4

The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein: said first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule is substantially zero for relative velocities between said object and said enclosure less than a preselected velocity.

Claim 5

The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein: said second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule is variable for the condition of said relative velocity between said object and said enclosure less than said preselected relative velocity, and substantially constant with respect to relative velocity for relative velocities greater than said preselected relative velocity.

Claim 6

The arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein: said first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule of said first energy absorber of said energy absorbing means is linearly dependant upon said relative velocities for the condition of said relative velocities greater than said predetermined relative velocity.

Claim 7

The arrangement defined in claim 5 wherein: said first energy absorber of said energy absorbing means absorbs energy at a substantially constant force independent of said relative velocities for the condition of said relative velocities greater than said preselected relative velocity.

Claim 8

The arrangement defined in claim 4 wherein: said first energy absorber, comprising said constant force energy absorber, for absorbing energy at a constant force at said first preselected energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative velocities greater than said preselected relative velocity in both said first and said second directions, and said first energy absorber substantially locked to transmit forces and be substantially free of energy absorption for the condition of said relative velocity between said object and said enclosure less than said preselected velocity in both said first and said second predetermined directions; said second energy absorber is operatively connected in series with said first energy absorber for absorbing energy at said second preselected energy absorption rate schedule; and said return means is connected in parallel with said energy absorbing means between said object and said enclosure.

Claim 9

The arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein: said first energy absorber is a linear energy absorber; said second energy absorber is viscous fluid energy absorber.

Claim 10

The arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein: said first energy absorber is a rotary energy absorber; said second energy absorber is a viscous fluid energy absorber.

Claim 11

The arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein: said return means moves said object with respect to said enclosure from said first and said second displaced positions to said base position at relative velocities less than said preselected velocity.

Claim 12

The arrangement defined in claim 7 and further comprising vibration isolation means comprising a vibration spring means operatively connected between said engagement means and said object for isolating said object from high frequency oscillatory forces.

Claim 13

The arrangement defined in claim 7 wherein: said return means comprises a spring connected between said object and said enclosure in parallel with said energy absorbing means.

Claim 14

The arrangement defined in claim 12 wherein: said spring is a linear spring.

Claim 15

The arrangement defined in claim 12 wherein: said spring is a constant force spring.

Claim 16

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and the enclosure comprising a strucTural supporting environment therefor, the improvement comprising, in combination: an enclosure comprising a structural supporting environment; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; engagement means connected to said object; a constant force energy absorbing means having a preselected initial operative force corresponding to a preselected acceleration of said enclosure and at relative velocities between said object and said enclosure greater than a preselected relative velocity, and said energy absorbing means free of energy absorption for the condition of forces thereon less than said preselected initial operative force, and operatively connected between said enclosure and said engagement means for supporting said object in said enclosure, and positioned therebetween for: absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in a first predetermined direction from a base position to a first displaced position spaced in said first predetermined direction from said base position and for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction from said base position to a second displaced position spaced from said base position; return means connected to said object for returning said object from said first and said second displaced positions to said base position at forces less than said initial operative force and relative velocities between said object and said enclosure less than said preselected relative velocity; friction means coupled in series with said constant force energy absorber between said object and said enclosure frictionally engaging said engagement means with a predetermined friction force for frictional energy absorption for the condition of of relative velocity between said object and said enclosure less than said preselected relative velocity; inertia lock means operatively connected to said friction means and said enclosure means and responsive to acceleration of said enclosure for applying a locking friction force between said friction means and said enclosure, for prevention of frictional energy absorption thereby for the condition of acceleration of said enclosure greater than said preselected acceleration and for releasing said locking friction force for the condition of acceleration of said enclosure less than said preselected acceleration.

Claim 17

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and the enclosure comprising a strucTural supporting environment therefor, the improvement comprising, in combination: an enclosure comprising a structural supporting environment; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; engagement means connected to said object; a constant force energy absorbing means having a preselected initial operative force corresponding to a preselected acceleration of said enclosure and at relative velocities between said object and said enclosure greater than a preselected relative velocity, and said energy absorbing means free of energy absorption for the condition of forces thereon less than said preselected initial operative force, and operatively connected between said enclosure and said engagement means for supporting said object in said enclosure, and positioned therebetween for: absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in a first predetermined direction from a base position to a first displaced position spaced in said first predetermined direction from said base position and for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction from said base position to a second displaced position spaced from said base position; return means connected to said object for returning said object from said first and said second displaced positions to said base position at forces less than said initial operative force and relative velocities between said object and said enclosure less than said preselected relative velocity; friction means coupled in series with said constant force energy absorber between said object and said enclosure frictionally engaging said engagement means with a predetermined friction force for frictional energy absorption for the condition of of relative velocity between said object and said enclosure less than said preselected relative velocity; inertia lock means operatively connected to said friction means and said enclosure means and responsive to acceleration of said enclosure for applying a locking friction force between said friction means and said enclosure, for prevention of frictional energy absorption thereby for the condition of acceleration of said enclosure greater than said preselected acceleration and for releasing said locking friction force for the condition of acceleration of said enclosure less than said preselected acceleration.

Claim 18

The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein: said return means comprises a spring means and energy is absorbed during said return at said predetermined friction force between said friction means and said engagement means for the condition of relative movement of said object with respect to said enclosure from said first displaced position and said second displaced position to said base position; and said predetermined friction force is less than said energy absorbing means initial operative force.

Claim 19

The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein: said constant force energy absorbing means comprises a first rotary constant force energy absorber; and said inertia lock means comprises a linear inertial lock.

Claim 20

The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein: said constant force energy absorbing means comprises a first constant force rotary energy absorber; and said inertia lock means comprises a rotary inertia lock.

Claim 21

The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein: said constant force energy absorbing means comprises a first constant force linear energy absorber; and said inertia lock means comprises a linear inertia lock.

Claim 22

The arrangement defined in claim 15 wherein: said constant force energy absorbing means comprises a first constant force linear energy absorber; and said inertia lock means cOmprises a rotary inertia lock.

Claim 23

A shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedome between an object to be shock isolated and an enclosoure comprising, in combination: an enclosure; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; an energy absorbing means operatively interconnected to said enclosure and said object for supporting said object in said enclosure and positioned therebetween for: absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in both a first predetermined direction and a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction from a base position to a first displaced position and a second displaced position, respectively, for relative forces between said object and said enclosure greater than a preselected force; return means connected to said enclosure and operatively engaging said object for returning said object from said first and said second displaced positions to said base position, and said return means comprising a first spring resiliently resisting relative motion of said object with respect to said enclosure in said first direction and a second spring for resiliently resisting relative motion of said object with respect to said enclosure in said second direction, and said first spring and said second spring having a preselected spring constant for providing a return force on said engagement means greater than said preselected force.

Claim 24

A shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedome between an object to be shock isolated and an enclosoure comprising, in combination: an enclosure; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; an energy absorbing means operatively interconnected to said enclosure and said object for supporting said object in said enclosure and positioned therebetween for: absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for the condition of relative movement between said object and said enclosure in both a first predetermined direction and a second predetermined direction opposite said first predetermined direction from a base position to a first displaced position and a second displaced position, respectively, for relative forces between said object and said enclosure greater than a preselected force; return means connected to said enclosure and operatively engaging said object for returning said object from said first and said second displaced positions to said base position, and said return means comprising a first spring resiliently resisting relative motion of said object with respect to said enclosure in said first direction and a second spring for resiliently resisting relative motion of said object with respect to said enclosure in said second direction, and said first spring and said second spring having a preselected spring constant for providing a return force on said engagement means greater than said preselected force.

Claim 25

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and an enclosure the improvement comprising, in combination: constant force energy absorption means operatively interconnected between the object and the enclosure for absorbing energy at a substantially constant force during displacement of the object relative to the enclosure for at least the condition of relative velocity between the object and the enclosure greater than a preselected relative velocity, and said constant force substantially independent of relative velocity at least for relative velocities greater than said preselected relative velocity; return means operatively engaging the object and the enclosure for returning the object to a base position after displacement therefrom relative to the enclosure; means operatively connected between said constant force energy absorber and at least one of the object and the enclosure for maintaining said constant force energy absorber in energy absorbing relationship between the object and the enclosure.

Claim 26

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and an enclosure the improvement comprising, in combination: constant force energy absorption means operatively interconnected between the object and the enclosure for absorbing energy at a substantially constant force during displacement of the object relative to the enclosure for at least the condition of relative velocity between the object and the enclosure greater than a preselected relative velocity, and said constant force substantially independent of relative velocity at least for relative velocities greater than said preselected relative velocity; return means operatively engaging the object and the enclosure for returning the object to a base position after displacement therefrom relative to the enclosure; means operatively connected between said constant force energy absorber and at least one of the object and the enclosure for maintaining said constant force energy absorber in energy absorbing relationship between the object and the enclosure.

Claim 27

The arrangement defined in claim 22 and further comprising: vibration isolation means comprising a vibration spring means operatively connected between said constant force energy absorbing means and said object for isolating said object from high frequency oscillatory forces.

Claim 28

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and an enclosure the improvement comprising, in combination: an enclosure; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; an energy absorbing means operatively connected between said enclosure and said object for supporting said object in said enclosure, and positioned therebetween and having: a first substantially constant force energy absorber operatively connected to said object for absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for relative movement of said object from a base position to a first displaced position in a first direction is said predetermined degree of freedom; a second substantially constant force energy absorber operatively connected to said object for absorbing energy at a second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for relative movement of said object from said base position to a second displaced position in a second direction opposite said first direction in said predetermined degree of freedom; return means operatively connected to said object and said enclosure for returning said object from said first displaced position and said second displaced position to said base position; said first substantially constant force energy absorber and said second substantially constant force energy absorber substantially free of energy absorption for the condition of relative movement of said object with respect to said enclosure by said return means.

Claim 29

In a shock isolation arrangement for providing shock isolation in a predetermined degree of freedom between an object to be shock isolated and an enclosure the improvement comprising, in combination: an enclosure; an object to be shock isolated positioned within said enclosure and having a preselected maximum rattle space between said object and said enclosure; an energy absorbing means operatively connected between said enclosure and said object for supporting said object in said enclosure, and positioned therebetween and having: a first substantially constant force energy absorber operatively connected to said object for absorbing energy at a first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for relative movement of said object from a base position to a first displaced position in a first direction is said predetermined degree of freedom; a second substantially constant force energy absorber operatively connected to said object for absorbing energy at a second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule for relative movement of said object from said base position to a second displaced position in a second direction opposite said first direction in said predetermined degree of freedom; return means operatively connected to said object and said enclosure for returning said object from said first displaced position and said second displaced position to said base position; said first substantially constant force energy absorber and said second substantially constant force energy absorber substantially free of energy absorption for the condition of relative movement of said object with respect to said enclosure by said return means.

Claim 30

The arrangement defined in claim 24 wherein: said first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule is substantially equal to said second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule.

Claim 31

The arrangement defined in claim 24 wherein: said first predetermined energy absorption rate schedule is different from said second predetermined energy absorption rate schedule.

Claim 32

The arrangement defined in claim 24 wherein: each of said first substantially constant force energy absorber and said second substantially constant force energy absorber comprise a rotary energy absorber; and said return means comprises a spring loaded clutch on each of said first and said second constant force energy absorbers.

Claim 33

The arrangement defined in claim 24 and further comprising: first lost motion means intermediate said object and each of said first and said second constant force energy absorbing means, and second lost motion means intermediate each of said first and said second constant force energy absorbers and said enclosure.

Claim 34

The arrangement defined in claim 24 and further comprising: impact energy absorption means connected to said object for absorbing impact energy at the onset of said relative movement between said object and said enclosure; each of said first and said second energy absorbers absorbs energy at a constant force and said energy absorption rate schedule of said first substantially constant force energy absorber and said second substantially constant force energy absorber are equal, and said constant force is substantially independent of said relative velocities for at least the condition of said relative velocities substantially greater than a predetermined relative velocity.

Claim 35

The arrangement defined in claim 24 wherein: each of said first and said second substantially constant force energy absorbers comprise linear energy absorbers; said return means comprises a pair of similar spring means, each one of said pair of similar spring means having a predetermined spring constant and one each operatively connected intermediate said enclosure and said first and said second constant force energy absorbers.

Claim 36

The arrangement defined in claim 24 wherein: said first and said second substantially constant force energy absorbers each comprise: shoe means operatively engaged by said engagement means; friction means having friction surfaces; coupling means for coupling said friction means to said enclosure, and said shoe means frictionally engaging said friction surface of said friction means for frictional energy absorption therebetween.

Claim 37

The arrangement defined in claim 31 wherein: said shoe means further comprises: a first shoe and a second shoe in parallel relationship; a pair of parallel links pivotally connecting said first shoe and said second shoe to define a four bar parallel linkage therewith; said friction means further comprising: a first friction member having a first friction surface; a second friction member having a second friction surface; said coupling means further comprises: a plurality of spring means for resiliently coupling said first friction member to said eNclosure; and said second friction member is rigidly coupled to said enclosure.

Claim 38

The arrangement defined in claim 31 wherein: said first and second substantially constant force energy absorber comprise: a first pair of rigid roller means; a second pair of rigid roller means, and said first pair and said second pair of rigid roller means coupled in four bar parallel linkage relationship; a first elastomeric pad means coupled to said enclosure means; a second elastomeric pad means coupled to said enclosure; and said first pair of rollers engaging said first elastomeric pad for cyclic strain energy absorption by said first elastomeric pad; and said second pair of rollers engaging said second elastomeric pad for cyclic strain energy absorption.