Resilient gimbal mounting

Claim 2

A resilient gimbal mounting characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame, elastomeric means mounting said inner frame and intermediate frame for resilient relative translational movement along a first axis and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, an outer rigid gimbal frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame, elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame and outer frame for resilient relative translational movement along a second axis at substantially a right angle to said first translational axis and accommodating said latter translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to each of said translational axis by being predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 3

A resilient gimbal mounting characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported and having diametrically opposed outwardly extending projections, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said inner frame projections, means mounting said inner frame projections in said intermediate frame pockets for relative translational mOvement axially of said inner frame projections, said means including elastomeric means mounting at least one of said projections in one of said pockets and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, said intermediate rigid frame having diametrically opposed projections extending outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle to said inner frame projections, an outer rigid gimbal frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said intermediate frame projections, means mounting said intermediate frame projections in said outer frame pockets for relative translational movement axially of said intermediate frame projections, said latter means including elastomeric means mounting at least one of said latter projections in one of said latter pockets and accommodating said latter relative translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to the axes of said inner and intermediate frame projections by being predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 4

A resilient gimbal mounting characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported and having diametrically opposed outwardly extending projections, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said inner frame projections, means mounting said inner frame projections in said intermediate frame pockets for relative translational mOvement axially of said inner frame projections, said means including elastomeric means mounting at least one of said projections in one of said pockets and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, said intermediate rigid frame having diametrically opposed projections extending outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle to said inner frame projections, an outer rigid gimbal frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said intermediate frame projections, means mounting said intermediate frame projections in said outer frame pockets for relative translational movement axially of said intermediate frame projections, said latter means including elastomeric means mounting at least one of said latter projections in one of said latter pockets and accommodating said latter relative translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to the axes of said inner and intermediate frame projections by being predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 5

A resilient gimbal mounting, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elastomeric means mounting said inner frame projections in one of said intermediate frame pockets comprises a body of elastomer interposed and secured radially between opposed sides of said pocket, and an elongate shim of nonextensible material embedded in and bonded to said elastomer body and extending parallel to the axes of said projection.

Claim 6

A resilient gimbal mounting, as set forth in claim 3 wherein said body of elastomer and shim of nonextensible material are tubular and are concentrically disposed about the axis of said projection.

Claim 7

A resilient gimbal mounting, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame projection in one of said outer frame pockets comprises a body of elastomer interposed and secured radially between opposite sides of said projection and the walls of said pocket, and at least one elongate shim of nonextensible material embedded in and bonded to said elastomer body and extending parallel to the axis of said projection.

Claim 8

A resilient gimbal mounting characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported and having diametrically opposed outwardly extending projections, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said inner frame projections, means mounting said inner frame projections in said intermediate frame pockets for relative translational movement axially of said inner frame projections, said means including elastomeric means mounting at least one of said projections in one of said pockets and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, said intermediate rigid frame having diametrically opposed projections extending outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle to said inner frame projections, an outer rigid gimbal frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said intermediate frame projections, elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame projections in said outer frame pockets for relative translational movement axially of said intermediate frame projections and mutually perpendicular to the axis of said inner and intermediate frame projections and accommodating said relative translational movements predominately in shear, each of said eLastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to two of the axes of relative translational movement by being predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 9

A resilient gimbal mounting characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported and having diametrically opposed outwardly extending projections, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said inner frame projections, means mounting said inner frame projections in said intermediate frame pockets for relative translational movement axially of said inner frame projections, said means including elastomeric means mounting at least one of said projections in one of said pockets and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, said intermediate rigid frame having diametrically opposed projections extending outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle to said inner frame projections, an outer rigid gimbal frame adapted to be mounted on a supporting structure disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame and having diametrically opposed pockets receiving said intermediate frame projections, elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame projections in said outer frame pockets for relative translational movement axially of said intermediate frame projections and mutually perpendicular to the axis of said inner and intermediate frame projections and accommodating said relative translational movements predominately in shear, each of said eLastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to two of the axes of relative translational movement by being predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 10

A resilient gimbal mounting, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said elastomeric means mounting at least one of said inner frame projections in one of said intermediate frame pockets comprises an elongate tubular body of elastomer cocentrically disposed about said projection and secured between said projection and the wall of said pocket, and an elongate shim of nonextensible material concentrically disposed about said projection embedded in and bonded to said elastomer body, and wherein each of said elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame projections in said outer frame pockets comprises a rigid block mounted on said projections and having opposed planar surfaces extending parallel to the axis of said projection and perpendicular to the axis of said inner frame projections, a body of elastomer disposed and secured between each of the planar surfaces of said block and the walls of said pockets and at least one planar shim of nonextensible material embedded in and bonded to each of said elastomer bodies and extending parallel to the planar surfaces of said block.

Claim 11

A mounting system characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting system comprising bracket means having spaced apart support members and resilient gimbal mountings carried by said support members in axially spaced relation for supporting structure therebetween, each of said resilient gimbal mountings comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame, elastomeric means mounting said inner frame and intermediate frame for resilient relative translational movement along a first axis and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, an outer rigid gimbal frame carried by one of said support members disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame, and elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame and outer frame for resilient relative translational movement along a second axis at substantially a right angle to said first translational axis and accommodating said latter translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to each of said translational axis by predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 12

A mounting system characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting system comprising bracket means having spaced apart support members and resilient gimbal mountings carried by said support members in axially spaced relation for supporting structure therebetween, each of said resilient gimbal mountings comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame, elastomeric means mounting said inner frame and intermediate frame for resilient relative translational movement along a first axis and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, an outer rigid gimbal frame carried by one of said support members disposed about and spaced from said intermediate frame, and elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame and outer frame for resilient relative translational movement along a second axis at substantially a right angle to said first translational axis and accommodating said latter translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane parallel to each of said translational axis by predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 13

A mounting system characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting system comprising bracket means having spaced apart support members and resilient gimbal mountings carried by said support members in axially spaced relation for supporting a structure therebetween, each of said resilient gimbal mountings comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame, elastomeric means mounting said inner frame and intermediate frame for resilient relative translational movement along a first axis perpendicular to the axial spacing of said gimbal mountings and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, an outer rigid gimbal frame carried by one of said support members disosed about and spaced from said intermediate frame, elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame and outer frame for resilient relative translational movement along a second and third axis mutually perpendicular to each other and said first axis and accommodating said translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane perpendicular to the axial spacing of said gimbal mountings by being predominately loaded in compression.

Claim 14

A mounting system characterized in its relatively low spring rate in designated translational directions while having a relatively high spring rate in at least one designated rotational direction, said mounting system comprising bracket means having spaced apart support members and resilient gimbal mountings carried by said support members in axially spaced relation for supporting a structure therebetween, each of said resilient gimbal mountings comprising an inner rigid gimbal frame adapted to be connected to a structure to be supported, an intermediate rigid gimbal frame disposed about and spaced from said inner frame, elastomeric means mounting said inner frame and intermediate frame for resilient relative translational movement along a first axis perpendicular to the axial spacing of said gimbal mountings and accommodating said relative translational movement predominately in shear, an outer rigid gimbal frame carried by one of said support members disosed about and spaced from said intermediate frame, elastomeric means mounting said intermediate frame and outer frame for resilient relative translational movement along a second and third axis mutually perpendicular to each other and said first axis and accommodating said translational movement predominately in shear, said elastomeric means being resistant to relative rotational movement between said inner and intermediate and intermediate and outer frames, respectively, in a plane perpendicular to the axial spacing of said gimbal mountings by being predominately loaded in compression.