Acceleration sensitive motion snubber

Claim 1

A motion snubbing device comprising: a pair of members mounted for relative movement with respect to each other; and acceleration sensitive means connected to said members for limiting movement of either of the members relative to the other member in either of two opposite directions to a predetermined threshold acceleration rate including means for preventing operation of said limiting means below said predetermined acceleration thus permitting repeated or continuous relative movement below said predetermined threshold both before and after said predetermined acceleration has been reached.

Claim 9

A device for snubbing rapid pipe movement in a power generating station that might be caused by sudden forces such as that occurring during an earthquake, the device comprising: a pair of support members mounted to reciprocate on each other while being restrained from relative rotation; a rotatably mounted torque carrier; means for translating relative axial movement of said support members into rotation of said carrier; a rotatably mounted inertia mass; a brake surface positioned inwardly from the torque carrier; and spring means positioned within said carrier loosely surrounding said brake surface, said spring means being connected to the carrier and the inertia mass in a manner to cause the spring and the inertia mass to rotate with the carrier during slow acceleration of the carrier, while during rapid acceleration, the inertia mass lags the carrier causing the spring diameter to be reduced so that it grips the brake surface and locks the carrier, and thereby locks the support members.

Claim 10

A device for snubbing rapid pipe movement in a power generating station that might be caused by sudden forces such as that occurring during an earthquake, the device comprising: a pair of support members mounted to reciprocate on each other while being restrained from relative rotation; a rotatably mounted torque carrier; means for translating relative axial movement of said support members into rotation of said carrier; a rotatably mounted inertia mass; a brake surface positioned inwardly from the torque carrier; and spring means positioned within said carrier loosely surrounding said brake surface, said spring means being connected to the carrier and the inertia mass in a manner to cause the spring and the inertia mass to rotate with the carrier during slow acceleration of the carrier, while during rapid acceleration, the inertia mass lags the carrier causing the spring diameter to be reduced so that it grips the brake surface and locks the carrier, and thereby locks the support members.

Claim 18

A device for snubbing rapid acceleration of one element relative to another comprising: a pair of telescoping support members to be connected between a support surface and the object whose movement is to be snubbed; an inertia mass rotatably mounted with respect to the support members while being axially fixed; and means for converting relative axial movement of the support members into rotation of the inertia mass including a capstan spring surrounding a brake surface with the ends of the spring connected to drive the inertia mass, the connection between the spring and the inertia mass permitting limited relative movement so that rapid acceleration applied to the inertia mass will cause it to lag and wind the spring causing the spring to grip the brake surface, while slow acceleration will be accommodated.

Claim 19

A device for snubbing rapid acceleration of one element relative to another comprising: a pair of telescoping support members to be connected between a support surface and the object whose movement is to be snubbed; an inertia mass rotatably mounted with respect to the support members while being axially fixed; and means for converting relative axial movement of the support members into rotation of the inertia mass including a capstan spring surrounding a brake surface with the ends of the spring connected to drive the inertia mass, the connection between the spring and the inertia mass permitting limited relative movement so that rapid acceleration applied to the inertia mass will cause it to lag and wind the spring causing the spring to grip the brake surface, while slow acceleration will be accommodated.

Claim 21

A device for snubbing rapid movement of one element relative to another comprising: a pair of support members mounted to reciprocate on each other while being restrained from relative rotation; a torque carrier rotatably mounted within one of said support members while being axially fixed; means connecting said carrier and the other support member in a manner to translate relative axial movement of said support members into rotation of said carrier; an inertia mass rotatably mounted adjacent a portion of said carrier; a capstan spring mounted to rotate in response to rotation of said carrier; a brake surface positioned within said capstan spring closely spaced from the spring, such that a reduction in diameter of the spring causes the spring to grip the brake surface and prevent the carrier from rotating; and the ends of said spring being connected to said inertia mass in a manner such that slow rotational acceleration of the carrier will cause the inertia mass to move with the carrier whereas during rapid acceleration of the carrier the inertia mass will lag behind the carrier and thus wind the spring causing it to grip momentarily the brake surface and thus prevent relative axial movement of said support members.

Claim 22

A device for snubbing rapid movement of one element relative to another comprising: a pair of support members mounted to reciprocate on each other while being restrained from relative rotation; a torque carrier rotatably mounted within one of said support members while being axially fixed; means connecting said carrier and the other support member in a manner to translate relative axial movement of said support members into rotation of said carrier; an inertia mass rotatably mounted adjacent a portion of said carrier; a capstan spring mounted to rotate in response to rotation of said carrier; a brake surface positioned within said capstan spring closely spaced from the spring, such that a reduction in diameter of the spring causes the spring to grip the brake surface and prevent the carrier from rotating; and the ends of said spring being connected to said inertia mass in a manner such that slow rotational acceleration of the carrier will cause the inertia mass to move with the carrier whereas during rapid acceleration of the carrier the inertia mass will lag behind the carrier and thus wind the spring causing it to grip momentarily the brake surface and thus prevent relative axial movement of said support members.

Claim 28

A device for snubbing rapid pipe movement in a power generating station that might be caused by sudden forces such as that occurring during an earthquake, the device comprising: a cup-shaped housing having its closed end adapted to be connected to the pipe or to a support structure; an elongated tube extending partially into the open end of the housing spaced from the surrounding housing to define an annular space with the housing, the open end of the housing being fixed to the outer periphery of the tube; a cylindrical support member mounted for axial movement with respect to the tube, means for preventing relative rotation between the tube and the support member, the support member being adapted to be attached to either the pipe or adjacent support structure; threaded means fixed to the support member; a torque carrier rotatably mounted on thrust bearings supported on the inner end of the tube positioned within the housing; a shaft fixed to said carrier and threaded through said threaded means such that unbalanced axial forces on said support member and said housing will cause rotation of the shaft and hence permit axial movement of the support member relative to the housing; said carrier including a flange which extends radially beyond the free end of said tube and a cylindrical skirt which extends into said annular space between the housing and said tube; a cup-shaped inertia member positioned in said housing rotatably mounted on said carrier coaxially with the carrier, said inertia member including a cylindrical skirt which is positioned in said annular space between the carrier skirt and the surrounding housing; a clutch band positioned within the cylindrical skirt of the inertia member, said clutch band extending partially around the inner circumference of the inertia member skirt terminating in a pair of spaced opposed flanges which extend towards the carrier skirt, said band being made of springy material biased to tightly engage the interior of the inertia member skirt while permitting rotational slippage between the band and the surrounding skirt; and a capstan spring positioned between said carrier skirt and said tube with the ends of the spring extending through the carrier skirt and into the space between said clutch band flanges; said carrier skirt having a window through which said spring ends extend, said window and the spaced clutch band flanges permit limited winding and unwinding of the spring caused by relative rotation between the carrier and the inertia member, the construction of the spring being such as to cause the spring to normally engage the interior surface of the carrier skirt spaced slightly from the exterior of said tube so that the spring is free to move with the carrier during slow rotational acceleration whereas rapid acceleration will cause the inertia member to lag behind the drum thereby restraining the spring ends to wind the spring and cause it to reduce its diameter and to grip the tube and hence limit the rate of rotation of the carrier which in turn limits the rate of relative axial movement between the support member and the housing.

Claim 29

A device for snubbing rapid pipe movement in a power generating station that might be caused by sudden forces such as that occurring during an earthquake, the device comprising: a cup-shaped housing having its closed end adapted to be connected to the pipe or to a support structure; an elongated tube extending partially into the open end of the housing spaced from the surrounding housing to define an annular space with the housing, the open end of the housing being fixed to the outer periphery of the tube; a cylindrical support member mounted for axial movement with respect to the tube, means for preventing relative rotation between the tube and the support member, the support member being adapted to be attached to either the pipe or adjacent support structure; threaded means fixed to the support member; a torque carrier rotatably mounted on thrust bearings supported on the inner end of the tube positioned within the housing; a shaft fixed to said carrier and threaded through said threaded means such that unbalanced axial forces on said support member and said housing will cause rotation of the shaft and hence permit axial movement of the support member relative to the housing; said carrier including a flange which extends radially beyond the free end of said tube and a cylindrical skirt which extends into said annular space between the housing and said tube; a cup-shaped inertia member positioned in said housing rotatably mounted on said carrier coaxially with the carrier, said inertia member including a cylindrical skirt which is positioned in said annular space between the carrier skirt and the surrounding housing; a clutch band positioned within the cylindrical skirt of the inertia member, said clutch band extending partially around the inner circumference of the inertia member skirt terminating in a pair of spaced opposed flanges which extend towards the carrier skirt, said band being made of springy material biased to tightly engage the interior of the inertia member skirt while permitting rotational slippage between the band and the surrounding skirt; and a capstan spring positioned between said carrier skirt and said tube with the ends of the spring extending through the carrier skirt and into the space between said clutch band flanges; said carrier skirt having a window through which said spring ends extend, said window and the spaced clutch band flanges permit limited winding and unwinding of the spring caused by relative rotation between the carrier and the inertia member, the construction of the spring being such as to cause the spring to normally engage the interior surface of the carrier skirt spaced slightly from the exterior of said tube so that the spring is free to move with the carrier during slow rotational acceleration whereas rapid acceleration will cause the inertia member to lag behind the drum thereby restraining the spring ends to wind the spring and cause it to reduce its diameter and to grip the tube and hence limit the rate of rotation of the carrier which in turn limits the rate of relative axial movement between the support member and the housing.

Claim 30

A method of snubbing rapid acceleration of a fluid conducting pipe in a power generating station as might occur during an earthquake, while permitting slow movement of the pipe, comprising: applying the accelerating movement of the pipe to a support structure by means of a pair of support members mounted for reciprocation relative to each other; and converting the reciprocal movement of the support members into rotation of an inertia mass driven by a capstan spring loosely surrounding a brake surface, such as the exterior of one of the support members, in a manner such that the inertia of the inertia mass winds the capstan spring causing it to grip the brake surface when the capstan spring is rapidly accelerated.

Claim 31

A method of snubbing rapid acceleration of a fluid conducting pipe in a power generating station as might occur during an earthquake, while permitting slow movement of the pipe, comprising: applying the accelerating movement of the pipe to a support structure by means of a pair of support members mounted for reciprocation relative to each other; and converting the reciprocal movement of the support members into rotation of an inertia mass driven by a capstan spring loosely surrounding a brake surface, such as the exterior of one of the support members, in a manner such that the inertia of the inertia mass winds the capstan spring causing it to grip the brake surface when the capstan spring is rapidly accelerated.

Claim 32

A device for snubbing rapidly accelerating movement comprising: a pair of members mounted for relative movement; acceleration sensitive means connected to said members for limiting the relative movement of the members to a predetermined acceleration including resilient brake means and an inertia mass connected to be driven by the relative movement of said members through said resilient brake means in a manner such that attempted rapid acceleration of the inertia means in either of two opposite directions causes said inertia mass to lag with respect to the driving force and produce a force on said resilient brake means causing it to limit acceleration of said members.

Claim 33

A device for snubbing rapidly accelerating movement comprising: a pair of members mounted for relative movement; acceleration sensitive means connected to said members for limiting the relative movement of the members to a predetermined acceleration including resilient brake means and an inertia mass connected to be driven by the relative movement of said members through said resilient brake means in a manner such that attempted rapid acceleration of the inertia means in either of two opposite directions causes said inertia mass to lag with respect to the driving force and produce a force on said resilient brake means causing it to limit acceleration of said members.

Claim 41

A method of automatically snubbing the motion of pipes in a power generating station relative to the structure supporting the pipes such as the surrounding building, comprising the steps of: connecting a strut formed of two relatively movable members between one of said pipes and said support structure; sensing the relative acceleration of said members; and preventing relative motion above a predetermined acceleration threshold, while permitting unrestricted motion below the threshold.

Claim 42

A method of automatically snubbing the motion of pipes in a power generating station relative to the structure supporting the pipes such as the surrounding building, comprising the steps of: connecting a strut formed of two relatively movable members between one of said pipes and said support structure; sensing the relative acceleration of said members; and preventing relative motion above a predetermined acceleration threshold, while permitting unrestricted motion below the threshold.