Coaxial vibrating isolation unit for a chain saw including discrete, independently operable elements

Claim 1

In a chain saw having a vibrating assembly including an engine having a crankshaft, and cutter chain means traversing a cutting path; support means including handle means; and a plurality of vibration isolation means interconnecting said vibrating assembly and said support means, with at least one of said vibration isolation means including resilient diaphragm means having an aperture, extending transversely of said cutting path, and extending generally parallel with the axis of rotation of said crankshaft; shaft means passing through said aperture of said diaphragm means, with said diaphragm means being journaled upon said shaft means; first, resilient, impedance means, mounted on said shaft means, and abuttingly and separably engaging one side of said diaphragm means; second, resilient, impedance means, mounted on said shaft means, and abuttingly and separably engaging an opposite side of said diaphragm means; first mounting means connecting said diaphragm means with one of said vibrating assembly and said support means; and second mounting means connecting said shaft means with the other of said vibrating assembly and said support means; the improvement residing in said diaphragm means and comprising: a plurality of independently operable, resilient beam means spaced circumferentially about said shaft means, each of said resilient beam means being spaced circumferentially from others of said resilient beam means, and each of said resilient beam means being operable to flex longitudinally and transversely of said shaft means independently of others of said beam means; a plurality of independently operable, resilient compression pad means spaced circumferentially about said shaft means, each of said compression pad means being carried by a said beam means and spaced circumferentially from others of said compression pad means, and each of said compression pad means being operable to compressibly absorb energy in localized cooperation with said shaft means independent of others of said compression pad means; and a plurality of independently operable, energy dissipating and motion dampening means spaced circumferentially about said shaft means, with each of said energy dissipating means being disposed in energy dissipating, frictional cooperation with at least one of said impedance means, each of said energy dissipating and motion dampening means being carried by a said beam means and spaced circumferentially from others of said energy dissipating and motion dampening means, and each of said energy dissipating and motion dampening means being operable to effect energy dissipating and motion dampening, frictional cooperation with a said impedance means and said shaft means in response to movement of said energy dissipating means relative to said impedance means and said shaft means; generally annular resilient rim means encircling and supporting said spaced resilient beam means, with said resilient beam means depending inwardly thereof; each said compression pad means comprising a convex extremity of a said resilient beam means, disposed in relatively moveable, frictionally interacting engagement with said shaft means; and each said resilient beam means extending generally radially of said shaft means, with said plurality of generally radially extending resilient beam means providing a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending, flexing means extending generally radially between said first and second impedance means and said generally annular, resilient rim means.