US4281487A — Energy absorbing load carrying strut and method o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 102 words

An energy absorbing strut capable of withstanding cyclical tension and/or compression loads exceeding its yield strength, said strut comprising: a malleable column, a bolster at either end of the column, said bolsters having a yield strength greater than that of the column and being secured to the ends of the column for imparting tension and compression loads thereto; and bending moment resisting means extending over the full length of the column and past the ends thereof and into engagement with said bolsters to resist bending moments imparted to the column due to eccentric loading thereof and transmit such moments to the bolsters.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 102 words

An energy absorbing strut capable of withstanding cyclical tension and/or compression loads exceeding its yield strength, said strut comprising: a malleable column, a bolster at either end of the column, said bolsters having a yield strength greater than that of the column and being secured to the ends of the column for imparting tension and compression loads thereto; and bending moment resisting means extending over the full length of the column and past the ends thereof and into engagement with said bolsters to resist bending moments imparted to the column due to eccentric loading thereof and transmit such moments to the bolsters.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

An energy absorbing strut according to claim 1 wherein the bending moment resisting means is not subject to substantial axial loading by the bolsters during cyclic loading of the strut.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

An energy absorbing strut according to claim 1 wherein the bending moment resisting means comprises: a primary sleeve extending over the full length of the column in close encircling relationship thereto, said sleeve being engaged with both of said bolsters to transmit bending moments thereto and being freely axially movable relative to at least one of the bolsters.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

An energy absorbing strut according to claim 3 wherein the bending moment resisting means further comprises a secondary sleeve extending around and in close encircling relationship to the primary sleeve, said secondary sleeve being freely axially movable relative to at least one of the bolsters; and means restraining the secondary sleeve against lateral movement relative to the bolsters.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 75 words

An energy absorbing strut according to claim 4 wherein: the means restraining the primary sleeve against lateral movement comprises a fixed connection between said sleeve and one of the bolsters and a slidable connection between said sleeve and the other of the bolsters; and, the means restraining the secondary sleeve against lateral movement comprises a fixed connection between said sleeve and said other bolster and a slidable connection between said sleeve and said primary sleeve.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 67 words

An energy absorbing strut according to claim 1 wherein the column is tubular and the bending moment resisting means comprises: a rod extending through and over the full length of the column so as to be closely encircled by the column; said rod being freely axially movable relative to at least one of the bolsters; and means restraining the rod against lateral movement relative to the bolsters.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

An energy absorbing strut according to claim 6 wherein the bending moment resisting means further comprises a sleeve extending over the full length of the column in close encircling relationship thereto, said sleeve being freely axially movable relative to at least one of the bolsters; and means restraining the sleeve against lateral movement relative to the bolsters.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

An energy absorbing compression strut according to claim 1, further comprising means to selectively vary the composite length of the column and bolsters whereby said length may be adjusted and restored after elongation or compression of the strut as a result of yielding of the column.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 101 words

A conduit capable of withstanding cyclical tension and/or compression loads exceeding its yield strength, said conduit comprising: a malleable tubular member; a bolster at either end of the tubular member, said bolsters having a yield strength greater than that of the member and being secured to the ends of the member for imparting tension and compression loads thereto; and, bending moment resisting means extending over the full length of the member and past the ends thereof into engagement with said bolsters to resist bending moments imparted to the member due to eccentric loading thereof and transmit such moments to the bolsters.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 101 words

A conduit capable of withstanding cyclical tension and/or compression loads exceeding its yield strength, said conduit comprising: a malleable tubular member; a bolster at either end of the tubular member, said bolsters having a yield strength greater than that of the member and being secured to the ends of the member for imparting tension and compression loads thereto; and, bending moment resisting means extending over the full length of the member and past the ends thereof into engagement with said bolsters to resist bending moments imparted to the member due to eccentric loading thereof and transmit such moments to the bolsters.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 58 words

A conduit according to claim 9 wherein the bending moment resisting means comprises: at least one primary sleeve extending over the full length of the member in close encircling relationship thereto, said sleeve being engaged with both of said bolsters to transmit bending moments thereto and being freely axially movable relative to at least one of the bolsters.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 65 words

A conduit according to claim 10 wherein the bending moment resisting means further comprises: at least one secondary sleeve extending through and over the full length of the member so as to be closely encircled by the member, said secondary sleeve being axially movable relative to at least one of the bolsters; and means restraining the secondary sleeve against lateral movement relative to the bolsters.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of providing a load carrying strut capable of withstanding cyclical tension and compression loads in excess of the yield strength of the strut, said method comprising: confining a malleable column over the full length thereof within a sleeve disposed in close encircling relationship to the column; securing the column to load supporting bolsters at either end thereof with the sleeve engaged with the bolsters and disposed for substantially free axial movement relative to at least one of the bolsters whereby the column may be axially compressed or elongated within the confines of the sleeve in response to loading of the bolsters and bending moments imparted to the column due to the eccentric loading thereof are transmitted to the bolsters by the sleeve.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 124 words

A method of providing a load carrying strut capable of withstanding cyclical tension and compression loads in excess of the yield strength of the strut, said method comprising: confining a malleable column over the full length thereof within a sleeve disposed in close encircling relationship to the column; securing the column to load supporting bolsters at either end thereof with the sleeve engaged with the bolsters and disposed for substantially free axial movement relative to at least one of the bolsters whereby the column may be axially compressed or elongated within the confines of the sleeve in response to loading of the bolsters and bending moments imparted to the column due to the eccentric loading thereof are transmitted to the bolsters by the sleeve.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 100 words

A method according to claim 12 wherein the column is tubular, said method further comprising: extending a rod through the full length of the tubular column so that the rod is closely encircled by the column and disposed for substantially free axial movement relative to at least one of the bolsters whereby the column may be axially compressed or elongated relative to the rod in response to loading of the bolsters; and securing the rod against lateral movement relative to the bolsters so that the rod functions to resist bending moments imparted to the column due to eccentric loading thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-08-03	1985-02-02	1985-08-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-08-03	1989-02-02	1989-08-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-08-03	1993-02-02	1993-08-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Energy absorbing load carrying strut and method of providing such a strut capable of withstanding cyclical loads exceeding its yield strength

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