US4399764A — Passive shock mitigation system with sea water me…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 275 words

Passive apparatus for absorbing the kinetic energy of a collision to protect a structure from damage in a collision, which comprises: (a) a shock mitigation ring for receiving impacts, said ring having an inside diameter large enough for the ring to encircle the structure in the area where the structure is to be protected; (b) means for suspending said ring such that it is disposed between the area of said structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects, said means for suspending comprising: (1) a plurality of legs for supporting said ring, said legs being fixed relative to the structure and disposed symmetrically with respect to and above the area of the structure to be protected, (2) two rigid rods connected to each of said legs, each of said rods having one end coupled pivotally to one of said legs, each of said rods being slidable through its pivot point in said one of said legs when it undergoes compressive forces, the other end of each of said rods being pivotably coupled to said ring, the length of said rods and the pivoting points relative to the ring and to the legs being chosen so that said ring is suspended between the area of the structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects and so that the ring may swing on the pivot points in response to an impact but is prevented from striking the structure to be protected by tension forces on at least one of said rods; and (c) means for resisting the motion of the ring as it swings in response to an impact.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 275 words

Passive apparatus for absorbing the kinetic energy of a collision to protect a structure from damage in a collision, which comprises: (a) a shock mitigation ring for receiving impacts, said ring having an inside diameter large enough for the ring to encircle the structure in the area where the structure is to be protected; (b) means for suspending said ring such that it is disposed between the area of said structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects, said means for suspending comprising: (1) a plurality of legs for supporting said ring, said legs being fixed relative to the structure and disposed symmetrically with respect to and above the area of the structure to be protected, (2) two rigid rods connected to each of said legs, each of said rods having one end coupled pivotally to one of said legs, each of said rods being slidable through its pivot point in said one of said legs when it undergoes compressive forces, the other end of each of said rods being pivotably coupled to said ring, the length of said rods and the pivoting points relative to the ring and to the legs being chosen so that said ring is suspended between the area of the structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects and so that the ring may swing on the pivot points in response to an impact but is prevented from striking the structure to be protected by tension forces on at least one of said rods; and (c) means for resisting the motion of the ring as it swings in response to an impact.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for resisting comprises: (a) a plurality of shock absorbers, each shock absorber having one end pivotably coupled to one of said legs and the other end pivotably coupled to said ring for dissipating the kinetic energy of the ring as it swings as a result of an impact.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 280 words

Passive apparatus for absorbing the kinetic energy of an underwater collision to protect an underwater structure from damage as a result of said collision, which comprises: (a) a shock mitigation ring for receiving impacts, said ring having an inside diameter large enough for the ring to encircle the structure in the area where the structure is to be protected; (b) means for suspending said ring such that it is disposed between the area of said structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects, said means for suspending comprising: (1) a plurality of legs for supporting said ring, said legs being fixed relative to the structure and disposed symmetrically with respect to and above the area of the structure to be protected, (2) two rigid rods connected to each of said legs, each of said rods having one end coupled pivotally to one of said legs, each of said rods being slidable through its pivot point in said one of said legs when it undergoes compressive forces, the other end of each of said rods being pivotably coupled to said ring, the length of said rods and the pivoting points relative to the ring and to the legs being chosen so that said ring is suspended between the area of the structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects and so that the ring may swing on the pivot points in response to an impact but is prevented from striking the structure to be protected by tension forces on at least one of said rods; and (c) means for resisting the motion of the ring as it swings in response to an impact.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 280 words

Passive apparatus for absorbing the kinetic energy of an underwater collision to protect an underwater structure from damage as a result of said collision, which comprises: (a) a shock mitigation ring for receiving impacts, said ring having an inside diameter large enough for the ring to encircle the structure in the area where the structure is to be protected; (b) means for suspending said ring such that it is disposed between the area of said structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects, said means for suspending comprising: (1) a plurality of legs for supporting said ring, said legs being fixed relative to the structure and disposed symmetrically with respect to and above the area of the structure to be protected, (2) two rigid rods connected to each of said legs, each of said rods having one end coupled pivotally to one of said legs, each of said rods being slidable through its pivot point in said one of said legs when it undergoes compressive forces, the other end of each of said rods being pivotably coupled to said ring, the length of said rods and the pivoting points relative to the ring and to the legs being chosen so that said ring is suspended between the area of the structure to be protected and the expected path of potentially impacting objects and so that the ring may swing on the pivot points in response to an impact but is prevented from striking the structure to be protected by tension forces on at least one of said rods; and (c) means for resisting the motion of the ring as it swings in response to an impact.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said means for resisting comprises: (a) a plurality of shock absorbers, each shock absorber having one end pivotably coupled to one of said legs and the other end pivotably coupled to said ring for dissipating the kinetic energy of the ring as it swings as a result of an impact.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 205 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said shock absorbers comprises: (a) an inner cylinder having an enclosed end and an open end, said inner cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal tapered slots in its outer surface, said slots being tapered from a maximum cross-sectional area at the open end of said inner cylinder to merge with the outer surface of said inner cylinder; (b) an outer cylinder concentric with said inner cylinder and having an open end and an enclosed end, said enclosed end having an aperture therein, the open end of said inner cylinder being slidably disposed in the open end of the outer cylinder so that a variably sized chamber is formed by said inner and outer cylinder, the open end of said outer cylinder being adapted to provide a water-tight seal between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder; and (c) means for closing the aperture in the enclosed end of said outer cylinder when said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder are forced together, the water in the chamber thereby being forced to exit said chamber through the tapered slots to dissipate forces pushing the inner and outer cylinder together.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said means for closing said aperture includes a one-way check valve which allows water to enter said chamber through said aperture but not exit said chamber through said aperture.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising means for retaining the open end of said inner cylinder in the open end of said outer cylinder.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for retaining comprises: (a) an annular shoulder on the outer surface of said inner cylinder at its open end; and (b) an annular shoulder on the inner surface of said outer cylinder at its open end, said annular shoulders engaging to prevent said inner and outer cylinders from being pulled apart.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 44 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said outer cylinder includes sealing means disposed in the inner surface of said outer cylinder to provide a liquid-tight sliding seal between the outer surface of the inner cylinder and the inner surface of the outer cylinder.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 211 words

A passive shock absorber for use submerged in a liquid and using said liquid as hydraulic fluid, which comprises: (a) an inner cylinder having an enclosed end and an open end, said inner cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal tapered slots in its outer surface, said slots being tapered from a maximum cross-sectional area at the open end of said inner cylinder to merge with the outer surface of said inner cylinder; (b) an outer cylinder concentric with said inner cylinder and having an open end and an enclosed end, said enclosed end having an aperture therein, the open end of said inner cylinder being slidably disposed in the open end of the outer cylinder so that a variably sized chamber is formed by said inner and outer cylinders, the open end of said outer cylinder being adapted to provide a liquid-tight seal between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder; and (c) means for closing the aperture in the enclosed end of said outer cylinder when said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder are forced together, the liquid in the chamber thereby being forced to exit said chamber through the tapered slots to dissipate forces pushing the inner and outer cylinder together.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 211 words

A passive shock absorber for use submerged in a liquid and using said liquid as hydraulic fluid, which comprises: (a) an inner cylinder having an enclosed end and an open end, said inner cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal tapered slots in its outer surface, said slots being tapered from a maximum cross-sectional area at the open end of said inner cylinder to merge with the outer surface of said inner cylinder; (b) an outer cylinder concentric with said inner cylinder and having an open end and an enclosed end, said enclosed end having an aperture therein, the open end of said inner cylinder being slidably disposed in the open end of the outer cylinder so that a variably sized chamber is formed by said inner and outer cylinders, the open end of said outer cylinder being adapted to provide a liquid-tight seal between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder; and (c) means for closing the aperture in the enclosed end of said outer cylinder when said outer cylinder and said inner cylinder are forced together, the liquid in the chamber thereby being forced to exit said chamber through the tapered slots to dissipate forces pushing the inner and outer cylinder together.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

A shock absorber as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for closing said aperture includes a one-way check valve which allows liquid to enter said chamber through said aperture but not exit said chamber through said aperture.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

A shock absorber as recited in claim 11 further comprising means for retaining the open end of said inner cylinder in the open end of said outer cylinder.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 62 words

A shock absorber as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for retaining comprises: (a) an annular shoulder on the outer surface of said inner cylinder at its open end; and (b) an annular shoulder on the inner surface of said outer cylinder at its open end, said annular shoulders engaging to prevent said inner and outer cylinders from being pulled apart.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

A shock absorber as recited in claim 13 wherein said outer cylinder includes sealing means disposed in the inner surface of said outer cylinder to provide a liquid-tight sliding seal between the outer surface of the inner cylinder and the inner surface of the outer cylinder.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-08-22	1987-02-21	1987-08-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-08-22	1991-02-21	1991-08-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-08-22	1995-02-21	1995-08-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Passive shock mitigation system with sea water metering shock absorber

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