Flexible column viscous spring damper

Claim 1

A viscous spring damper for damping and leveling low frequency structural agitation in a device comprising: a first outer member fixedly attached to said device joined to a connecting member by means of a first elastomeric shear spring, said first outer member including a first fluid chamber and a first highly flexible and moveable elastomeric diaphragm; a second outer member fixedly attached to said device and moveable independently from said first outer member joined to said connecting member by means of a second elastomeric shear spring, said second outer member including a second fluid chamber and a second highly flexible and moveable elastomeric diaphragm; said connecting member including an open-end conduit having at least one flexible section with rigid end caps at terminal ends, said end caps being connected to said shear springs; at least one of said outer members includes means for selective gas pressurization of at least one of said elastomeric diaphragms whereby said viscous spring damper is adapted to level a load supported thereby by pressurization of said diaphragm; and a main fluid chamber in said connecting member communicating with said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber, and including restrictive orifice means for restricted flow of fluid whereby relative movement between said members operates to stress said shear springs and said elastomeric diaphragms and vary the overall volume of said chambers.