US5655756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Energy absorbers and methods of manufacture
Assignee: Damping Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1993-12-06
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Granted: 1997-08-12
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Expires: 2013-12-06
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members includes a core (3) of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material such as lead and structure surrounding the core such as layers of steel plates (2) and rubber (1) in a sandwich-like arrangement structure. The end plates (4) are formed with holes (5), into which the ends of the core (3) project. During construction, the support structure (1, 2) is stretched, allowing end caps (6) to be fitted. The support structure (1, 2) is then relaxed, which applies approximately hydrostatic pressure to the core (3). Induced motion is transferred as shear forces across the core (3). The hydrostatic pressure applied to the core (3) preferably exceeds the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material of the core (3).
Inventors
- 👤 William Henry Robinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 05:52
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H9/00; E04H9/02; E04H9/021; E04H9/022; F; F16; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/36; F16F1/40; F16F7/00; F16F7/12; F16F2236/00; F16F2236/12; F16F2236/123; F16F2238/00; F16F2238/04; F16F2238/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material and means surrounding the core which applies approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material to the core and which during such induced motion transfers motion between said members as shear forces across the core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material and means surrounding the core which applies approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material to the core and which during such induced motion transfers motion between said members as shear forces across the core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An energy absorber according to claim 1 wherein hydrostatic pressure exceeding the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material is applied to the core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An energy absorber according to claim 2 wherein hydrostatic pressure of 10MPa or more is applied to the core.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An energy absorber according to claim 3, wherein hydrostatic pressure exceeding 20 MPa is applied to the core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An energy absorber according to claim 1, wherein the core is formed of lead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An energy absorber according to claim 1, wherein the means surrounding the core includes plates surrounding the core which can move relative to one another across the core during said induced motion to apply shear forces to the core.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An energy absorber according to claim 6, wherein the means surrounding the core also comprises layers of an elastic material extending between adjacent plates of said plates surrounding the core and fixed to said plates forming a unitary structure surrounding the core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An energy absorber according to claim 7, wherein the means surrounding the core which applies hydrostatic pressure to the core also includes at least one end cap fixed to the energy absorber and drawn to bear against the core by elastic retraction of the means surrounding the core which is extended during manufacture of the energy absorber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An energy absorber according to claim 6, wherein the means surrounding the core which applies hydrostatic pressure to the core includes at least one end cap adapted to carry weight of a structure carried by the energy absorber to cause the end cap to bear against the core to apply said hydrostatic pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An energy absorber according to claim 9, wherein the end cap bears on the core through a piston between the end cap and the core.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An energy absorber according to claim 10, including a component of resilient material between the end cap and the piston.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core is of varying diameter over the height of the core.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
An energy absorber as claimed in claim 7, wherein the unitary structure of said plates and layers of elastic material surrounding the core is surrounded by a second structure of plates and layers of elastic material extending between adjacent plates and fixed to the plates with a greater spacing between plates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material, a unitary structure surrounding the core comprising a series of spaced parallel plates with layers of an elastic material extending between the plates and fixed to the plates with the core being subject to approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material by elastic retraction of the layers of elastic material between the plates which are extended during manufacture of the energy absorber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
101 words
An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material, a unitary structure surrounding the core comprising a series of spaced parallel plates with layers of an elastic material extending between the plates and fixed to the plates with the core being subject to approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material by elastic retraction of the layers of elastic material between the plates which are extended during manufacture of the energy absorber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An energy absorber according to claim 14, wherein the core is formed of lead.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An energy absorber as claimed in claim 15, wherein the core is subject to hydrostatic pressure substantially exceeding the shear yield stress of the lead.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
139 words
An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material, a unitary structure surrounding the core comprising a series of spaced parallel first plates with layers of an elastic material bonded between the first plates with the core being subject to approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material by elastic retraction of the layers of said unitary structure which are extended during manufacture of the energy absorber, and a second structure surrounding said unitary structure, said second structure comprising a series of spaced parallel second plates and elastic material extending between and bonded to said second plates with a greater spacing between said second plates than between said first plates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
139 words
An energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material, a unitary structure surrounding the core comprising a series of spaced parallel first plates with layers of an elastic material bonded between the first plates with the core being subject to approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material by elastic retraction of the layers of said unitary structure which are extended during manufacture of the energy absorber, and a second structure surrounding said unitary structure, said second structure comprising a series of spaced parallel second plates and elastic material extending between and bonded to said second plates with a greater spacing between said second plates than between said first plates.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An energy absorber according to claim 17, wherein the core is formed of lead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
An energy absorber as claimed in claim 18, wherein the core is subject to hydrostatic pressure substantially exceeding the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material of the core.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of manufacturing an energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material and means surrounding the core which transfers motion between said members as shear forces across the core, the method including the step of applying approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorber material to the core.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of manufacturing an energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members comprising a core of a plastically deformable energy absorbing material and means surrounding the core which transfers motion between said members as shear forces across the core, the method including the step of applying approximately hydrostatic pressure at least approaching the shear yield stress of the energy absorber material to the core.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 20 including applying hydrostatic pressure exceeding the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material to the core.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 21 including applying hydrostatic pressure of 10 MPa or more to the core.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 21 including applying hydrostatic pressure exceeding 20 MPa to the core.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 21 including forming the core of lead.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of manufacturing an energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising forming a unitary structure comprising a number of plates separated by layers of an elastic material extending between adjacent plates and fixed to the plates and comprising a hollow cavity through the plates and layers of elastic material between the plates, applying a stretching force to stretch said unitary structure to slightly expand said cavity, filling said cavity with a plastically deformable energy absorbing material through an opening through the unitary structure into said cavity to form a core of the energy absorber, fitting an end cap to close said opening, and removing said stretching force to allow the unitary structure to retract and apply a hydrostatic pressure to the core.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of manufacturing an energy absorber for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two members, comprising forming a unitary structure comprising a number of plates separated by layers of an elastic material extending between adjacent plates and fixed to the plates and comprising a hollow cavity through the plates and layers of elastic material between the plates, applying a stretching force to stretch said unitary structure to slightly expand said cavity, filling said cavity with a plastically deformable energy absorbing material through an opening through the unitary structure into said cavity to form a core of the energy absorber, fitting an end cap to close said opening, and removing said stretching force to allow the unitary structure to retract and apply a hydrostatic pressure to the core.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 25, wherein the hydrostatic pressure exceeds the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material of the core.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 26, including filling the hollow cavity by pressing the energy absorbing material into the cavity in segments including pressing each segment after insertion into the core sufficiently to cause peripheral edges of said plates surrounding the cavity to be embedded into the energy absorbing core.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 26, including filling the hollow cavity by heating the material for the energy absorbing core and forcing it to flow into the cavity.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 27, wherein the energy absorbing material is lead.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 26 including inserting said unitary structure into a second structure comprising a series of spaced parallel second plates and elastic material extending between and fixed to said second plates so that said unitary structure is embedded in said second structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |