Elastomeric fluid shock absorber

Claim 2

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber, comprising in combination: a rigid inner tubular member forming a fluid chamber, and a rigid outer tubular member placed coaxially around the inner member and having a rigid closure laterally across its longitudinal axis; partition means movably disposed within the chamber of said inner member in response to action of the fluid to vary the size of the inner chamber; an elastomeric spring insert secured to and between said members forming a fluid chamber in the outer member; said inner tubular member including between said chambers a rigid structure, fluid control means for metering the flow of fluid between said chambers in response to relative axial movement between the inner and outer member, whereby said spring insert is stressed predominantly in the shear mode and simultaneously the volumetric relationship between said chambers is varied; and an elastomeric compression bumper seated on said rigid closure within the chamber of the outer member arranged for shock absorbing contact with said rigid structure and engagement with said fluid control means of said inner member.

Claim 3

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein said partition means comprises a bellows, the open end of which is secured to the inner member proximate to the location of the fluid control means.

Claim 4

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the partition means within the inner member for sub-dividing the chamber thereof is a plastic-like cellular insert which is effective to significantly restrict the flow of fluid within the compartments of the chamber.

Claim 5

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein said insert has a substantially frusto-conical configuration and is substantially radially disposed between the inner and the outer member.

Claim 6

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric insert is divided radially into an inner and outer section; and an axially extending tubular member disposed between the sections and substantially concentrically between the inner and outer tubular members.

Claim 7

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 5, wherein said inner and outer sections have dissimilar elastomeric spring rates.

Claim 8

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein said fluid control means comprises a plurality of fluid passageways extending between said chambers; and said elastomeric bumper is located adjacent to said passageways. 8. Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 7, wherein said passageways are of different diameters.

Claim 9

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of the passageways located proximate to the central axis of the inner member is greater than the diameter of passageways located more remote from said axis.

Claim 10

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 9, wherein said bumper has a configuration sloping toward the central axis of the inner member.

Claim 11

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 10, wherein the width of the apex of the sloped bumper approximates the distance between the larger sized passageways.

Claim 12

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 11, wherein upon relative axial movements between said members the position of said bumper first closes the centrally located passageways and upon additional movement of said members sequentially closes all of the remaining passageways.

Claim 13

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein said partition means is a reciprocable piston, the axial end face of which is transversely disposed within the inner memBer, and slidable sealing means secured on the circumference of the piston for sliding fluid seal contact with the inner wall of the inner tubular member.

Claim 14

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 13, and a guide rod arrangement connected to the piston.

Claim 15

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber, comprising in combination: a rigid inner tubular member forming a fluid chamber, an open ended rigid outer tubular member placed coaxially around the inner member and having a rigid closure, provided with an orifice, extending laterally across the longitudinal axis of the outer member; partition means movably disposed within the chamber of said inner member in response to action of the fluid to vary the size of the inner chamber; an elastomeric spring insert secured to and between said members forming a fluid chamber in the outer member; said inner tubular member including between said chambers a rigid structure, fluid control means for metering the flow of fluid between said chambers in response to relative axial movement between the inner and outer member, whereby said spring insert is stressed predominantly in the shear mode and simultaneously the volumetric relationship between said chambers is varied; an elastomeric compression bumper, having an orifice, seated on said rigid closure within the chamber of the outer member arranged for shock absorbing contact with said rigid structure of said inner member and in alignment with the orifice of said closure; a fluid separating and valving member extending transversely within and across said outer tubular member and remote from the open end; and an elastomeric member secured across said open end and adjacent to said separating member for establishing therebetween a second enclosed fluid chamber within the outer tube whose volume is changeable upon movement of the elastomeric member; and fluid metering means on said separating member for controlling the flow of fluid between the two chambers of said outer tubular member.

Claim 16

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber, comprising in combination: a rigid inner tubular member forming a fluid chamber, an open ended rigid outer tubular member placed coaxially around the inner member and having a rigid closure, provided with an orifice, extending laterally across the longitudinal axis of the outer member; partition means movably disposed within the chamber of said inner member in response to action of the fluid to vary the size of the inner chamber; an elastomeric spring insert secured to and between said members forming a fluid chamber in the outer member; said inner tubular member including between said chambers a rigid structure, fluid control means for metering the flow of fluid between said chambers in response to relative axial movement between the inner and outer member, whereby said spring insert is stressed predominantly in the shear mode and simultaneously the volumetric relationship between said chambers is varied; an elastomeric compression bumper, having an orifice, seated on said rigid closure within the chamber of the outer member arranged for shock absorbing contact with said rigid structure of said inner member and in alignment with the orifice of said closure; a fluid separating and valving member extending transversely within and across said outer tubular member and remote from the open end; and an elastomeric member secured across said open end and adjacent to said separating member for establishing therebetween a second enclosed fluid chamber within the outer tube whose volume is changeable upon movement of the elastomeric member; and fluid metering means on said separating member for controlling the flow of fluid between the two chambers of said outer tubular member.

Claim 17

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 15, and an auxiliary elastomeric compression bumper secured on said separating member facing the inner member.

Claim 18

Elastomeric spring and shock absorber according to claim 15, wherein said elastomeric member comprises a bumper portion effective to control the fluid flow through the fluid metering means.