Patent ID: 6340153
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A mount for providing support between first and second relatively movable members and reducing vibration and shock transmission between the members, the mount comprising:a hollow cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, a first closed end and a second end having an opening, the casing adapted to be attached to the first movable member; a hollow cylindrical housing open at both ends and disposed for axial movement within the casing through the opening in the second end of the casing, a portion of the housing extending outwardly of the opening; a piston disposed in the housing and sealingly bonded to the inner surface of the housing so that the piston is axially movable relative to the housing by deformation of the bond material, the piston including a piston rod having an end portion extending outwardly of the housing and adapted to be attached to the second movable member; a compressible fluid filling a variable volume chamber defined by the casing, the housing, and the piston; and an annular seal radially interposed between the inside edge of the opening in the second end of the casing and the outer surface of the housing for sealing against fluid leakage between the casing and housing, wherein the housing and piston are acted on by the compressible fluid to urge the housing and piston to an axial position relative to the casing, and the static friction between the housing and annular seal and the stiffness of the bond material between the piston and the housing are selected so that only the piston moves relative to the casing in response to axial external forces on the movable members less than a predetermined net force for reducing vibration transmission between the members, and the housing and piston move together relative to the casing when the static friction between the annular seal and the housing is overcome by axial external forces on the movable members greater than the predetermined net force for reducing vibration transmission between the members, whereby a compressible fluid spring is provided with large allowable relative movement of the movable members.