Patent ID: 6276674
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
An elastomeric spring comprising:a body of elastomeric material that has opposing end regions and that is generally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis;a first rigid end member that is bonded to a first of the opposing end regions and a second rigid end member that is bonded to a second of the opposing end regions, said second end member being annular, a compressive force acting parallel to the longitudinal axis on said end members being resisted by said body; anda substantially inextensible reinforcement member embedded in and bonded to said body at a position between the opposing end regions and extending radially outwards from the bonded position, said reinforcement member being annular and only partially dividing the elastomeric material between the opposing end regions,said body having an external profile comprising two convex portions, a first of said convex portions being between said reinforcement member and said first end member and a second of said convex portions being between said reinforcement member and said second end member, a maximum external dimension of said first convex portion being less than a maximum external dimension of said second convex portion, said body being waisted at said reinforcement member;said body having an interior wall defining a hollow region that extends through said second end member, said second end region, and said reinforcement member, to near said first end region,wherein when a compressive force is not acting on the spring, said interior wall has a generally semi-elliptical shape in cross section with a progressively decreasing cross section dimension from said second end region to near said first end region where said interior wall has a closed end, andwherein when a compressive force is acting on the spring, said interior wall has, in cross section, a first convex shape between a position corresponding to said second end member and a position corresponding to said reinforcement member, a first concave shape at the position corresponding to said reinforcement member, and a second convex shape between said first concave shape and a position near the closed end, the closed end being flatter than when the compressive force is not acting on the spring.