A method and apparatus for cushioning motion and dissipating impact energy, preferably in a marine environment, including a piston and cylinder assembly, impedance means associated with the piston and cylinder for impeding translation of the piston within the cylinder assembly and an isolation and restoring assembly protectively surrounding the piston and cylinder assembly and continuously biasing the piston and cylinder assembly in a normally extended position operable to dissipate impact energy. The method includes the steps of isolating the piston and cylinder assembly from an ambient environment, cushioning impact forces imparted to the piston and cylinder assembly and restoring the assembly in an extended posture operable to dissipate subsequent impact energy imparted thereto.

Sealed cushioning unit

A traction/compression buffer for coupling devices on rail and wheel-mounted vehicles comprises a housing (1) and a piston element (3), which projects out of said housing on one side and which can be moved out of a zero position in two directions against the resistance of a spring device and a damping device. A hydraulic damping device is provided for damping the return movement of the piston element (3) out of the position in which it is drawn out of the housing (1), in the direction of the zero position. Said hydraulic damping device comprises a ring-shaped hydraulic working chamber (32) that surrounds the piston element (3) and that is connected to an overflow chamber (29) by at least one overflow channel (31).

Traction/compression buffer for coupling devices on rail and wheel-mounted vehicles

A liquid energy absorber device including an elongated liquid energy absorber member mounted on a base, an annular elastomeric member also mounted on the base in surrounding relationship to the liquid energy absorber member, a sleeve mounted on the liquid energy absorber member for sliding movement, a plate connected to the sleeve and supported on the end of the annular elastomeric member remote from the base, grooves in the plate and in the portion of the sleeve facing the liquid energy absorber member to conduct atmospheric air to a space which is formed between the sleeve and the elastomeric member as the latter distorts in operation to thereby cool the liquid energy absorber member and the annular elastomeric member, with the annular elastomeric member being longer than the liquid energy absorber member so that there is deflection of the annular elastomeric member prior to the activation of the liquid energy absorber member.

Liquid energy absorber device

A railcar cushioning device with a gas charged cylinder and a piston contained in the cylinder for cushioning buff and draft impacts. An elastomer spring is contained in the cylinder between the piston and an end of the cylinder to locate the piston in a neutral position.

Railcar cushioning device with internal elastomeric spring

A cold formed railcar spring including a spring pad formed from a perform of thermoplastic polyester elastomer having a durometer hardness ranging between about 40 and about 45 on the Shore D scale and sandwiched between a pair of metal plates. Each metal plate has a generally centralized bore extending therethrough and includes a plurality of radially spaced mechanical fasteners formed as an integral part of each plate. Each fastener has first and second generally parallel surfaces and a barb extending from a side of the fastener such that, upon axial compression of the preform, the fastener is pressed axially inward of one end of the perform such that the barb on the fastener mechanically interlocks with the spring pad whereby securing the plate to the spring pad.

Railcar elastomeric spring

A damper device for automatic couplings in railway vehicles has elastic and hydraulic parts, the hydraulic part being double-acting and having two chambers which are interconnected through a variable flow restriction, for example a nozzle formed in part by a shaped axial pin, such that the damping force varies progressively in response to movement applied to the device.

Brambilla G

Papers

Damper device for railway vehicle automatic couplings