Lord Corporation

Scott K Miller

William S Jensen

Douglas Edward Ivers

Douglas A Swanson

Lane R Miller

Stephen F Hildebrand

Russell E Alteri

Michael D Janowski

Michael F Walch

A controlled equilibrium device comprising a housing; at least one spring, each at least one spring having a spring stiffness; and a load leveling device movable through the housing between a first maximum displacement position and a second maximum displacement position, the load leveling device comprising a deadband displacement zone defined between a first deadband displacement threshold and a second deadband displacement threshold, the displacement required to reach the first and second deadband displacement thresholds being less than the displacement distances required to reach the first and second maximum displacement positions, the at least one spring stiffness being substantially constant when the displacement of the load leveling device is within the deadband zone, the stiffness of the at least one spring being modified to a second stiffness when the load leveling device is equal to or beyond either the first deadband displacement threshold or the second deadband displacement threshold.

Controlled equilibrium device with displacement dependent spring rates and integral damping

Elastomer dampers (,) and (,) for damping movement between two relatively moveable members, such as shimmy motion between components in an aircraft landing gear assembly (,). Each damper includes a housing (,) having an internal cavity (,) with a cylindrical interior surface (,) and an opening (,), and a member assembly (,) moveable relative to the housing (,) having an elongated shaft (,) received through the opening (,) with a piston head assembly (,) mounted thereon. The piston head assembly (,) has a annular support element (,) received over the shaft (,) with a sleeve-like elastomer member (,) received over it. The elastomer member (,) engages the interior surface (,) in an interference fit relationship thereby radially precompressing the elastomer element (,) in the range of between about 5% and 15%. In one embodiment of piston head assembly, low friction washers (,) are preferably positioned adjacent to the ends of the elastomer member (,) and the support member (,). Rigid washers (,) may be provided to abut and support the low friction washers (,). The elastomer member (,) preferably has grooves (,) forming a plurality of ribs (,) that are preferably axially oriented. In another embodiment, elastomer member,is directly bonded to annular support element,and includes at least one continues helical groove (,) around the circumference.

Elastomer damper

An elastomer damper (,) for damping movement between two relatively moveable members, such as shimmy motion between components in an aircraft landing gear assembly (,). The damper (,) includes a housing (,) having an internal cavity (,) with a cylindrical interior surface (,) and an opening (,), and a member assembly (,) moveable relative to the housing (,) having an elongated shaft (,) received through the opening (,) with a piston head assembly (,) mounted thereon. The piston head assembly (,) has a annular support element (,) received over the shaft (,) with a sleeve-like elastomer member (,) received over it. The elastomer member (,) engages the interior surface (,) in an interference fit relationship thereby radially precompressing the elastomer element (,) in the range of between about 5% and 15%. Low friction washers (,) are preferably positioned adjacent to the ends of the elastomer ember (,) and the support member (,). Rigid washers (,) may be provided to abut and support the low friction washers (,). The elastomer member (,) preferably has grooves (,) forming a plurality of ribs (,) that are preferably axially oriented.

Growing community of inventors

Willow Spring, NC, United States of America

Scott K Miller