GB592722A - Improvements in and relating to rubber springs - Google Patents

Abstract

592,722. Resilient mountings. SPENCER MOULTON & CO., Ltd., G., and MOULTON, A. E. May 25, 1945, No. 13112. [Class 108 (iii)] In a spring suspension or shock-absorbing spring arrangement comprising two interfitting telescopic tubular members 1, 2, a rubber shear spring is provided having opposite faces parallel to the telescopic axis bonded to elements associated with the respective members, the spring consisting of a plurality of rubber units of arcuate cross-section and rhomboidal longitudinal section housed within the tubular member so that the longitudinal section of the units is deformed when the spring is stressed in shear during the inward telescopic movement of the members. As shown, the shock-absorber is incorporated in an aircraft undercarriage leg, the cylinder 1 being mounted on the aircraft frame while the tubular piston 2 carries the landing wheel stub-axle 3. The spring comprises two symmetrical rubber units 6, 7 of flattened V-shape bonded to outer segmental shells 8 which, at the lower end of, the leg, fit within the piston 2 in abutment with' a flanged plug 5, and, at the upper end, are located within a sleeve 9 secured in the cylinder 1 to provide an annular space 11 into which the upper end of the piston may slide. The bases of the units 6, 7 are bonded to an oval-section tube 12 fabricated from dished sheet-metal members 13, 14. In a modification, four spring units consisting of superposed, relatively-staggered, curved rubber pads with intermediate supporting plates, are provided, the units forming in effect two pairs working in series. In both embodiments, the rubber units are assembled under radial constraint and, in the second, the units may be pre-loaded as required.