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NEW SHOCK ABSORBING BUMPER SYSTEM

A NEW AUTO BUMPER SYSTEM USING TELESCOPIC SHOCK ISOLATERS IS SAID TO REDUCE SHOCK AND DAMAGE IN A 30 MPR COLLISION BY AS MUCH AS 80%. DEVELOPED BY MENASCO MFG. CO, THE SHOCK ISOLATORS USE AN ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL WHOSE COMPRESSIBILITY AND FLOW CHARACTERISTICS PRODUCE TWO IMPORTANT EFFECTS. THE MATERIAL, CONTAINED IN THE UNIT'S CYLINDER MEMBERS, COMPRESSES AS PISTON ACTION FORCES IT THROUGH THE SMALL ORIFICES AND PASSAGES-PRODUCING THE EFFECT OF A POWERFUL MECHANICAL SPRING. AT THE SAME TIME THE MATERIALS FLOW CHARACTERISTICS CAUSE THE UNITS TO PERFORM LIKE HYDRAULIC DAMPERS. THE SPRING EFFECT RESETS THE BUMPERS TO ABSORB ADDITIONAL IMPACT, AS IN A CHAIN TYPE COLLISION, AND PREVENTS THE SYSTEM FROM SHORTENING UNDER SUSTAINED LOADS WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING PUSHED. THE HYDRAULIC DAMPING PRODUCES A REACTION FORCE THAT INCREASES AS VELOCITY OF THE IMPACT INCREASES, THE UNITS ARE ARRANGED IN AN "M" CONFIGURATION TO HANDLE IMPACTS FROM VARIOUS DIRECTIONS. THE UNITS SHOULD MAKE RAIL CARS MORE COMPETITIVE WITH TRUCKS IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT WITHOUT SHOCK DAMAGE. MENASCO ENGINEERS SEE USES ESPECIALLY FOR OFF-THE-ROAD VEHICLES, OR AS SHOCK BUMPERS FOR TRUCKS THAT FREQUENTLY BUMP LOADING DOCKS, OR PERHAPS FOR THE DOCKS THEMSELVES. MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE MINIMAL-NONE FOR THE SHOCK UNITS THEMSELVES. THE ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL RESETS THE UNITS AFTER EACH COLLISION. CYLIC TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE MATERIAL WOULD RETAIN ITS PROPERTIES OVER NORMAL VEHICLE LIFETIME. IN VOLUME PRODUCTION, THE EIGHT UNITS REQUIRED FOR A CAR (FOUR IN FRONT AND FOUR IN THE REAR) COULD BE PROVIDED AT A COST OF LESS THAN $25.

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 64, No 9, PP 194-195, 3 PHOTS
  • Publication Date: 1969-9

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  • Accession Number: 00223049
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Apr 10 1970 12:00AM