US 12,215,752 B1
Vibration isolator with overload protection
Stephen Steg, Erie, CO (US); and Brett Bender, Lafayette, CO (US)
Assigned to BLUE CANYON TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Lafayette, CO (US)
Filed by BLUE CANYON TECHNOLOGIES INC., Boulder, CO (US)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/946,221.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/880,544, filed on Jul. 30, 2019.
Int. Cl. F16F 13/00 (2006.01); B64G 1/66 (2006.01); F16F 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 13/005 (2013.01) [B64G 1/66 (2013.01); F16F 15/022 (2013.01); F16F 2230/0023 (2013.01); F16F 2230/16 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vibration-isolating strut assembly, comprising:
a shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end having an outwardly extending profile with a first side and a second side;
a first end fitting with a cavity that accommodates the first end of the shaft, the cavity having a first face opposite the first side of the outwardly extending profile and a second face opposite the second side of the outwardly extending profile;
a first stopping member positioned between the first side of the outwardly extending profile and the first face of the cavity;
a second stopping member positioned between the second side of the outwardly extending profile and the second face of the cavity;
a first spring having a first end directly interconnected to the first end fitting and a second end associated with a second end fitting;
a second spring positioned between the shaft and the first spring;
a damper positioned between the shaft and the first spring, wherein the second spring and the damper are configured for direct mechanical communication;
wherein the strut assembly is devoid of bellows; and
wherein the damper comprises an inner sleeve engaged onto the shaft, an outer sleeve that contacts the first spring, and a viscoelastic material positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.