The present invention relates to a shock absorber of the kind defined in the preamble of Claim 1. The invention also relates to use of the inventive shock absorber and to a method of making adjustments there¬ to.

There is a great need for different types of shock absorbers which will funcrtion to protect apparatus and devices which are subject to sudden impact forces, for instance devices which are subjected to shock forces caused by loading goods thereonto. Such devices will include the loading baskets of mining trucks, trans- porters, saw mill materials handling equipment, load¬ ing and offloading piers, ramps, and so on.

Tbe object of the present invention is to provide a particularly effective shock absorber which can be used in a number of different connections. This object is achieved with an inventive shock absorber having the characteristic features set forth in the charac¬ terizing clause of respective following claims.

At least one of the bars of the inventive shock ab¬ sorber can be replaced, so as to enable the shock absorber to be adjusted from case to case and there¬ with meet current requirements.

The e2£ternal elements of the shock absorber can be standardized and the centre body or the shock absorb¬ ing bars can be varied so as to impart to the shock absorber those properties that are required on that particular occasion.

The external elements of the inventive shock absorber are conveniently made of impact resistant and wear resistant rubber or plastic material, whereas the centre bod rotected b said external elements is

conveniently made from a relatively soft rubber or plastic material which has good impact absorbing properties-

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference top exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 3 are cross~-sectional views of three di ferent embodiments of the inventive shock absorber, showing the absorber mounted on a supportive surface.

The shock absorber 1 illustrated in Figure 1 includes an external element 10 and a centre element 20 in the form of a shock absorbing bar. In cross-section, the external element has a generally rectangular shape and includes an upper side 11, a lower side 12 and two end sides 13 and 14. The external element 10 also includes a generally rectangular aperture 15 which accommodates the bar 20 and also a fastener device shown generally at 70. The lower side 12 includes a longitudinally extending slot 16 which communicates with the aperture 15. Oblique abutment surfaces 17 and 18 which coact with tbe fastener device 70 are provided on the lower aperture defining surface on each side of the slot 16.

The outer contours or cross-sectional shape of the shock absorbing bar 20 are/is adapted to conform essentially with the cross-sectional shape of the aperture 15, although while bearing in mind the space requirement of the fastener device 70 in the aperture 15. The bar 20 may be provided with external recesses 21-26 in order to facilitate deformation of the bar 20 when, the upper surface 11 of the shock absorber is subjected to shock generating loads. The shock absorb¬ ing bar 20 is preferably undersized with regard to the dimensions of the space in which the bar is accommo¬ dated,, so that the bar can be readily fitted into the

The fastener device 70 of the illustrated embodiment has the form of a slightly angled attachment bar 71 which includes a requisite number of screw-threaded rods 72. The angle defined by the attachment bar 71 coincides essentially with the angle defined by the two abutment surfaces 17 and 18.

In use, a number of inventive shock absorbers 1 are mounted on a supportive surface 10o which is to be protected against impact shocks, said fastener devices 70 being fastened to the supportive surface 100 with the aid of nuts 73 for instance. When fitting the shock absorbers to the supportive surface 100, it is preferred to place the absorbers 1 so that the side surfaces 13 and 14 of neighbouring absorbers are in contact with one another or close together.

The shock absorber 1'shown in Figure 2 differs from the shock absorber l shown in Figure l by virtue of a separate aperture 31 for accommodation of the fastener device 70, this separate aperture 31 also having oblique abutment surfaces, here referenced 32 and 33, for coaction with the attachment bar 71. The aperture which accommodates the shock absorbing bar 20'is referenced 34. The external element 10'of this embodi¬ ment has a cross-piece 35 which extends between the two apertures 34 and 31 such as to improve the stabil¬ ity of the shock absorber 1 ' . The shock absorbing bar 20'of this embodiment is also provided with a number of external recesses. It is also suitable in some instances to provide the upper surface of the shock absorber 1' with a layer 40 of material that has good sliding properties. The provision of such a slide or glide layer 40 may be appropriate when the shock absorbers are intended to afford an impact absorbing support beneath a conveyor belt in a belt loading zone, with the underside of the belt sliding on the slide surface 40.

In the case of the Figure 3 embodiment of the inven¬ tive shock absorber 1" the aperture provided in the external element 10" for accommodating the shock absorbing bars 20" is divided into two spaces 50 and 51 and in addition to the a oresaid cross-piece 52 also includes a vertical partition wall 53, as seen in the drawing. The shock absorbing bars 20" of this embodiment are also provided with a respective inter¬ nal cavity 60.

The external elements and the shock absorbing bars are conveniently extruded from a suitable rubber or plas¬ tic material and their length measurements and other dimensions are dependent on the intended use of the shock absorber. The various apertures, recesses and cavities thus extend along tbe full length of the external elements and shock absorbing bars.

It will be understood that the size and shape of the apertures provided in the external elements for accom¬ modation of the shock absorbing bars can be varied, as can also the number of apertures. This also applies to the number, sbape and size of the shock absorbing bars.

It will also be understood that the recesses and cavities provided in the shock absorbing bars can also be varied within wide limits, as can also the dimen¬ sions of said bars in relation to the apertures in the external elements. Furthermore, more than one shock absorbing bar may be placed in a common aperture, if so desired.

As will be understood, the external elements and the shock absorbing bars may be made of any one of a large number of materials, while bearing in mind that the shock absorbing bars will preferably be made of a material that has good shock absorbing properties.

The configuration of the fastener device 70 and the aperture that accommodates said device may also vary within wide limits, although it will be understood that the illustrated and described fastener device will enable a damaged sock absorber to be replaced very simply.

Furthermore, tbe upper side 11 of the external element 10 may be arched or curved slightly, so that when seen in cross-section the shock absorber 1 will have a greater height extension at its centre or middle than at its outer side edges. The shock absorbing bars and their accommodating apertures may also be adapted to this curvature of said upper side, if so desired.

Finally, it will be understood that the impact absorb¬ ing properties of the inventive snock absorber can be changed to suit current requirements, by simply chang¬ ing the shock absorbing bars. In difficult cases, an optimal shock absorber for the work concerned can be arrived at by experimentation.

The invention is not therefore restricted to the described and illustrated embodiments tbereof, since modi ications and changes can be made without digress¬ ing from the concept of the invention.