In some embodiments, a vibration isolator comprises a housing having a base portion and a wall portion. A plurality of bearings are disposed within the housing. The bearings are arranged in a configuration comprising a plurality of layers. A first layer comprises a bearing and a second layer comprises a plurality of bearings. Each bearing in the second layer contacts the wall portion of the housing. Each bearing comprises a plurality of contact points in contact with another portion of the vibration isolator, and no two contact points of a bearing are diametrically opposed.

Provided is a mechanical device to be connected in series or in parallel to a structure to be protected from dynamic stresses so as to vary mechanical features of the system and control the general dynamic behavior. The mechanical device is a multi-purpose rheological element employable in various applications including vibration isolation, vibration absorption, shock absorption, energy dissipation, and other applications based on rheological force-movement behavior.

A system for reducing the effect of a force includes a panel having a first side and a second side; a plurality of contact members disposed around a perimeter of the panel first side; and a biasing member positioned around a perimeter of the panel second side. The perimeter of the panel second side generally corresponds to the perimeter of the panel first side. The biasing member biases the contact members toward the panel first side. In a use configuration, a force received by the panel second side is at least partially transferred to the contact members causing at least one of the contact members to temporarily lose contact with the panel first side, whereby the return of the contact member into contact with the panel first side imparts a second force onto the panel first side, the second force being less than the force transferred to the contact members.

A damping device for a shaft in rotation around an axis of rotation parallel to a direction (A). The said damping device includes a support, a plate, a collar, and clamping means. The said support is stationary and is provided with a first opening, with the said plate being provided with a second opening and the said collar being provided with a third opening. The said shaft passes simultaneously through the said first, second, and third openings with, respectively, a first radial gap, a second radial gap, and a third radial gap, with the said third radial gap being smaller than the said first and second radial gaps. The said collar is movable with respect to the said support in a plane perpendicular to the said direction (A), with the said clamping means pressing the said plate against the said collar and the said collar against the said support.

A system for reducing the effect of a force includes a panel having a first side and a second side; a plurality of contact members disposed around a perimeter of the panel first side; and a biasing member positioned around a perimeter of the panel second side. The perimeter of the panel second side generally corresponds to the perimeter of the panel first side. The biasing member biases the contact members toward the panel first side. In a use configuration, a force received by the panel second side is at least partially transferred to the contact members causing at least one of the contact members to temporarily lose contact with the panel first side, whereby the return of the contact member into contact with the panel first side imparts a second force onto the panel first side, the second force being less than the force transferred to the contact members.

An energy dissipation device is provided for creating a torturous energy flow path between a piece of equipment and a shelf that supports the piece of equipment. The energy dissipation includes a cover plate from which extends an externally threaded extension, and includes a cone component. The cone component has a base wall from which extends a cone having a tip. Together the base wall and the surrounding sidewall define an energy dissipation component recess. An energy dissipation component made of an energy dissipation material is disposed in the energy dissipation component recess. In another preferred embodiment there is a multiple piece energy dissipation device that has a cone assembly. Double, triple layer, and spaced triple layer energy dissipation devices are provided in other embodiments. In another preferred embodiment there is an adjustable energy dissipation device and a single layer adjustable energy dissipation device.

The invention is an isolator comprising an upper panel 31 and a lower panel 32 having an upper rolling recesses 33, 34 and a ball operator 35 provided between the upper rolling recess 33 and the lower rolling recess 34, and the lower rolling recess 34 includes a central rolling sur- face 36, a peak-line 37 along the upper edge of the central rolling surface 36, an inflected rolling surface 38 formed around the peak-line 37 and a disengagement prevention wall 39.

A vehicle includes a conveyor device in which a plurality of rotating bodies whose rotation directions, torques, and angles are controlled is arranged to form a plane and provided such that a freight is loaded on the plurality of rotating bodies, and a controller configured to control the rotation directions, torques, and angles of the plurality of rotating bodies to suppress shaking or movement of the freight loaded on the conveyor device.

The present disclosure relates to an energy dissipation device and system, comprising a hollow cylinder adapted to be filled with solid balls, and a longitudinal member/shaft having short rods protruding radially therefrom. The shaft having rods is movably disposed of within the hollow member and solid balls are filled and secured in the cylinder thereafter, such that two ends of the longitudinal member extend outside of the hollow member, and the rods and solid balls remain within the hollow cylinder. The ends of the device may be configured with structures or equipment. The movement of the shaft along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder, upon receiving an energy impact in an event of seismic activity, wind loads, and/or man-made vibrations, results in friction between the solid balls and the rods of the shaft, which facilitates dissipation of the received energy.

A thermal management system (10) for a vehicle includes a coolant module (100) of a coolant circuit and a refrigerant module (200) of a refrigerant circuit. The thermal management system (10) also includes a support structure (14) for receiving the coolant module (100) and the refrigerant module (200). The support structure (14) is configured to attach the thermal management system (10) to a vehicle. The support structure (14) comprises at least one first vibration decoupling element (20a, 20b) for main vibration decoupling in a first spatial direction (x.sub.1, x.sub.2) and at least one second vibration decoupling element (22a, 22b) for main vibration decoupling in a second spatial direction (y.sub.1, y.sub.2).