The operation in a closing direction and the operation in an opening direction of a storage rack are performed efficiently with small force. Fixed frames and a storage rack are connected by link mechanisms, and the link mechanism includes fixed-side links linked to the fixed frame and movable-side links linked to the storage rack. When a position of one ends of the movable-side links is located closer to one ends of the fixed-side links than a balanced point, the elastic member biases the storage rack in an open-position direction. In the open position, since the elastic member biases the storage rack in the opening direction, an open state is maintained as long as the position of the one ends of the movable-side links does not return to the change point position. Accordingly, the open position can be held by a simple structure without using electric power.

A vibration isolator, system, and method for minimizing propagation of vibrations between structures are configured to decouple axial and lateral structural modes. The vibration isolator includes an axial flexural support that provides axial compliance relative to a central axis and a lateral elastomeric support that provides lateral compliance relative to the central axis. The axial flexural support and the lateral elastomeric support provide stiffness about the central axis. The vibration isolator includes a first mount coupled to a first external structure and a second mount coupled to a second external structure. The axial flexural support is coupled to the first mount and the lateral elastomeric support is coupled to the second mount and the axial flexural support. Using an axial flexural support and a lateral elastomeric support enables tuning of the structural modes in one axis while minimizing the effects to the structural modes in the orthogonal axes.

Earth vibrators, such as servo-hydraulic vibrators, are improved to produce more output force and less distortion at very low frequencies by capturing mass from the vehicles which carry them, adding sufficient inertial mass to the reaction mass without adding much vehicle and equipment weight while also avoiding increases to the servo-hydraulic vibrator's stroke length. In particular, improvements to servo-hydraulic vibrators, at low frequencies, will couple some mass from the carrier vehicle frame and its load using non-rigid coupling only when additional mass is needed using dampers connected between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle's frame, with the added damping being applied by a control system at very low frequencies of output where the vibrator is otherwise unable to produce force equal to its hold-weight.

The dynamic vibration damping system for a building, comprises damping units inserted in housings located in the building façades, or slabs, or partition walls. The damping units comprise a swinging mass (2) sliding horizontally in opposite directions on a swinging plane parallel to the façade or to the slab or to the partition wall when the building vibrates, horizontal springs (3) to absorb the energy generated by the movements of the swinging mass (2), and dampers (4) to damp movements of the swinging mass (2).

A friction assist side bearing assembly for a truck assembly of a rail vehicle includes a first friction member, a second friction member that opposes the first friction member, and a cap coupled to the first friction member and the second friction member. The cap is configured to contact a portion of a car body coupled to the truck assembly.

A vehicle has a body, a high-voltage accumulator that is mounted on the body by fastening elements, and at least one central connector which differs from the fastening elements and is designed to support the body on the high-voltage accumulator. The central connector is in the form of a hydraulic bearing that extends between the body and the high-voltage accumulator.

A low-profile shock isolating payload mounting assembly comprises a first mount, a second mount, and an isolator. The second mount is movable relative to the first mount and comprises a riser comprising an inclined surface. The isolator comprises an inner frame and an outer frame. The inner frame couples to the first mount and comprises a platform and a leg extending from the platform. The leg is inclined to be complementary to the inclined surface of the second mount. The outer frame couples to the second mount and comprises an opening for accessing the platform of the inner frame. The rail is inclined so as to be complementary to the leg to capture the leg between the rail of the outer frame and the inclined surface of the second mount. The isolator operates to dampen vibrations and shocks propagating between the first and second mounts.

A method and an apparatus for isolating a vibration of a positioning device are provided. The apparatus includes a base plate for the positioning device, at least one active bearing element for bearing the base plate on/at a foundation and at least one evaluation and control device. The apparatus includes at least one means for determining a foundation movement-dependent quantity, wherein the active bearing element is controllable by the at least one control and evaluation device on the basis of the foundation movement-dependent quantity.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut includes receiving, by a controller, primary chamber temperature and pressure sensor readings, secondary chamber pressure and temperature sensor readings, and a shock strut stroke sensor reading, determining, by the controller, a shock strut stroke at which a secondary chamber is activated, calculating, by the controller, a volume of oil in an oil chamber of the shock strut, a primary chamber gas volume of, a number of moles of gas in, and a volume of oil leaked into, a primary gas chamber of the shock strut, a secondary chamber gas volume in, a volume of oil leaked into, and a number of moles of gas in, the secondary chamber, based upon at least one of the secondary chamber pressure sensor reading, and the secondary chamber temperature sensor reading.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut includes receiving, by a controller, a primary chamber temperature sensor reading, a primary chamber pressure sensor reading, and a shock strut stroke sensor reading, calculating, by the controller, a secondary chamber nominal pressure based upon the primary chamber temperature sensor reading, determining, by the controller, a shock strut stroke associated with the secondary chamber nominal pressure, calculating, by the controller, a volume of oil in an oil chamber, a volume of gas in a primary gas chamber, a number of moles of gas in the primary gas chamber, a volume of oil leaked into the primary gas chamber, a volume of gas in a secondary chamber, and a number of moles of gas in the secondary chamber.