摘要 |
<p>An elastomeric spring (10) comprises a body (11) of elastomeric material which extends between a pair of opposed end regions (12, 13) whereby compression forces acting in a first direction (16) on said end regions are resisted by compression of the elastomeric body, the body (11) of elastomeric material being of a substantially symmetrical shape as considered in cross section about a major axis (16) of the spring extending in said first direction, and substantially hollow in the vicinity of at least one (13) of said end regions, said body (11) of elastomeric material being of progressively increasing external cross-sectional dimension over a first part (21) of the length of the body extending from a first (12) of said end regions and of progressively decreasing external cross-sectional dimension over a second part (22) of the length of the body extending to a second (13) of said end regions, a substantially inextensible reinforcement member (17) embedded in and bonded to said body (11) of elastomeric material at a position between said first and second parts (21, 22) of the length of the body, the body of elastomeric material being hollow over a distance which extends, in said first direction (16), from said at least one (13) of said end regions to beyond the position at which said reinforcement member (17) lies between the end regions (12, 13), and the body of elastomeric material being of progressively increasing external cross-sectional dimension over a part (24) of the length of the body extending from the reinforcement member (17) to said second part (22).</p> |