Breaking machine shock absorbing system

1. A breaking apparatus including:

a housing;

a striker pin having a driven end and an impact end, locatable in said housing in at least one retaining location to protrude said impact end through the housing;

a moveable mass for impacting on said driven end of the striker pin, and

a shock-absorber coupled to said retaining location,

characterised in that said shock-absorber includes at least a first and second shock-absorbing assemblies, wherein;

said first shock-absorbing assembly includes at least two elastic and at least one inelastic layer located internally within said housing about the striker pin between said retaining location and said striker pin impact end, said second shock-absorbing assembly being located internally within said housing about the striker pin between said retaining location and said striker pin driven end, both said shock-absorbing assemblies being configured to allow movement of the shock absorber parallel to, or co-axial with the striker pin longitudinal axis during use,

at least one shock-absorbing assembly is slideably retained within the housing about the striker pin,

the housing includes two or more guide elements arranged on inner walls of the housing and orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis of the striker pin, said guide elements configured to slideably engage with a complementary projection located about an elastic layer periphery.

2. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said a second shock-absorbing assembly includes at least two elastic and at least one inelastic layer.

3. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the striker pin is locatable in the housing in a retaining location by a retainer interposed between said first and second shock-absorbing assemblies located along, or parallel to, the striker pin longitudinal axis.

4. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the striker pin is attached to the breaking apparatus at a retaining location by a slideable coupling, allowing the striker pin a degree of longitudinal travel during impacting operations, and also providing, with respect to said driven end, a distal travel limit for the striker pin.

5. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said striker pin attachment to the breaking apparatus at a retaining location by said slideable coupling also provides, with respect to said driven end, a proximal travel limit for the striker pin.

6. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a retainer substantially encircles the striker pin and includes at least part of said slideable coupling and one or more retaining pins passing through the retainer body and at least partially protruding into longitudinal recesses on the breaking apparatus housing exterior or striker pin.

7. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one said elastic and/or inelastic layer is substantially annular about the striker pin longitudinal axis.

8. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said projection is a substantially rounded, or curved-tip triangular configuration, sliding within a complementary elongated shaped guide element groove.

9. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said guide elements are formed from a semi-rigid and/or at least partly flexible material.

10. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said guide elements are formed separately from each said shock absorbing assembly.

11. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said guide elements are formed from a material of greater resilience than the elastic layer.

12. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the or each projection includes a substantially concave recess at the projection apex.

13. A breaking apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said substantially concave recess is configured as a part-cylindrical section orientated with a geometric axis of revolution in the plane of the elastic layer.