Isolator mount for shock and vibration

• US 20050161871A1
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QorTek, Inc.
• Original Assignee: QorTek, Inc.
• Inventors: Bower, Bruce, Knowles, Gareth J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 267/140.400
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/022 characterised by the choice of material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/06 Rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/14 characterised by the particular extruding conditions, e.g. in a modified atmosphere or by using vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/14 oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2503/06 Metal powders, metal carbides or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2705/00 Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0008 Magnetic or paramagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0091 Damping, energy absorption
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/366 made of fibre-reinforced plastics, i.e. characterised by their special construction from such materials
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/371 characterised by inserts or auxiliary extension or exterior elements, e.g. for rigidification F16F1/387 takes precedence; non-embedded reinforcing elements for flexibly-walled air springs F16F9/0436
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/306 of the constrained layer type, i.e. comprising one or more constrained viscoelastic layers

Abstract

An isolator mount for the active dissipation of shocks and vibrations is presented. The invention includes at least one energy dissipating element disposed between deflectable elements so as to provide soft damping for small disturbance excitations, yet remaining sufficiently stiff to mitigate large shocks. The mount transfers mechanical energy to the dissipating element via the device structure. Dissipating element mitigates the energy in shocks and vibrations as either heat or magnetic energy. A snap-together modular embodiment enables the coupling of two or more isolators for use within a wide variety of shock and vibration applications. Quasi-static tuning of one or more mounts comprising a snap-together module facilitates an active response to changing conditions.

Claims

1. An actively passive isolator mount for shock and vibration isolation comprising:

(a) at least one damping element comprising a resilient matrix and a plurality of energy damping inclusions;

(b) an outer damping shell capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains;

(c) an inner damping bulkhead capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains, said damping element disposed between said outer damping shell and said inner damping bulkhead;

(d) a damping seal flexibly disposed and attached to said inner damping bulkhead;

(e) a pair of covers flexibly disposed and attached to said outer damping shell;

(f) an electronics module exciting said damping element in response to shock and vibration conditions; and

(g) a low-density fill sealed within a structure formed by said inner damping bulkhead, said covers, and said damping seal, said low-density fill isolating said electronics module from shock and vibration.

2. The actively passive isolator mount of claim 1, wherein said damping element dissipates mechanical energy as heat energy.

3. The actively passive isolator mount of claim 1, wherein said damping element dissipates mechanical energy as magnetic energy.

4. The actively passive isolator mount of claim 1, wherein said damping element has a plurality of randomly oriented short length fiber inclusions.

5. The actively passive isolator mount of claim 1, wherein said damping element has a plurality of short length chaff inclusions.

6. A multi-mount block for shock and vibration isolation comprising at least two actively passive isolator mounts communicatively attached so as to individually respond to load conditions.

7. A multi-mount block for shock and vibration isolation comprising at least two actively passive isolator mounts communicatively attached so as to mutually respond to load conditions.

8-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A quasi-static tunable thermoplastic composite mount capable of in-situ tuning in response to changing load conditions and vibration spectra comprising:

(a) an extruded thermoplastic having a plurality of energy damping inclusions;

(b) a magnetic field generator; and

(c) a device to measure vibrations and shocks so as to adjust said magnetic field generator in a feedback loop.