Bellows with spring anti-gravity device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting a second mass with respect to a first mass, the apparatus comprising:
- a vibration attenuation device including at least one bellows oriented along a support axis, the at least one bellows connected between the first mass and the second mass and having an interior volume pressurized with a fluid to an internal fluid pressure which is greater than a zero-stiffness pressure such that the vibration attenuation device exhibits a negative lateral stiffness; and
a positive stiffness device coupled between the first mass and the second mass, the positive stiffness device having a positive lateral stiffness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and methods of attenuating vibration, particularly for modern stepper machines and other types of vibration sensitive equipment. The attenuation system exhibits good vibration attenuation in the axial or support direction, and exhibits low or substantially zero lateral stiffness to prevent transmission of any vibrations between any of various portions of the machine. In one embodiment, an apparatus for attenuating transmission of lateral vibration between a first mass and a second mass comprises a vibration attenuation device including at least one bellows oriented along a support axis. The at least one bellows is connected between the first mass and the second mass and has an interior volume pressurized with a fluid to an internal fluid pressure which is greater than a zero-stiffness pressure such that the vibration attenuation device exhibits a negative lateral stiffness. A positive stiffness device is coupled between the first mass and the second mass. The positive stiffness device has a positive lateral stiffness which may be substantially equal to or greater than the negative lateral stiffness in magnitude.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting a second mass with respect to a first mass, the apparatus comprising:
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a vibration attenuation device including at least one bellows oriented along a support axis, the at least one bellows connected between the first mass and the second mass and having an interior volume pressurized with a fluid to an internal fluid pressure which is greater than a zero-stiffness pressure such that the vibration attenuation device exhibits a negative lateral stiffness; and
a positive stiffness device coupled between the first mass and the second mass, the positive stiffness device having a positive lateral stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for supporting a second object with respect to a first object, the apparatus comprising:
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a vibration attenuation device coupled between the first object and the second object to support the second object with respect to the first object along a support axis, the vibration attenuation device having a positive axial stiffness along the support axis and a negative lateral stiffness perpendicular to the support axis; and
a positive stiffness device coupled between the first object and the second object, the positive stiffness device having a positive lateral stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of supporting a second mass with respect to a first mass, the method comprising:
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connecting a vibration attenuation device including at least one bellows between the first mass and the second mass, the bellows oriented along a support axis and having an interior volume;
pressurizing the interior volume of the bellows with a fluid to an internal fluid pressure which is greater than a zero-stiffness pressure such that the vibration attenuation device exhibits a negative lateral stiffness; and
coupling a positive stiffness device between the first mass and the second mass, the positive stiffness device having a positive lateral stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification