Damped instrument kinematic mounts
First Claim
1. A damped instrument kinematic mount comprising:
- an instrument support means comprising a first flexural hinge integrally formed at one end thereof and a second flexural hinge integrally formed at a second end thereof;
a first damping means disposed about the first integral flexural hinge;
a second damping means disposed about the second integral flexural hinge;
wherein the first and second damping means are partial spherical dampers comprising an outer partial spherical shell concentrically arranged over an inner partial spherical shell, the outer and inner shells are secured to a relatively soft layer of viscoelastic damping material, and wherein the outer and inner shells have cylindrical extensions that connect to the instrument support means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A damped instrument kinematic mount providing novel damping features to protect instruments from damaging flight loads. The mounting scheme utilizes any number of identical strut elements to greatly reduce manufacturing complexity and costs. Improved kinematic mount performance is achieved by arranging the six strut configuration to approximately uncouple the mount suspension modes. A spherical joint damper is located at strut flexure locations and utilizes a viscoelastic damping material that deforms in shear. Alternatively, cylindrical slot mount dampers are placed at strut flexure locations. The cylindrical slot mount dampers use o-rings or washers placed within the slotted machined mount bar stock. The kinematic mounts can then be arranged in a classical truss arrangement pattern or other configuration providing desired damping characteristics.
38 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A damped instrument kinematic mount comprising:
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an instrument support means comprising a first flexural hinge integrally formed at one end thereof and a second flexural hinge integrally formed at a second end thereof; a first damping means disposed about the first integral flexural hinge; a second damping means disposed about the second integral flexural hinge;
wherein the first and second damping means are partial spherical dampers comprising an outer partial spherical shell concentrically arranged over an inner partial spherical shell, the outer and inner shells are secured to a relatively soft layer of viscoelastic damping material, and wherein the outer and inner shells have cylindrical extensions that connect to the instrument support means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14)
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12. A damped instrument kinematic mount comprising:
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an instrument support means comprising a first flexural hinge integrally formed at one end thereof and a second flexural hinge integrally formed at a second end thereof; a first damping means disposed about the first integral flexural hinge; a second damping means disposed about the second integral flexural hinge;
wherein the first and second damping means are cylindrical slot mount dampers comprising a plurality of o-rings placed within a plurality of annular slots disposed within the first and second integral flexural hinges.
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Specification