Vibration damper

• US 8,015,897 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shawn Baumgartner
• Original Assignee: Unorthodox Racing, Inc.
• Inventors: Fisher, Douglas Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard W
• Assistant Examiner(s): YABUT, DANIEL D
• Application Number:
  US11/525,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 745/744, 745/742, 745/743, 745/731.2, 745/722, 464/180, 464/89
• US Class Current: 74/574.4
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 67/06 driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/1442 with a single mass
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2055/366 with means providing resilience or vibration damping
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 55/36 Pulleys with features essential for adjustment F16H55/52
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2121 Flywheel, motion smoothing-type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2131 Damping by absorbing vibration force [via rubber, elastomeric material, etc.]

Abstract

A damper for shafts includes an elastomeric ring having a plurality of holes therethrough and an inertia ring having two portions such that the portions encapsulate the elastomeric ring and secure the elastomeric ring in a position. The inertia ring includes openings corresponding to the plurality of holes in the elastomeric ring. A first housing portion configured to receive first fasteners through a first set of openings in the elastomeric ring and the inertia ring to secure the first housing portion to a second housing portion. The first and second housing portions form a surface to receive an inner portion of the elastomeric ring such that the inertia ring floats on the elastomeric ring without the inertia ring contacting the first and second housing portions.

Claims

1. A damper for shafts, comprising:

an elastomeric ring;

an inertia ring mounted on the elastomeric ring such that the elastomeric ring secures the inertia ring in a position; and

a first housing portion engaging a second housing portion wherein the first and second housing portions form a u-channel wherein the u-channel abuts an inner portion of the elastomeric ring to maintain the inertia ring in the position such that the inertia ring floats on the elastomeric ring permitting motion in three dimensions responsive to mechanical disturbances without the inertia ring contacting the first and second housing portions.

2. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion form a hole for receiving a shaft.

3. The damper as recited in claim 2, wherein the hole through the first housing portion and the second housing portion receives an interchangeable hub for receiving the shaft.

4. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion faun a housing to receive one of a pulley and a belt.

5. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric ring includes a plurality of holes through the elastomeric ring to receive stand-offs for bolts.

6. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the u-channel is formed at an engaging portion between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

7. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the u-channel is formed such that the ring is concurrently supported by the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

8. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein first fasteners and second fasteners are each evenly spaced about the elastomeric ring and the first and second fasteners alternate in positions about the elastic ring.

9. The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the damper is configured to damp any of longitudinal deflections, torsional deflections, orbital deflections and radial deflections of a shaft through the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

10. A damper for shafts, comprising:

an elastomeric ring having a plurality of holes therethrough, each hole having a stand-off disposed therein configured to receive a fastener therethrough;

an inertia ring encapsulating the elastomeric ring and securing the elastomeric ring in a position, the inertia ring including plate portions and having openings corresponding to the stand-offs; and

a first housing portion configured to receive first fasteners through the elastomeric ring through a first set of stand-offs and through openings in the inertia ring to connect the first housing portion to a second housing portion wherein the first and second housing portions form a u-channel wherein the u-channel abuts an inner portion of the elastomeric ring to bias the inertia in the position such that the inertia ring floats on the elastomeric ring permitting motion in three dimensions responsive to mechanical disturbances without the inertia ring contacting the first and second housing portions.

11. The damper as recited in claim 10, wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion form a hole for receiving a shaft.

12. The damper as recited in claim 11, wherein the hole through the first housing portion and the second housing portion receives an interchangeable hub for receiving the shaft.

13. The damper as recited in claim 10, wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion form a housing to receive one of a pulley and a belt.

14. The damper as recited in claim 10, wherein the first fasteners to the first housing portion include bolts evenly spaced about the elastomeric ring.

15. The damper as recited in claim 10, wherein the two portions of the inertia ring are connected by second fasteners through the openings in the elastomeric ring.

16. The damper as recited in claim 15, wherein the first fasteners and second fasteners are each evenly spaced about the elastomeric ring and the first and second fasteners alternate in positions about the elastic ring.

17. The damper as recited in claim 10, wherein the damper is configured to damp any of longitudinal deflections, torsional deflections, orbital deflections and radial deflections of a shaft through the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

18. A crankshaft damper, comprising:

a polyurethane ring having a plurality of holes therethrough, each hole having a stand-off disposed therein configured to receive a fastener therethrough;

an inertia ring having two portions such that the portions encapsulate the elastomeric ring and secure the elastomeric ring in a position, the inertia ring including plate portions and having openings corresponding to the stand-offs;

a first pulley housing portion configured to receive first fasteners through a first set of stand-offs in the polyurethane ring, the first fasteners passing through the polyurethane ring and openings in the inertia ring, the first pulley housing portion having an outside diameter configured to receive a belt; and

a second pulley housing portion configured to receive the first fasteners and connect the first and second pulley housings, the second pulley housing portion having an outside diameter configured to receive a belt, wherein the first and second pulley housing portions form a channel to receive an inner portion of the elastomeric ring, the channel abutting the inner portion against a bottom and sides of the channel, the first pulley housing portion and the second pulley housing portion further forming a hole which receives an interchangeable hub for receiving a shaft, wherein the inertia ring floats on the elastomeric ring without the inertia ring contacting the first and second housing portions such that the polyurethane ring is configured to damp any of longitudinal deflections, torsional deflections, orbital deflections and radial deflections of the shaft.

19. The damper as recited in claim 18, wherein the first fasteners through the first set of stand-offs include bolts evenly spaced about the elastomeric ring.

20. The damper as recited in claim 19, wherein the first fasteners and second fasteners are each evenly spaced about the elastomeric ring and the first and second fasteners alternate in positions about the elastic ring.