Air-film vibration damping apparatus for windows
First Claim
1. A vibration damping system, comprising:
- a first window structure;
a second window structure that is spaced-apart from said first window structure by a first distance, in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first and second window structures are substantially parallel to one another;
wherein said first window structure comprises a single layer of material that is substantially transparent at optical wavelengths for humans;
wherein said second window structure comprises two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a space between said two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said space includes a gaseous material;
wherein said gaseous material is used as a vibration damping medium; and
wherein said second distance is less than about 0.016 inches (0.41 mm), and said second distance is of a size that provides air-film vibration damping for said second window structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved vibration damping apparatus is provided for use with window structures, including windows used in vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft. The vibration damping system includes at least two separate layers of solid material that are typically substantially clear at visible wavelengths, in which the two layers are spaced-apart by a predetermined distance to form a space or gap therebetween. This gap will be of a size and shape to enhance vibration damping when it is filled with a gaseous compound, such as air. The air-film vibration damping system created by the above structure can be applied to an external pane of a window structure, or to the interior pane of a window structure, or perhaps to both an exterior pane and an interior pane of the same window structure, if desired.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A vibration damping system, comprising:
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a first window structure; a second window structure that is spaced-apart from said first window structure by a first distance, in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first and second window structures are substantially parallel to one another; wherein said first window structure comprises a single layer of material that is substantially transparent at optical wavelengths for humans; wherein said second window structure comprises two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a space between said two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said space includes a gaseous material; wherein said gaseous material is used as a vibration damping medium; and wherein said second distance is less than about 0.016 inches (0.41 mm), and said second distance is of a size that provides air-film vibration damping for said second window structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for dampening vibrations in a structure, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a first window structure of a material that is substantially transparent at optical wavelengths for humans; (b) providing a second window structure that is spaced-apart from said first window structure by a first distance, in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first and second window structures are substantially parallel to one another, said second window structure comprising two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a space between said two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said space includes a gaseous material; and (c) providing air film vibration damping between said two separate layers of material by causing said gaseous material to cyclically flow within said space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said two separate layers of material. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification