Air-film vibration damping apparatus for windows

• US 8,439,154 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 05/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Damping Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Damping Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Lewis, Thomas M., Parin, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/331,999
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 522/045.93, 527/861.1, 527/861.2, 527/861.3, 521/712, 521/713, 244/129.3, 181/207, 181/208, 296/96.14
• US Class Current: 181/207
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1484 Windows B64C1/1492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1492 Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen

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.

Claims

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.

2. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second window structures exhibits an opening that extends completely therethrough, used for pressure equalization.

3. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second window structures exhibits a first area that is not substantially transparent at optical wavelengths for humans, and exhibits a second area that is substantially transparent at optical wavelengths for humans.

4. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 3, wherein said first area extends along at least a portion of an outer perimeter of said at least one of said first and second window structures, and said first area is used for mounting said at least one of said first and second window structures to a support structure that essentially hides said first area from view.

5. The vibration damping system as recited in claim 4, wherein said support structure comprises a portion of one of:

(a) a fuselage of an aircraft;

(b) a hull of a spacecraft;

(c) a body of a vehicle; and

(d) a hull of a vessel.

6. A method for dampening vibrations in a structure, said method comprising:

(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.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said cyclic pressure variations arising from surfaces of said two separate layers of material occur by way of relative transverse cyclic motion of said surfaces.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said gaseous material comprises one of:

(a) air;

(b) substantially pure argon;

(c) substantially pure neon; and

(d) a controlled mixture of gases that includes at least oxygen.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

pressurizing said gaseous material.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of:

equalizing pressure between said space and an interior environment by providing an opening that extends completely through at least one of said two separate layers of the second window structure.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein:

said two separate layers of material both exhibit a substantially uniform thickness over their entire area.