Air-film vibration damping apparatus for windows

• US 8,851,423 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• 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:
  US13/889,511
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 244/129.3, 428/34, 296/96.14, 181/207, 521/713, 522/045.93, 527/861.2, 52/1
• US Class Current: 244/129.3
• 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 said first and second window structures are substantially parallel to one another;

wherein said first window structure comprises a first grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said first grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a first space between said first grouping of two separate layers of material of said first window structure in which said first space includes a first gaseous material;

wherein said second window structure comprises a second grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said second grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a third distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said second grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a second space between said second grouping of two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said second space includes a second gaseous material;

wherein said second distance is less than said first distance, said third distance is less than said first distance, said second distance is of a size that provides air-film vibration damping for said first window structure; and

said third distance is of a size that provides air-film vibration damping for said second window structure; and

wherein at least one of said first and second window structures exhibits an opening that extends completely therethrough, used for pressure equalization.

2. 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 said first and second window structures are substantially parallel to one another;

wherein said first window structure comprises a first grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said first grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a first space between said first grouping of two separate layers of material of said first window structure in which said first space includes a first gaseous material;

wherein said second window structure comprises a second grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said second grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a third distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said second grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a second space between said second grouping of two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said second space includes a second gaseous material;

wherein said first gaseous material is used as a vibration damping medium;

wherein said second gaseous material is used as a vibration damping medium; and

wherein;

(a) said second distance is significantly less than said first distance, (b) said third distance is significantly less than said first distance, (c) said second distance is of a size that provides air-film vibration damping for said first window structure by causing said first gaseous material to cyclically flow within said first space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said first grouping of two separate layers of material; and

(d) said third distance is of a size that provides air-film vibration damping for said second window structure by causing said second gaseous material to cyclically flow within said second space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said second grouping of two separate layers of material; and

wherein at least one of said first and second window structures exhibits an opening that extends completely therethrough, used for pressure equalization.

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

(a) providing a first window structure comprising a first grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said first grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a first space between said first grouping of two separate layers of material of said first window structure in which said first space includes a first gaseous material;

(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 a second grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said second grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a third distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said second grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a second space between said second grouping of two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said second space includes a second gaseous material;

(c) providing air film vibration damping between said first grouping of two separate layers for said first window structure by causing said first gaseous material to cyclically flow within said first space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said first grouping of two separate layers of material; and

(d) providing air film vibration damping between said second grouping of two separate layers for said second window structure by causing said second gaseous material to cyclically flow within said second space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said second grouping of two separate layers of material.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said cyclic pressure variations arising from surfaces of said two separate layers of material within said first space occur by way of relative transverse cyclic motion of said surfaces.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said cyclic pressure variations arising from surfaces of said two separate layers of material within said second space occur by way of relative transverse cyclic motion of said surfaces.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said first gaseous material comprises one of:

(a) air;

(b) substantially pure argon;

(c) substantially pure neon; and

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

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said second gaseous material comprises one of:

(a) air;

(b) substantially pure argon;

(c) substantially pure neon; and

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

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

pressurizing said first gaseous material.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

pressurizing said second gaseous material.

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

(a) providing a first window structure comprising a first grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said first grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a second distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said first grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a first space between said first grouping of two separate layers of material of said first window structure in which said first space includes a first gaseous material;

(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 a second grouping of two separate layers of material that are both substantially transparent at visible optical wavelengths for humans, said second grouping of two separate layers being spaced-apart from one another by a third distance in an arrangement by which at least portions of said second grouping of two separate layers are substantially parallel to one another, thereby forming a second space between said second grouping of two separate layers of material of said second window structure in which said second space includes a second gaseous material;

(c) providing air film vibration damping between said first grouping of two separate layers for said first window structure by causing said first gaseous material to cyclically flow within said first space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said first grouping of two separate layers of material; and

(d) providing air film vibration damping between said second grouping of two separate layers for said second window structure by causing said second gaseous material to cyclically flow within said second space due to cyclic pressure variations arising from movement of surfaces of said second grouping of two separate layers of material; and

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