Method and apparatus for improved vibration isolation
First Claim
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1. A vibration isolator, comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid chamber having opposing ends;
a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber;
a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston assembly comprising a piston bracket that extends laterally through an opening of the housing, and the piston assembly comprising an elastomer member disposed between the piston and the housing;
an unobstructed tuning passage extending centrally through the piston, for providing continuous fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber;
a switchable fluid path assembly in fluid communication with the fluid chamber for selectively changing a range of isolation frequencies by selectively allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber; and
at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for providing at least one additional isolation frequency to the range of isolation frequencies by allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber, both switchable fluid path assemblies functioning independent of each other between an open position and a closed position;
wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency;
wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and
wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends.
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Abstract
A vibration isolator having a housing defining a fluid chamber, piston assembly, tuning passage, and a switchable fluid path assembly for changing the isolation frequency of the vibration isolator. The piston assembly is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration tuning fluid is allowed to flow within the housing. Actuation of a valve in the switchable fluid path assembly selectively controls fluid flow within the fluid path of the switchable fluid path assembly.
57 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vibration isolator, comprising:
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a housing defining a fluid chamber having opposing ends; a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber; a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston assembly comprising a piston bracket that extends laterally through an opening of the housing, and the piston assembly comprising an elastomer member disposed between the piston and the housing; an unobstructed tuning passage extending centrally through the piston, for providing continuous fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber; a switchable fluid path assembly in fluid communication with the fluid chamber for selectively changing a range of isolation frequencies by selectively allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber; and at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for providing at least one additional isolation frequency to the range of isolation frequencies by allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber, both switchable fluid path assemblies functioning independent of each other between an open position and a closed position; wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency; wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A vibration isolator, comprising:
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a housing defining a fluid chamber having opposing ends; a fluid disposed within the isolator; a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the isolator longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston assembly comprising a piston bracket that extends laterally through an opening of the housing, and the piston assembly comprising an elastomer member disposed between the piston and the housing; an unobstructed tuning passage extending centrally through the piston, for providing continuous fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber; and a switchable fluid path assembly in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and configured to selectively change a volume of the fluid that is able to travel to and from opposing ends of the fluid chamber for selectively changing a range of isolation frequencies; and at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for providing at least one additional isolation frequency to the range of isolation frequencies by allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber, both switchable fluid path assemblies functioning independent of each other between an open position and a closed position; at least one tuning element operably associated with at least one of an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber; and an actuating piston coupled to each tuning element for amplifying the displacement of the fluid in the corresponding fluid chamber; wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency; wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of changing an isolation frequency in a vibration isolator, comprising:
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providing a housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having opposing ends that are in fluid communication by an unobstructed tuning passage; resiliently disposing a piston within the housing longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston forming the unobstructed tuning passage within the fluid chamber, the tuning passage extending centrally through the piston and located within the piston, wherein a piston bracket extends laterally through an opening of the housing and an elastomer member is disposed between the piston and the housing; providing a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber; operably associating a switchable fluid path assembly for changing the isolation frequency of the vibration isolator; operably associating at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for changing the isolation frequency of the vibration isolator, each switchable fluid path assembly independently alternating between an open position and a closed position, the switchable fluid path assemblies providing bidirectional fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber which is supplemental to the tuning passage; and selectively actuating a valve in the switchable fluid path assembly, thereby changing a selected range of isolation frequencies of the vibration isolator; wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency; wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification