Method and apparatus for improved vibration isolation
First Claim
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1. A vibration isolator, comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid chamber;
a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber;
a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing;
a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly;
at least one bracket coupled to the piston assembly for transferring forces to the piston assembly; and
an adjustable metering pin assembly configured for changing an effective diameter of the tuning passage, the metering pin assembly including a bulb portion at least partially disposed within the tuning passage, the metering pin assembly selectively translating relative to the entire housing and the piston assembly;
wherein the bulb portion is conical in shape;
wherein the tuning passage is circular in cross-section;
wherein a diameter of the tuning passage enlarges near the bulb portion of the metering pin assembly; and
wherein the metering pin assembly extends through the housing and is secured at a first end by a first bore and at a second end by a second bore.
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Abstract
A tunable vibration isolator having a housing, fluid chamber, and at least one tuning passage. A piston assembly is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration isolation fluid is allowed to flow from the fluid chambers through the tuning passage. A metering valve is actuated up and down in order to change the effective diameter of the tuning passage, resulting in a change to the isolation frequency.
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vibration isolator, comprising:
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a housing defining a fluid chamber; a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber; a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing; a tuning passage defined by the piston assembly; at least one bracket coupled to the piston assembly for transferring forces to the piston assembly; and an adjustable metering pin assembly configured for changing an effective diameter of the tuning passage, the metering pin assembly including a bulb portion at least partially disposed within the tuning passage, the metering pin assembly selectively translating relative to the entire housing and the piston assembly; wherein the bulb portion is conical in shape; wherein the tuning passage is circular in cross-section; wherein a diameter of the tuning passage enlarges near the bulb portion of the metering pin assembly; and wherein the metering pin assembly extends through the housing and is secured at a first end by a first bore and at a second end by a second bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An aircraft, comprising:
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an airframe; a pylon assembly carried by the airframe; and a vibration isolator disposed between the airframe and the pylon assembly, the vibration isolator comprising; a housing defining a fluid chamber; a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber; a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing; a resilient member for resiliently coupling the piston assembly to the housing; and an adjustable metering pin assembly coupled to the housing for changing an effective diameter of a tuning passage, a bulb portion of the metering pin assembly being disposed at least partially within the tuning passage, the metering pin assembly selectively translating relative to the entire housing and the piston assembly; wherein the bulb portion of the metering pin assembly is conical in shape; wherein the tuning passage is circular in cross-section; wherein a diameter of the tuning passage enlarges near the bulb portion of the metering pin assembly; wherein the adjustable metering pin assembly extends through the housing; and wherein the adjustable metering pin assembly is secured at a first end by a first bore and at a second end by a second bore. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A vibration isolator, comprising:
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a housing defining an upper fluid chamber and lower fluid chamber; a fluid disposed within the upper fluid chamber and the lower fluid chamber; a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing, the piston assembly defining a tuning passage between the upper fluid chamber and the lower fluid chamber; an adjustable metering pin assembly for changing an effective diameter of the tuning passage, the metering pin assembly selectively translating relative to the entire housing and the piston assembly; at least one tuning element operably associated with at least one of the upper fluid chamber and the 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 the adjustable metering pin assembly extends through the housing; wherein the adjustable metering pin assembly is secured at a first end by a first bore and at a second end by a second bore; wherein the adjustable metering pin assembly includes a bulb portion having a conical shape, the bulb portion at least partially disposed within the tuning passage; wherein the tuning passage is circular in cross-section; and wherein a diameter of the tuning passage enlarges near a bulb portion of the metering pin assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of adjusting the frequency response in a vibration isolator, comprising:
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providing a housing defining a fluid chamber; resiliently disposing a piston within the housing, the piston forming a tuning passage within the fluid chamber; operably associating an adjustable metering pin assembly with the tuning passage; and selectively actuating the adjustable metering pin assembly so as to change an effective diameter of the tuning passage, thereby adjusting the frequency response of the vibration isolator; wherein the adjustable metering pin assembly extends through the housing; wherein the adjustable metering pin assembly is secured at a first end by a first bore and at a second end by a second bore; wherein the metering pin assembly is selectively translating relative to the entire housing and the piston; wherein the tuning passage is circular in cross-section; wherein the metering pin assembly includes a bulb portion having a conical shape, the bulb portion at least partially disposed within the tuning passage; and wherein a diameter of the tuning passage enlarges near the bulb portion of the metering pin assembly.
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Specification