Damping coefficient-regulating inductive heating systems and isolator assemblies including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10451139-B2
Application number	US-201715826989-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

Damping coefficient-regulating inductive heating systems are provided, as are isolator assemblies containing such inductive heating systems. In embodiments, the isolator assembly includes a damper coefficient-regulating inductive heating system and at least one isolator, which contains a hydraulic damper fillable with a damping fluid. The damper coefficient-regulating inductive heating system includes, in turn, an inductive heating device, a controller, and a sensor for monitoring data indicative of damping fluid temperature. The inductive heating device is positioned around a periphery of the hydraulic damper, such as the outer periphery of the damper, in a non-contacting relationship. During isolator operation, the controller receives data from the sensor and, in response thereto, controls the inductive heating device to selectively generate a varying magnetic field to induce heating of one or more damper components, such as metal bellows, in contact with the damping fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An isolator assembly, comprising:
an isolator having a hydraulic damper fillable with a damping fluid, the isolator comprising:
first and second isolator end portions, which are spaced along a working axis of the isolator; and
a main spring coupled in parallel with the hydraulic damper between the first and second isolator end portions; and

a damping coefficient-regulating inductive heating system, comprising:
a sensor configured to monitor data indicative of a damping fluid temperature;
an inductive heating device positioned around a periphery of the hydraulic damper in a non-contacting relationship, the inductive heating device circumscribing at least a portion of the main spring; and
a controller operably coupled to the inductive heating device and the sensor, the controller configured to receive the data from the sensor and, in response thereto, control the inductive heating device to selectively apply inductive input energy to the hydraulic damper to heat the damping fluid contained therein.

2. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein hydraulic damper comprises a first damping fluid-contacting component, which is composed of a first material susceptible to induction heating and which contacts the damping fluid when the hydraulic damper is filled therewith; and
wherein the inductive heating device, when energized, is configured generate a varying magnetic field in which the hydraulic damper is immersed to inductively heat the first damping fluid-contacting component and further heat the damping fluid in contact therewith.

3. The isolator assembly of claim 2 wherein the first damping fluid-contacting component comprises a metal bellows.

4. The isolator assembly of claim 2 wherein the isolator further comprises:
opposing isolator end portions spaced along a working axis of the isolator; and
a main spring mechanically coupled between the opposing isolator end portions in parallel with the hydraulic damper, at least a portion of the main spring located between the inductive heating device and the hydraulic damper;
wherein the main spring is composed of a second material, which is less susceptible to inductive heating when immersed in the varying magnetic field than is the first material.

5. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein the inductive heating device is positioned such that the inductive input energy passes through the main spring prior to impinging the hydraulic damper.

6. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein the isolator further comprises a tuning spring mechanically coupled between the first and second isolator end portions in parallel with the main spring and in series with the hydraulic damper, the inductive heating device further circumscribing at least a portion of the tuning spring.

7. The isolator assembly of claim 6 wherein the main spring, the tuning spring, the hydraulic damper, and the inductive heating shroud are substantially coaxial.

8. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein the inductive heating device comprises an inductive heating shroud including:
a generally tubular body peripherally bounding a cavity in which the isolator is received, at least in substantial part; and
an endwall portion mounted to the first end portion of the isolator.

9. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein the isolator further comprises:
a tuning spring mechanically coupled between the first and second isolator end portions in parallel with the main spring and in series with the hydraulic damper;
a first vibration transmission path extending from the first isolator end portion, through the main spring, and to the second isolator end portion, while bypassing the tuning spring, the hydraulic damper, and the inductive heating device; and
a second vibration transmission path extending from the first isolator end portion, through the hydraulic damper, through the tuning spring, and to the second isolator end portion, while bypassing the main spring and the inductive heating device.

10. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein the inductive heating device is removable from the isolator without disassembly thereof.

11. The isolator assembly of claim 1 wherein the damper coefficient-regulating inductive heating system further comprises a memory coupled to the controller and storing a predetermined temperature threshold; and
wherein the controller is configured to active the inductive heating device to maintain the damping fluid temperature above the predetermined temperature threshold stored in the memory.

12. An isolator assembly, comprising:
an isolator including a hydraulic damper fillable with a damping fluid, the hydraulic damper comprising:
first and second hydraulic chambers containing the damping fluid when the damper is filled therewith;
first and second metal bellows peripherally bounding the first and second hydraulic chambers, respectively; and
a restricted orifice through which the first and second hydraulic chambers are fluidly coupled; and

an inductive heating shroud positioned around an outer circumference of the hydraulic damper in a non-contacting relationship to form a circumferential clearance between the inductive heating shroud and the hydraulic damper, the inductive heating shroud configured to direct energy through the circumferential clearance and to the hydraulic damper in a manner heating the first and second metal bellows and the damping fluid contacted thereby.

13. The isolator assembly of claim 12 wherein the inductive heating shroud, when energized, is configured generate a varying magnetic field in which the hydraulic damper is immersed to inductively heat the first and second metal bellows.

14. The isolator assembly of claim 12 wherein the isolator further comprises:
first and second isolator end portions, which are spaced along a working axis of the isolator;
a main spring mechanically coupled between the first and second isolator end portions in parallel with the hydraulic damper;
a tuning spring mechanically coupled between the first and second isolator end portions in parallel with the main spring and in series with the hydraulic damper;
a first vibration transmission path extending from the first isolator end portion, through the main spring, and to the second isolator end portion, while bypassing the tuning spring, the hydraulic damper, and the inductive heating shroud; and
a second vibration transmission path extending from the first isolator end portion, through the hydraulic damper, through the tuning spring, and to the second isolator end portion, while bypassing the main spring and the inductive heating shroud.

15. An isolator assembly, comprising:
an isolator having a hydraulic damper fillable with a damping fluid, the isolator comprising:
a fixed damper end portion;
a floating damper end portion; and
a metal bellows between the fixed and floating damper end portions; and

a damping coefficient-regulating inductive heating system, comprising:
a sensor configured to monitor data indicative of a damping fluid temperature;
an inductive heating device positioned around a periphery of the hydraulic damper in a non-contacting relationship; and
a controller operably coupled to the inductive heating device and the sensor, the controller configured to receive the data from the sensor and, in response thereto, control the inductive heating device to selectively apply inductive input energy to the hydraulic damper to heat the damping fluid contained therein,

wherein the floating damper end portion moves along the working axis relative to the fixed damper end portion and relative to the inductive he

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Barber Tim Daniel
• Hindle Timothy
• Young Ken

Classifications

• F16F9/53

  Means for adjusting damping characteristics by varying fluid viscosity, e.g. electromagnetically {(F16F13/30 takes precedence; brakes comprising a medium with electrically or magnetically controlled friction F16D57/002; electrorheological fluids per se C10M171/001; magnetorheological fluids per se H01F1/447)} · CPC title

• F16F9/42

  Cooling arrangements · CPC title

• F16F2230/18

  Control arrangements · CPC title

• F16F9/52 Primary

  in case of change of temperature ({F16F9/003 takes precedence; } combined with external adjustment F16F9/44) · CPC title

• F16F13/007

  the damper being a fluid damper · CPC title