Resetting semi-passive stiffness damper, triggering assembly, and method of damping

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10591017-B2
Application number	US-201715463636-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Dec 14, 2012
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

A resetting semi-passive stiffness damper (RSPSD) triggering assembly and a RSPSD and method of use for damping movement of an object. Exemplary embodiments of a RSPSD triggering assembly include, for example, a rotatable disc and a spring-loaded lever arranged between the disc and a slotted channel. A sensor is provided and communicates with a bypass valve on the cylinder. A change in the direction of movement of the disc causes reciprocation of the lever in the channel, which causes the sensor to send open and close signals to the bypass valve. In some embodiments, a single disc may be replaced with two interacting discs. A RSPSD equipped with such a triggering assembly is usable to damp movement of an object of interest.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A triggering assembly for a resetting semi-passive stiffness damper (RSPSD) having a linearly-reciprocatable piston, comprising:
a rotatable disc;
a displaceable, spring-biased lever having a first end associated with the circumference of the disc and a second end movably arranged in a slotted channel; and
a sensor associated with the channel and located to detect the second end of the lever when the lever resides within a sensing range of the sensor, the sensor adapted to send open and close signals to a valve of the RSPSD;
wherein, a back-and-forth rotation of the disc will cause the first end of the lever to move along the circumference of the disc and the second end of the lever to reciprocate within the slotted channel.

2. The triggering assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slotted channel is mounted to the disc such that rotation of the disc is not transferred to the slotted channel.

3. The triggering assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the disc is a first of two discs and is rotatably fixed to one end of a rigid member;
a second disc is rotatably fixed to the other end of the rigid member, the second disc being of a smaller diameter than the first disc; and
the triggering assembly is mountable to the RSPSD such that the second disc is directly or indirectly rotatable by movement of the RSPSD piston;
wherein, a back-and-forth rotation of the second disc will cause a back-and-forth rotation of the first disc.

4. The triggering assembly of claim 3 , wherein vertical travel of the lever in the channel per linear travel distance of the RSPSD piston is defined by the formula:

y
⁢

⁢

(
t
)

=

[

L
2

-

[

R
L

⁢

sin
⁡

(

φ
o

-

x
p

⁡

(
t
)

R
p

)

]

2

-

⁢

(

L
-

⁢
d

)

]

-

[

⁢

R
L
2

-

[

R
L

⁢

sin
⁡

(

φ
o

-

x
p

⁡

(
t
)

R
p

)

]

2

-

R
L
2

-

x
o
2

]

where L is the length of the lever, R L is the radius of the first disc, φ 0 is the angle formed between the lever and a radial line of the first disc that extends to the first end of the lever, x p (t) is the distance of movement of the piston, R p is the radius of the second disc, d is the total vertical travel distance of the lever within the slotted channel, and x 0 is the distance between the slotted channel and the contact

Assignees

• Univ Ohio

Inventors

• Walsh Kenneth K

Classifications

• E04H9/0215

  involving active or passive dynamic mass damping systems · CPC title

• F16F9/3292

  Sensor arrangements · CPC title

• F16F15/02

  Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems ({F16F15/005 takes precedence } ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; {relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06}) · CPC title

• F16F2228/066

  Variable stiffness · CPC title

• E04B1/98

  against vibrations or shocks (on foundations E02D31/08); against mechanical destruction, e.g. by air-raids (against incendiary damage only E04B1/94; finishing work therefor E04F; buildings withstanding earthquake or the like, shelters, arrangements of splintercatching walls E04H9/00) · CPC title