Torsion bar mounting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10907697-B2
Application number	US-201815959094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2018
Priority date	Apr 20, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A mounting device is disclosed, including a first torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing end portions connected by a middle portion. The mounting device further includes a second torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing end portions connected by a middle portion. The middle portions of the first and second torsion bar structures are connected. The end portions of the first torsion bar structure are configured for attachment to a vehicle, and the end portions of the second torsion bar structure are configured for attachment to an accessory. The first and second torsion bar structures are configured to decrease transmission of vibration frequencies between the vehicle and the accessory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting device, comprising:
a first torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing end portions connected by a middle portion of the first torsion bar structure, and
a second torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing end portions connected by a middle portion of the second torsion bar structure, the middle portion of the second torsion bar structure being connected to the middle portion of the first torsion bar structure, the end portions of the first torsion bar structure being configured for attachment to a vehicle, the end portions of the second torsion bar structure being configured for attachment to an accessory, the middle portions of the first and second torsion bars being separated from the vehicle and the accessory,
wherein the first torsion bar structure and the second torsion bar structure are configured to decrease transmission of vibration frequencies between the vehicle and the accessory, the first torsion bar structure having a stiffness selected to decrease transmission of a selected frequency, the selected frequency being a natural frequency of the accessory.

2. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the elongated axis of the first torsion bar structure forms an angle with the elongated axis of the second torsion bar structure.

3. The mounting device of claim 2 , wherein the elongated axis of the first torsion bar structure is orthogonal to the elongated axis of the second torsion bar structure.

4. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein each torsion bar structure has a middle portion characterized by a length and cross-sectional shape selected to minimize transmission of vibration frequencies from the vehicle to the accessory.

5. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second torsion bar structures extend from a common hub portion, the torsion bar structures and hub portion all formed from a single piece of material.

6. The mounting device of claim 5 , wherein the single piece of material comprises titanium.

7. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the opposing end portions of the first torsion bar structure are configured for connection such that the middle portion of the first torsion bar structure is spaced from the vehicle and the opposing end portions of the second torsion bar structure are configured for connection such that the middle portion of the second torsion bar structure is spaced from the accessory.

8. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second torsion bar structures are configured to act as a low pass vibration filter.

9. The mounting device of claim 1 , wherein the second torsion bar structure is configured to decrease transmission of the selected vibration frequency.

10. A mounting device, comprising:
a first torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing end portions connected by a middle portion of the first torsion bar structure,
a second torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing end portions connected by a middle portion of the second torsion bar structure, the middle portion of the second torsion bar structure being connected to the middle portion of the first torsion bar structure, the end portions of the first torsion bar structure being configured for attachment to a vehicle, the end portions of the second torsion bar structure being configured for attachment to an accessory, wherein the first torsion bar structure and the second torsion bar structure are configured to decrease transmission of vibration frequencies between the vehicle and the accessory,
wherein the opposing end portions of each torsion bar structure are enlarged relative to the respective middle portion of the respective torsion bar structure.

11. A carrying system, comprising:
a vehicle configured to travel in one or more directions,
an accessory,
a system for mounting the accessory on the vehicle including a torsion bar device having first and second elongated torsion bar members extending from a hub portion, the first elongated torsion bar member having opposing end portions configured for attachment to the vehicle, the second elongated torsion bar member having opposing end portions configured for attachment to the accessory, each torsion bar member being configured to decrease transmission of vibration frequencies between the vehicle and the accessory,
wherein the hub portion is separated from the vehicle and the accessory and the first torsion bar structure has a stiffness selected to decrease transmission of a selected frequency, the selected frequency being a natural frequency of the accessory.

12. The carrying system of claim 11 , wherein each bar member has an elongated axis, the elongated axis of the first bar member forming an angle with the elongated axis of the second bar member.

13. The carrying system of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle has a primary direction of motion, the elongated axis of the first bar member being parallel with the primary direction of motion.

14. The carrying system of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle is configured for travel on or in at least one of land, air, and space.

15. The carrying system of claim 11 , wherein each bar member has a middle portion configured to decrease transmission of vibration frequencies from the vehicle to the accessory in a particular direction.

16. The carrying system of claim 11 , wherein the opposing end portions of each bar member are configured for connection such that the hub portion is spaced from the vehicle and from the accessory.

17. A method of mounting an accessory on a vehicle, comprising:
selecting a natural frequency of the accessory,
selecting a torsion bar stiffness to decrease transmission of the selected natural frequency,
providing a torsion bar device having first and second torsion bar structures, each torsion bar structure having an elongated axis and opposing head portions connected by a middle portion, the middle portion of the second torsion bar structure being connected to the middle portion of the first torsion bar structure, and the elongated axis of the first torsion bar structure forming an angle with the elongated axis of the second torsion bar structure, wherein the first torsion bar structure has the selected torsion bar stiffness,
fastening the head portions of the first bar structure to the vehicle, and
fastening the head portions of the second bar structure to the accessory, wherein the first and second torsion bar structures are configured to decrease transmission of vibration between the vehicle and the accessory, and the middle portions of the first and second torsion bars are separated from the vehicle and the accessory.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the elongated axis of the first bar structure forms an angle with the elongated axis of the second bar structure.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first fastening step includes:
orienting the elongated axis of the first bar structure with a primary direction of motion of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second fastening step includes:
connecting the second bar structure to the accessory via an adapter plate.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Aston Richard W
• Langmack Michael John
• Martinez Jazzmin P
• Woods Emily Colleen

Classifications

• B64D47/08

  Arrangements of cameras · CPC title

• F16F1/16 Primary

  Attachments or mountings {(F16F1/145 takes precedence; mounting means for vehicle stabiliser bars B60G21/0551)} · CPC title

• B64D47/02

  Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices · CPC title

• B64C27/001

  Vibration damping devices · CPC title