Fluid-filled frequency-tunable vibration damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11619277-B2
Application number	US-201816113440-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	May 17, 2018
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A frequency-tunable vibration damper includes a first container having rigid wall regions and compliant wall regions. A second container is coupled to the first container such that a wall region of the second container includes one of the compliant wall regions. A fluid fills the first container and a gas fills the second container. A flow restrictor is included in the second container and is spaced-apart from the one of the compliant wall regions included with the second container.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A frequency-tunable vibration damper, comprising:
a first container having rigid wall regions and compliant wall regions, wherein at least a portion of said rigid wall regions is adapted to be coupled to a structure;
a second container coupled to said first container, wherein a wall region of said second container includes one of said compliant wall regions;
a liquid filling said first container;
a gas filling said second container, wherein said gas is isolated from said liquid; and
a flow restrictor included in said second container and spaced-apart from said one of said compliant wall regions, said flow restrictor defining a gas flow path between an inside of said second container and an ambient atmosphere outside of said second container.

2. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 1 , wherein said flow restrictor includes an adjustable valve.

3. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 1 , wherein said first container comprises a duct having a longitudinal axis, wherein said compliant wall regions comprise a first compliant wall region and a second compliant wall region, and wherein said first compliant wall region and said second compliant wall region are aligned along said longitudinal axis.

4. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 1 , wherein said first container comprises a plurality of interconnected ducts angularly disposed with respect to one another.

5. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 1 , wherein each of said compliant wall regions is selected from the group consisting of a bellows, a rolling diaphragm, and a spring-loaded piston.

6. A frequency-tunable vibration damper, comprising:
a first container having of at least one longitudinally-extending duct, said first container having rigid wall regions and compliant wall regions, wherein at least a portion of said rigid wall regions is adapted to be coupled to a structure;
a second container coupled to said first container, wherein a wall region of said second container includes one of said compliant wall regions;
a liquid completely filling said first container, wherein movement of said liquid causes movement of said compliant wall regions;
a gas filling said second container, wherein said gas is isolated from said liquid; and
a flow restrictor included in said second container and spaced-apart from said one of said compliant wall regions, wherein said movement of said liquid causes movement of said gas through said flow restrictor, said flow restrictor defining a gas flow path between an inside of said second container and an ambient atmosphere outside of said second container.

7. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 6 , wherein said flow restrictor comprises an adjustable valve.

8. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 6 , wherein said at least one longitudinally-extending duct comprises a single duct having a longitudinal axis, wherein said compliant wall regions comprise a first compliant wall region and a second compliant wall region, and wherein said first compliant wall region and said second compliant wall region are aligned along said longitudinal axis.

9. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 6 , wherein said at least one longitudinally-extending duct comprises a plurality of interconnected ducts angularly disposed with respect to one another.

10. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 6 , wherein each of said compliant wall regions is selected from the group consisting of a bellows, a rolling diaphragm, and a spring-loaded piston.

11. A frequency-tunable vibration damper, comprising:
a first container having rigid wall regions and compliant wall regions, wherein at least a portion of said rigid wall regions is adapted to be coupled to a structure;
a second container coupled to said first container, wherein a wall region of said second container includes one of said compliant wall regions;
a liquid completely filling said first container, wherein movement of said liquid causes movement of said compliant wall regions, said liquid being selected from the group consisting of water and mixtures that include water;
a gas filling said second container, wherein said gas is isolated from said liquid; and
a flow restrictor included in said second container and spaced-apart from said one of said compliant wall regions, said flow restrictor defining a gas flow path between an inside of said second container and an ambient atmosphere outside of said second container.

12. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 11 , wherein said flow restrictor includes an adjustable valve.

13. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 11 , wherein said first container comprises a duct having a longitudinal axis, wherein said compliant wall regions comprise a first compliant wall region and a second compliant wall region, and wherein said first compliant wall region and said second compliant wall region are aligned along said longitudinal axis.

14. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 11 , wherein said first container comprises a plurality of interconnected ducts angularly disposed with respect to one another.

15. A frequency-tunable vibration damper as in claim 11 , wherein each of said compliant wall regions is selected from the group consisting of a bellows, a rolling diaphragm, and a spring-loaded piston.

Assignees

• Nasa

Inventors

• Berry Robert E
• Lindner Jeffrey L
• Myers W Neill
• Townsend John S

Classifications

• F16F9/096

  comprising a hydropneumatic accumulator of the membrane type provided on the upper or the lower end of a damper or separately from or laterally on the damper {(F16F9/088 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16F9/081

  being of the fluid displacement type, i.e. the piston not comprising damping arrangements (F16F9/096 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16F2222/08

  Inertia · CPC title

• F16F9/065

  Expansion chamber provided on the upper or lower end of a damper, separately there from or laterally on the damper · CPC title

• F16F7/1034 Primary

  of movement of a liquid · CPC title