Isolators including magnetically-assisted thermal compensation devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9188189-B2
Application number	US-201313921483-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 19, 2013
Priority date	Jun 19, 2013
Publication date	Nov 17, 2015
Grant date	Nov 17, 2015

Abstract

Embodiments of isolators including magnetically-assisted thermal compensation devices are provided, as are embodiments of magnetically-assisted thermal compensation devices. In one embodiment, the isolator includes a damper assembly and a magnetically-assisted thermal compensator (“TC”). The magnetically-assisted TC includes, in turn, a TC chamber fluidly coupled to the damper assembly and configured to exchange damping fluid therewith. A TC piston is slidably disposed within the TC chamber and exposed to damping fluid when the TC chamber is filled therewith. A TC bellows is sealingly coupled to the TC piston and exerts a resilient bias force thereon. A magnetic preload system is further coupled to the TC piston and exerts a magnetic bias force thereon, which combines with the resilient bias force provided by the TC bellows to impart the magnetically-assisted TC with a predetermined pressure profile over the operative temperature range of the isolator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An isolator having an operative temperature range, the isolator comprising:
a damper assembly;
a magnetically-assisted thermal compensator (“TC”), comprising:
a TC chamber fluidly coupled to the damper assembly and configured to exchange damping fluid therewith;
a TC piston slidably disposed within the TC chamber and exposed to damping fluid when the TC chamber is filled therewith;
a TC bellows sealingly coupled to the TC piston and exerting a resilient bias force thereon; and
a magnetic preload system coupled to the TC piston and configured to exert a magnetic bias force thereon, which combines with the resilient bias force provided by the TC bellows to impart the magnetically-assisted TC with a predetermined pressure profile over the operative temperature range of the isolator; and

an isolator housing containing the TC chamber;
wherein magnetic preload system comprises:
a first permanent magnet coupled to the TC piston and configured to move therewith during operation of the isolator; and
a second permanent magnet fixedly coupled to the isolator housing.

2. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the TC bellows exerts a resilient bias force on the TC piston urging the TC piston toward an extended position, and wherein the magnetic preload system exerts a complementary magnetic bias force on the TC piston also urging the TC piston toward the extended position.

3. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the magnetically-assisted TC further comprises a stem extending from the TC piston through the TC bellows, the first permanent magnet mounted to the stem.

4. The isolator of claim 3 wherein the magnetic preload system further comprises a non-ferromagnetic attachment affixing the first permanent magnet to an end portion of the stem opposite the TC piston.

5. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the first permanent magnet is positioned so as to be attracted to the second permanent magnet to produce the magnetic bias force urging the TC piston toward the extended position.

6. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the first and second permanent magnets are spaced apart by an axial gap.

7. The isolator of claim 6 wherein the magnetically-assisted TC further comprises a threaded interface enabling the width of the axial gap between the first and second permanent magnets to be adjusted.

8. The isolator of claim 1 further comprising a bellows cap sealingly coupled to the TC bellows, the second permanent magnet mounted to the bellows cap.

9. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the TC piston is movable between a refracted position and an extended position, wherein the TC bellows provides a resilient preload force that increases as the TC piston moves from the extended position toward the retracted position, and wherein the magnetic preload system provides a magnetic bias force that decreases as the TC piston moves from the extended position toward the retracted position.

10. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the isolator has at least one load path therethrough, and wherein the magnetic preload system is positioned outside of the at least one load path.

11. The isolator of claim 1 wherein the isolator is a three parameter isolator.

12. An isolator providing a damping profile having an average slope over an operative temperature range of the isolator, the isolator comprising:
a damper assembly; and
a magnetically-assisted thermal compensator (“TC”), comprising:
a TC piston movable between a first position and a second position;
a TC bellows sealingly coupled to the TC piston and exerting a resilient bias force thereon urging the TC piston toward the second position, the resilient bias force decreasing as the TC piston moves from the first position toward the second position; and
a first permanent magnet fixedly coupled to the TC piston and exerting a magnetic bias force thereon urging the TC piston toward the second position, the magnetic bias force increasing as the TC piston moves from the first position toward the second position at least partially compensating for the decreasing resilient bias force such that the average slope of the damping profile is reduced over the operative temperature range of the isolator.

13. The isolator of claim 12 wherein the TC piston and TC bellows define a variable-volume chamber in fluid communication with the damper assembly, and wherein volume of the variable-volume chamber is greater when the TC piston is in the first position than when the TC piston is in the second position.

14. The isolator of claim 12 wherein the isolator further comprises an isolator housing in which the magnetically-assisted TC is disposed, and wherein the magnetically-assisted TC further comprises a second permanent magnet position affixed to the isolator housing at a position whereat the second permanent magnet exerts an attractive force on the first permanent magnet.

15. The isolator of claim 14 wherein the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet are separated by an axial gap when the TC piston resides in the first position, and wherein the width of the axial gap increases as the TC piston moves from the first position toward the second position.

16. A magnetically-assisted thermal compensator (“TC”) utilized in conjunction with a fluid-containing device, the magnetically-assisted TC comprising:
a TC chamber configured to be filled with a damping fluid;
a TC piston slidably disposed within the TC chamber and exposed to damping fluid when the TC chamber is filled therewith;
a TC bellows sealingly coupled to the TC piston and exerting a resilient bias force thereon; and
a magnetic preload system coupled to the TC piston and configured to exert a magnetic bias force thereon, which combines with the resilient bias force provided by the TC bellows to impart the magnetically-assisted TC with a predetermined pressure profile over a given temperature range;
wherein the resilient bias force increases while the magnetic bias force decreases when the TC piston moves in a first direction, and wherein the resilient bias force decreases while the magnetic bias force increases when the TC piston moves in a second direction opposite the first direction.

17. The magnetically-assisted TC of claim 16 wherein the TC bellows exerts a resilient bias force on the TC piston urging the TC piston toward an extended position, and wherein the magnetic preload system exerts a complementary magnetic bias force urging the TC piston toward the extended position.

18. The magnetically-assisted TC of claim 16 further comprising a stationary structure coupled to the TC piston via the TC bellows, and wherein magnetic preload system further comprises:
a first permanent magnet fixedly coupled to the TC piston;
a second permanent magnet fixedly coupled to the stationary structure and exerting an attractive force on the first magnet urging the TC piston toward an extended position; and
an air gap separating the first and second permanent magnet, the width of the air gap increasing as the TC piston moves toward the extended position.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Goold Ryan
• Smith Ben
• Buchele Paul

Classifications

• F16F15/03

  using {magnetic or} electromagnetic means (F16F9/53, {F16F15/005} take precedence) · CPC title

• F16F13/00

  Units comprising springs of the non-fluid type as well as vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or fluid springs (F16F5/00, {F16F6/00, F16F9/003} take precedence) · CPC title

• F16F9/52 Primary

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