Motion-damping systems between base structure and an attached component and methods including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9509204-B2
Application number	US-201314104992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2013
Priority date	Dec 12, 2013
Publication date	Nov 29, 2016
Grant date	Nov 29, 2016

Abstract

Motion-damping systems and methods that include motion-damping systems are disclosed herein. The motion-damping systems include a flexible body that is configured to extend within a gap that is defined between a base structure and an attached component. The motion-damping systems further include a magnetic assembly and a ferromagnetic body. One of the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body is located within the flexible body and the other of the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body is operatively affixed to a selected one of the base structure and the attached component. The magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body are oriented such that a magnetic force therebetween retains the flexible body in physical contact with the selected one of the base structure and the attached component. The methods include methods of installing and/or operating the motion-dampening systems.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mechanical system, comprising:
a base structure;
an attached component, wherein:
(a) the attached component is spaced-apart from the base structure to define a gap therebetween;
(b) the attached component is attached to the base structure; and
(c) the attached component is configured to move relative to the base structure; and
a motion-damping system configured to damp relative motion between the base structure and the attached component, wherein the motion-damping system includes:
(a) a flexible body that extends within the gap, is in physical contact with the base structure and with the attached component, and defines an enclosed volume;
(b) a magnetic assembly; and
(c) a ferromagnetic body, wherein:
(i) one of the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body is located within the enclosed volume of the flexible body;
(ii) the other of the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body is operatively affixed to a selected one of the base structure and the attached component; and
(iii) the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body are oriented such that a magnetic force between the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body retains the flexible body in physical contact with the selected one of the base structure and the attached component.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic assembly is a first magnetic assembly and the motion-damping system further includes a second magnetic assembly, wherein the ferromagnetic body is a first ferromagnetic body and the motion-damping system further includes a second ferromagnetic body, wherein the first magnetic assembly and the first ferromagnetic body are oriented such that a first magnetic force between the first magnetic assembly and the first ferromagnetic body retains the flexible body in contact with the base structure, and further wherein the second magnetic assembly and the second ferromagnetic body are oriented such that a second magnetic force between the second magnetic assembly and the second ferromagnetic body retains the flexible body in contact with the attached component.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the first magnetic assembly is operatively affixed to the base structure, wherein the second magnetic assembly is operatively affixed to the attached component, wherein the first ferromagnetic body is located within the enclosed volume of the flexible body, and further wherein the second ferromagnetic body is located within the enclosed volume of the flexible body and spaced apart from the first ferromagnetic body.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic assembly is a first magnetic assembly and the motion-damping system further includes a second magnetic assembly and an electrically conductive body, wherein the first magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body are oriented such that a magnetic force between the first magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body retains the flexible body in contact with the selected one of the base structure and the attached component, and further wherein the second magnetic assembly and the electrically conductive body are oriented such that an eddy current generated within the electrically conductive body by relative motion between the electrically conductive body and the second magnetic assembly resists motion of the flexible body relative to the other of the base structure and the attached component.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible body includes an elongate flexible body that defines a longitudinal axis that is at least substantially parallel to the gap.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the enclosed volume of the flexible body contains a viscoelastic material that is chemically different from a flexible material that defines the flexible body.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the viscoelastic material is in physical contact with only one of the magnetic assembly and the ferromagnetic body.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the viscoelastic material defines a plurality of voids.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic assembly includes a pair of magnets, which includes a first magnet and a second magnet, wherein a first north pole of the first magnet is directed toward the ferromagnetic body, wherein a first south pole of the first magnet is directed away from the ferromagnetic body, wherein a second north pole of the second magnet is directed away from the ferromagnetic body, and further wherein a second south pole of the second magnet is directed toward the ferromagnetic body.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic assembly further includes a ferromagnetic flux return bar, wherein the ferromagnetic flux return bar extends between the first south pole and the second north pole.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic assembly includes a plurality of pairs of magnets and an electrical insulator that extends between a given pair of magnets of the plurality of pairs of magnets and an adjacent pair of magnets of the plurality of pairs of magnets.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ferromagnetic body includes a plurality of stacked ferromagnetic sheets.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the ferromagnetic body further includes a plurality of stacked electrically conductive sheets that are interleaved with the plurality of stacked ferromagnetic sheets.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further includes an electrically conductive sheet that extends between the ferromagnetic body and the magnetic assembly.

15. The mechanical system of claim 1 , wherein the base structure includes a wing of an aircraft and the attached component includes one of a slat, an aileron, and a spoiler.

16. A method of damping motion between a base structure and an attached component, the method comprising:
providing the mechanical system of claim 1 ; and
locating the mechanical system within the gap such that the flexible body is in physical contact with the base structure and with the attached component.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the method further includes moving the attached component relative to the base structure.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the moving includes deforming the flexible body, wherein the deforming includes dissipating energy with the flexible body.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Hull John Ralph
• Strasik Michael
• Martig Thomas H

Classifications

• B64C7/00 Primary

  Structures or fairings not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• F16F15/03

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

• B64C25/16

  Fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements · CPC title

• B64C9/02

  Mounting or supporting thereof · CPC title

• B64C1/14

  Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens {accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipers}(fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06) · CPC title