# US 11,306,794 B2 · Damping devices, systems and methods for hollow shafts, struts, and beams with bending modes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,794 B2 - Document ID: US11306794B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/567,874 - Filed: 2016-05-11 - Published: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-11 - Assignees: Lord Corporation - Applicants: LORD Corporation - Inventors: Gerald P. Whiteford; Daniel Zameroski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306794B2 ## CPC - F16F 7/095: {frictional elements brought into engagement by movement along a surface oblique to the axis of the cylinder, e.g. interaction of wedge-shaped elements} - F16F 7/06: in a direction perpendicular or inclined to the axis of rotation {(F16F7/023 takes precedence)} - F16F 15/02: 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}) - F16F 15/1207: {characterised by the supporting arrangement of the damper unit (F16F15/1238, F16F15/13164 take precedence)} - F16F 15/126: consisting of at least one annular element surrounding the axis of rotation - F16F 15/1292: {characterised by arrangements for axially clamping or positioning or otherwise influencing the frictional plates} - F16F 15/1414: {Masses driven by elastic elements (F16F15/145, F16F15/1464 take precedence)} - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract Devices, systems, and methods for damping vibration of a structural component or power-transmission shafts are disclosed. Damping devices, systems, and methods utilize a lightweight damping device, which is targeted at reducing the resonant amplitude of the first several beaming modes and/or torsional modes of bending a structural component comprising a hollow shaft or strut. The damping device includes a stiff concentric tube with damping elements disposed at each end. The device is inserted within the original structural component or shaft and attached thereto. When the primary shaft undergoes bending due to modal characteristics, the damping elements react to dissipate energy, which effectively reduces the resonant amplitude. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A damping device comprising: a tube member configured for disposing inside of a hollow structural component having a component body, the tube member having a first end, a second end, a first end fitting at the first end, and an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the component body; a first damping element positioned axially beyond the first end of the tube member and having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube member; a first adapter that is threadably engaged within the first end fitting of the tube element, such that the first adapter extends axially away from the first end of the tube member, wherein the outer diameter of the first adapter is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube member, the inner diameter of the first damping element is a same as or bigger than an outer diameter of the first adapter, and the first damping element is positioned around the first adapter, such that the first damping element is attached to the tube member at the first end of the tube member via the first adapter; and a second damping element; wherein the first damping element and the second damping element are configured to flex against the structural component to dissipate energy from the structural component and to reduce bending of the structural component due to modal characteristics induced by vibration of the structural component; and wherein the damping device is configured to physically contact the structural component at a first location via the first damping element, at a third location via the second damping element, and at a second location, which is between the first and third locations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the second location is in a location proximate a center of a longitudinal axis of the structural component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tube member is configured to have a length that is between about 10% and about 80% of a length of the structural component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements comprises silicone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements comprises a spring element configured to clamp a friction element to an insert element to generate a frictional force to damp vibration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements comprise a metallic mesh. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the first damping element and the second damping element are configured to flex against an inner wall of the structural component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the tube member is configured for attachment to the structural component via a retention ring, a clamp, an adhesive, a brazed connection, or a welded connection. ### Claim 9 A damping system comprising: a hollow structural component comprising a component body and at least one inner wall with an inner diameter; and a damping device, which is disposed within the structural component and comprises: a tube member that is concentrically disposed within the structural component and has a first end, a second end, a first end fitting at the first end, and an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the component body; a first damping element positioned axially beyond the first end of the tube member and having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube member; a first adapter that is threadably engaged within the first end fitting of the tube element, such that the first adapter extends axially away from the first end of the tube member, wherein the outer diameter of the first adapter is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube member, the inner diameter of the first damping element is a same as or bigger than an outer diameter of the first adapter, and the first damping element is positioned around the first adapter, such that the first damping element is attached to the tube member at the first end of the tube member via the first adapter; and a second damping element; wherein the first and second damping elements are configured flex against the structural component to dissipate energy from the structural component and to reduce bending of the structural component due to modal characteristics induced by vibration of the structural component; and wherein the damping device physically contacts the inner wall of the structural component at a first location via the first damping element, at a third location via the second damping element, and at a second location, which is between the first and third locations.. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the second location is in a location proximate a center of a longitudinal axis of the structural component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second ends are opposing ends of the tube member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the tube member comprises a length that is between about 10% and about 80% of a length of the structural component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements comprises silicone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements comprises a spring element configured to clamp a friction element to an insert element for generating a frictional force to damp vibration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements comprises a metallic mesh. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second damping elements is configured to reduce a resonant amplitude of at least a first bending mode of the structural component. ### Claim 17 A method of vibration damping, the method comprising: providing a hollow structural component comprising a component body; disposing a damping device within the structural component, the damping device comprising: a tube member having a first end, a second end, a first end fitting at the first end, and an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the component body; a first damping element positioned axially beyond the first end of the tube member and having an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the tube member; a first adapter that is threadably engaged within the first end fitting of the tube element, such that the first adapter extends axially away from the first end of the tube member, wherein the outer diameter of the first adapter is smaller than an inner diameter of the tube member, the inner diameter of the first damping element is a same as or bigger than an outer diameter of the first adapter, and the first damping element is positioned around the first adapter, such that the first damping element is attached to the tube member at the first end of the tube member via the first adapter; and a second damping element attached to the second end of the tube member; positioning the tube member inside of the structural component so that the damping device physically contacts the structural component at a first location via the first damping element, at a third location via the second damping element, and at a second location, which is between the first and third locations; and flexing the first and second damping elements against the structural component for dissipating energy from the structural component and for reducing bending of the structural component due to modal characteristics induced by vibration of the structural component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the second location is in a location that is proximate a center of a longitudinal axis of the structural component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the structural component is elongated, having a length that is greater than a diameter of the structural component, and wherein the tube member is elongated, having a length that is greater than a diameter of the tube member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the structural component is elongated, having a length that is greater than a diameter of the structural component, and wherein the tube member is elongated, having a length that is greater than a diameter of the tube member.