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US 11,686,368 B1Granted
Asymmetrically-shaped isolator
AssigneeUnited Launch Alliance, L.L.C.
InventorRyan Lee Shannon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a novel system, device, and methods for providing an isolator for components and instrumentation to isolate vibrations, shock, static or quasi-static loads, thermal loads, and electrical currents. The novel isolator has an asymmetrical shape, experiences uniform motion under quasi-static loading, and reduces the effective modal mass across a range of frequencies. The novel isolator outperforms conventional vibration isolators in terms of cost, schedule (manufacturing time and lead time), heat dissipation, and performance.
Claims20
An isolator, comprising:
- a first platform having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a perimeter extending between the outer and inner surfaces;
- an interconnection member extending from the outer surface of the first platform and configured to interconnect with a component to be isolated from vibration;
- a second platform having an outer surface, an inner surface and a perimeter extending between the outer and inner surfaces, the second platform spaced from the first platform with the inner surface of the second platform facing the inner surface of the first platform;
- a center point;
- a plurality of lobes having a first end and a second end, the first end directly connected to the perimeter of the first platform, the second end directly connected to the perimeter of the second platform, wherein a distance between the first and second ends of each lobe is the same for all lobes in the plurality of lobes, and wherein the plurality of lobes extends radially away from the first and second platforms;
- a first lobe in the plurality of lobes having a first shape, the first shape comprising:
- a height as measured from an uppermost portion of the first lobe to a lowermost portion of the first lobe;
- a width of the first lobe;
- a radial distance as measured from the outer perimeter of the first platform to a radial outermost portion of the first lobe;
- and
- a substantially uniform thickness of the first lobe;
- a second lobe in the plurality of lobes positioned directly opposite the first lobe such that a straight line between the first and second lobes extends through the center point of the isolator, wherein the second lobe has the first shape;
- a third lobe in the plurality of lobes having a second shape that is different than the first shape, the second shape comprising:
- a height as measured from an uppermost portion of the third lobe to a lowermost portion of the third lobe;
- a width of the third lobe;
- a radial distance as measured from the outer perimeter of the first platform to a radial outermost portion of the third lobe;
- and
- a substantially uniform thickness of the third lobe;
- and
- a fourth lobe in the plurality of lobes positioned directly opposite the third lobe such that a straight line between the third and fourth lobes extends through the center point of the isolator, wherein the fourth lobe has the second shape.
17 more elements
An isolator, comprising:
- a center point;
- a first platform having an outer surface, an inner surface, a perimeter extending between the outer and inner surfaces, and a width measured from a point on the perimeter to another point on the perimeter and through the center point;
- an interconnection member extending from the outer surface of the first platform and configured to interconnect with a component to be isolated from vibration;
- a second platform having an outer surface, an inner surface, a perimeter extending between the outer and inner surfaces, and a width measured from a point on the perimeter to another point on the perimeter and through the center point, the second platform spaced from the first platform with the inner surface of the second platform facing the inner surface of the first platform, wherein the width of the second platform is larger than the width of the first platform;
- and
- a plurality of lobes having a first end and a second end, the first end interconnected to the perimeter of the first platform, the second end connected to the perimeter of the second platform, wherein the plurality of lobes extends radially away from the first and second platforms, wherein an uppermost portion of at least one lobe in the plurality of lobes extends a height above the upper surface of the upper platform.
3 more elements
A method of manufacturing an isolator for isolating a component, comprising:
- forming a first platform having an outer perimeter and an upper surface;
- forming an interconnection mechanism integrally with the first platform, the interconnection mechanism extending upwardly from the upper surface of the first platform for interconnecting to the component;
- forming a second platform having an outer perimeter and positioned substantially parallel to the first platform;
- forming a plurality of lobes integrally with the first platform and the second platform;
- using additive manufacturing to form the first platform, the interconnection mechanism, the second platform, and the plurality of lobes;
- wherein each lobe extends radially outwardly from the outer perimeter of the first platform at a first interconnection point and extends radially outwardly from the outer perimeter of the second platform at a second interconnection point such that a distance between the first interconnection point and the second interconnection point is the same for each lobe when the isolator is in a neutral state;
- wherein the first end of each lobe in the plurality of lobes is positioned above and aligned with the second end of each lobe in the plurality of lobes;
- wherein at least two lobes in the plurality of lobes have a different shape, the shape comprising:
- a height as measured from an uppermost portion of the lobe to a lowermost portion of the lobe;
- a width of the lobe;
- a radial distance as measured from the outer perimeter of the first platform to a radial outermost portion of the lobe;
- and
- a substantially uniform thickness of the lobe, and
- wherein an uppermost portion of at least one lobe in the plurality of lobes extends a second height above the upper surface of the upper platform.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.