# US 11,993,951 B2 · Tuned liquid damper with a membrane liquid-gas interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,951 B2 - Document ID: US11993951B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/301,812 - Filed: 2023-04-17 - Published: 2023-09-21 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-28 - Assignees: Hummingbird Kinetics LLC - Applicants: Hummingbird Kinectics LLC - Inventors: Elisabeth Malsch; Marguerite Pinto; Pierre Ghisbain; Sebastian Mendes; Callum Norris; Phillip Thompson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993951B2 ## CPC - E04H 9/0215: {involving active or passive dynamic mass damping systems} - E04H 9/14: against other dangerous influences, e.g. tornadoes, floods - E04H 9/16: against adverse conditions, e.g. extreme climate, pests - F16F 7/1034: {of movement of a liquid} - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A tuned liquid damper, including a first outer housing having two ends, the first end being open to the atmosphere and the second end being connected by a conduit to a gas-filled second outer housing. The conduit may be adapted to allow gas flow between the second end and the second outer housing. The tuned liquid damper may also include first and second membranes, each attached to the inside of the first outer housing, and a sealed compartment within the first outer housing defined by the first and second membranes. The sealed compartment may be at least partially filled with a liquid, which prevents gas flow through the first outer housing from the first end to the second end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tuned liquid damper comprising: an outer housing having two ends, the first end being open to the atmosphere and the second end being a sealed, gas-filled chamber within the outer housing; a separator attached to an inner perimeter wall of the chamber, the separator defining first and second partitions within the chamber and having an opening which allows gas to flow between the first and second partitions; first and second membranes, each attached to the inside of the outer housing; and a sealed compartment within the outer housing, defined by the first and second membranes and being at least partially filled with a liquid, which prevents gas flow through the outer housing from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tuned liquid damper of claim 1, wherein the separator is a variable-position separator adapted to allow repositioning of the separator along an axis of the chamber and adjustment of the volume of gas stored in each of the first and second partitions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tuned liquid damper of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second membranes is a variable-position membrane configured to allow repositioning of the attachment point along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tuned liquid damper of claim 1, wherein the first and second membranes are flexible and adapted to allow displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tuned liquid damper of claim 1, wherein the first and second partitions are adapted to function as a gas spring in response to displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing, the gas spring being adapted to control a frequency and a level of vibration damping provided by the damper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tuned liquid damper of claim 1, wherein the opening of the separator is adapted to allow adjustment of at least one of a length or a width of the opening. ### Claim 7 A tuned liquid damper comprising: a first outer housing having: a first end connected by a conduit to a gas-filled second outer housing, the conduit being adapted to allow gas flow between the first end and the second outer housing; a second end connected by a conduit to a gas-filled third outer housing, the conduit being adapted to allow gas flow between the second end and the third outer housing; first and second membranes, each attached to the inside of the first outer housing; and a sealed compartment within the first outer housing, defined by the first and second membranes and being at least partially filled with a liquid, which prevents gas flow through the first outer housing from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tuned liquid damper of claim 7, wherein at least one of the second or third outer housings contains a variable-position plug attached to an inner perimeter of the respective outer housing, the plug being adapted to allow adjustment of the volume of gas stored in the respective outer housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tuned liquid damper of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second membranes is a variable-position membrane configured to allow repositioning of the attachment point along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The tuned liquid damper of claim 7, wherein the first and second membranes are flexible and adapted to allow displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The tuned liquid damper of claim 7, wherein: (a) the first and second outer housings are adapted to function as a gas spring in response to displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing, the gas spring being adapted to control a frequency and a level of vibration damping provided by the damper; or (b) the first and third outer housings are adapted to function as a gas spring in response to displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing, the gas spring being adapted to control a frequency and a level of vibration damping provided by the damper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The tuned liquid damper of claim 7, wherein at least one of the conduits connecting the housings is adapted to allow adjustment of at least one of a length or a width of the conduit. ### Claim 13 A tuned liquid damper comprising: a first outer housing having a first end and a second end, each end being connected by a separate conduit to a gas-filled second outer housing, wherein the conduits are adapted to allow gas flow between the first outer housing and the second outer housing; first and second membranes, each attached to the inside of the first outer housing; a sealed compartment within the first outer housing, defined by the first and second membranes and being at least partially filled with a liquid, which prevents gas flow through the first outer housing from the first end to the second end; a separator attached to an inner perimeter of the second outer housing, which partitions the second outer housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, and defines the volume of gas stored in the first and second chambers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tuned liquid damper of claim 13, wherein the separator is a variable-position separator adapted to allow repositioning of the separator along an axis of the second chamber, such that repositioning of the separator adjusts the volume of gas stored in both chambers simultaneously. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The tuned liquid damper of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second membranes is a variable-position membrane configured to allow repositioning of the attachment point along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The tuned liquid damper of claim 13, wherein the first and second membranes are flexible and adapted to allow displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The tuned liquid damper of claim 13, wherein the first and second outer housings are adapted to function as a gas spring in response to displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing, the gas spring being adapted to control a frequency and a level of vibration damping provided by the damper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The tuned liquid damper of claim 13, wherein at least one of the conduits connecting the housings is adapted to allow adjustment of at least one of a length or a width of the conduit. ### Claim 19 A tuned liquid damper comprising: an outer housing having two ends, each end being sealed and forming a gas-filled chamber within the outer housing; a first separator attached to an inner perimeter of the first end chamber, the first separator defining first and second partitions within the first end chamber and having an opening which allows gas to flow between the first and second partitions; a second separator attached to an inner perimeter of the second end chamber, the second separator defining first and second partitions within the second end chamber and having an opening which allows gas to flow between the first and second partitions; first and second membranes, each attached to the inside of the outer housing; and a sealed compartment within the outer housing, defined by the first and second membranes and being at least partially filled with a liquid, which prevents gas flow through the first outer housing from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The tuned liquid damper of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second separators is a variable-position separator adapted to allow repositioning of the respective separator within its respective chamber and adjustment of the volume of gas stored in the partitions of the respective chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The tuned liquid damper of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first and second membranes is a variable-position membrane configured to allow repositioning of the attachment point along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The tuned liquid damper of claim 19, wherein the first and second membranes are flexible and adapted to allow displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The tuned liquid damper of claim 19, wherein the first and second partitions of each chamber are adapted to function as a gas spring in response to displacement of the liquid-filled compartment along a longitudinal axis of the outer housing, each gas spring being adapted to control a frequency and a level of vibration damping provided by the damper. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The tuned liquid damper of claim 19, wherein the opening of at least one of the first and second separators is adapted to allow adjustment of at least one of a length or a width of the opening. ### Claim 25 A tuned liquid damper comprising: a first outer housing having two ends, the first end being open to the atmosphere and the second end being connected by a conduit to a gas-filled second outer housing, the conduit being adapted to allow gas flow between the second end and the second outer housing; a membrane, attached to the inside of the first outer housing, which prevents gas flow through the first outer housing from the first end to the second end; and a liquid column contained within the first outer housing, defined by the membrane and extending through the first outer housing towards the first end. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The tuned liquid damper of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the first outer housing extends along a substantially vertical axis to form a vertical portion and the liquid column terminates within the vertical portion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The tuned liquid damper of claim 25, wherein the membrane is a variable-position membrane configured to allow repositioning of the attachment point along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The tuned liquid damper of claim 25, wherein the membrane is flexible and adapted to allow displacement of the liquid column along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The tuned liquid damper of claim 25, wherein the first and second housings are adapted to function as a gas spring in response to displacement of the liquid column along a longitudinal axis of the first outer housing, the gas spring being adapted to control a frequency and a level of vibration damping provided by the damper.