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US 12,215,752 B1Granted
Vibration isolator with overload protection
AssigneeBlue Canyon Technologies Inc.
InventorsStephen Steg, Brett Bender
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a single degree of freedom vibration isolator/damper system capable of overload protection. The vibration isolator reduces vibration transmitted to or from an isolated spacecraft component that generates micro-vibrations. The system isolates sensitive components and vibration sources from the spacecraft. The system may consist of a 1) first spring element in series with a first damper element; 2) a second spring element in parallel with the first spring element and first damper element; and 3) a support member that serves as the overload protection device.
Claims13
A vibration-isolating strut assembly, comprising:
- a shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end having an outwardly extending profile with a first side and a second side;
- a first end fitting with a cavity that accommodates the first end of the shaft, the cavity having a first face opposite the first side of the outwardly extending profile and a second face opposite the second side of the outwardly extending profile;
- a first stopping member positioned between the first side of the outwardly extending profile and the first face of the cavity;
- a second stopping member positioned between the second side of the outwardly extending profile and the second face of the cavity;
- a first spring having a first end directly interconnected to the first end fitting and a second end associated with a second end fitting;
- a second spring positioned between the shaft and the first spring;
- a damper positioned between the shaft and the first spring, wherein the second spring and the damper are configured for direct mechanical communication;
- wherein the strut assembly is devoid of bellows;
- and
- wherein the damper comprises an inner sleeve engaged onto the shaft, an outer sleeve that contacts the first spring, and a viscoelastic material positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.
7 more elements
A vibration-isolating strut assembly, comprising:
- a shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end having an outwardly extending profile;
- a first end fitting with a cavity that accommodates the first end of the shaft;
- a first stop associated with the outwardly extending profile;
- a first biasing member having a first end directly interconnected to the first end fitting and a second end associated with a second end fitting;
- a second biasing member positioned between the shaft and the first biasing member;
- a damper positioned between the shaft and the first biasing member, wherein the second biasing member and the damper are configured for direct mechanical communication;
- wherein the strut assembly is devoid of bellows;
- and
- wherein the damper comprises an inner sleeve engaged onto the shaft, an outer sleeve that contacts the first biasing member, and a viscoelastic material positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.
6 more elements
A vibration-isolating strut assembly, comprising:
- a shaft with a first end and a second end, the first end having an outwardly extending profile with a first side and a second side;
- a first end fitting with a cavity that accommodates the first end of the shaft, the cavity having a first face opposite the first side of the outwardly extending profile and a second face opposite the second side of the outwardly extending profile;
- a first stopping member positioned between the first side of the outwardly extending profile and the first face of the cavity;
- a second stopping member positioned between the second side of the outwardly extending profile and the second face of the cavity;
- a first spring having a first end associated with the first end fitting and a second end associated with a second end fitting, the first spring having an inwardly extending protrusion spaced from the second end of the first spring;
- a second spring positioned between the shaft and the first spring, a first end of the second spring forming a portion of the first end fitting comprising the second face of the cavity;
- a damper positioned between the shaft and the first spring, wherein the second spring and inwardly extending protrusion are configured for direct mechanical communication with a first end of the damper, the damper further comprising:
- an inner sleeve that engages the shaft, wherein a first end of the inner sleeve engages a second end of the second spring,
- an outer sleeve that engages an inner surface of the first spring, wherein a first end of the outer sleeve engages a face of the inwardly extending protrusion,
- a viscoelastic material positioned between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve;
- a nut received on the shaft that secures the damper against the inwardly extending protrusion, wherein a second end of the outer sleeve and a second end of the inner sleeve contact the nut, and
- wherein the inwardly extending protrusion abuts the first end of the damper;
- and
- a ring positioned about the nut, wherein the second end of the first spring engages at least one of the damper and the ring.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.