Vibration absorber
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsJacob L. Dawson, Daniel T. Williams, Andrew J. Gunnion
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tuned mass damper includes a damper mass having a first mass portion and a second mass portion connected by a third mass portion. The first mass portion, the second mass portion, and the third mass portion form a U-shaped configuration of the damper mass. The damper mass is configured to separate within the third mass portion in response to a force transferred to the damper mass of the tuned mass damper to allow relative motion between the first mass portion and the second mass portion. The damper mass may include geometric features that promote rotation of the tuned mass damper relative to an axis, when subjected to impact loads.
Claims20
A tuned mass damper, comprising:
- a damper mass including a first mass portion and a second mass portion connected by a third mass portion such that the first mass portion, the second mass portion, and the third mass portion form a U-shaped configuration of the damper mass,
- wherein the damper mass includes a portion of stress concentration within the third mass portion such that the third mass portion is configured to separate within the portion of stress concentration in response to a force transferred to the damper mass of the tuned mass damper to allow relative motion between the first mass portion and the second mass portion.
A vehicle assembly defining a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the vehicle assembly comprising:
- a brake system including a rotor connected to a wheel assembly that includes a wheel and a caliper coupled to a wheel support and configured to apply a braking force to the rotor;
- and
- a tuned mass damper coupled to the wheel support, the tuned mass damper comprising a damper mass including a first mass portion, a second mass portion, and a third mass portion extending between the first mass portion and the second mass portion,
- wherein the caliper is positioned relative to the damper mass such that the third mass portion of the damper mass is diametrically opposite the caliper,
- wherein the first mass portion has a first curved surface at a first end of the damper mass,
- wherein the second mass portion has a second curved surface at a second end of the damper mass that is opposite the first end,
- wherein the first curved surface includes a first portion that faces away from the second mass portion relative to the longitudinal axis and a second portion that faces inward relative to the lateral axis, and
- wherein the first mass portion and the second mass portion are configured to rotate away from the longitudinal axis in response to a force applied at the first curved surface of the first mass portion.
A vibration absorption system, comprising:
- a damper mass coupled to a wheel assembly of a vehicle and including a first mass portion and a second mass portion connected by a third mass portion, the first mass portion including a curved surface, wherein a first portion of the curved surface faces away from the second mass portion relative to a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the vehicle, and wherein a second portion of the curved surface faces inward relative to a lateral axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an engagement portion coupled to a vehicle body of the vehicle and extending toward the wheel assembly, the engagement portion including a geometric feature that is shaped to induce rotation of the wheel assembly away from the longitudinal axis during an impact to the vehicle body by interaction of the geometric feature with the curved surface of the first mass portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.