Passive vibration isolator
AssigneePoint Blank Enterprises, Inc.
InventorMarvin Kent Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passive vibration isolator device, including a spring and a dampening element, is connected in series with a motion gap element that allows for relative displacement between the vibration source and the passive vibration isolator device to achieve ideal passive vibration isolation without engagement of the dampening element. The dampening element of the passive vibration isolator, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a self-locking damper design. The self-locking damper is designed to automatically lock during high acceleration events to limit the amount of added seat stroke otherwise absorbed by the passive vibration isolator.
Claims20
A passive vibration isolation device for an aircraft seating system, comprising:
- a damper assembly;
- one or more springs in mechanical communication with the damper assembly;
- and
- at least one gap element in communication with the damper assembly, the gap element delimiting a gap of a predetermined size,
- wherein the damper assembly remains in a disengaged condition until an input force causes relative motion between the input force and an isolated mass on the seating system to exceed the gap element's predetermined gap size.
An aircraft seating system including a passive vibration isolation device, comprising:
- An aircraft seating system;
- and
- One or more passive vibration isolation devices assembled to the aircraft seating system, the passive vibration isolation device, comprising,
- a damper assembly;
- one or more springs in mechanical communication with the damper assembly;
- and
- at least one gap element in communication with the damper assembly, the gap element including a gap size,
- wherein the damper assembly remains in a disengaged condition until an input force causes relative motion between the input force and an isolated mass on the seating system to exceed the gap element's gap size.
A method of damping vibration in a seating structure, comprising the steps of:
- attaching at least one passive vibration isolation device to a seating system, the passive vibration isolation device comprising,
- a damper assembly;
- one or more springs in mechanical communication with the damper assembly;
- and
- at least one gap element in communication with the damper assembly, the gap element including a gap size,
- wherein the damper assembly remains in a disengaged condition until an input force causes relative motion between the input force and an isolated mass on the seating system to exceed the gap element's gap size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.