Multiaxis vibration isolation system

Vibration isolating and damping apparatus for passively isolating vibrations between a supporting structure and a supported structure having a center of mass while permitting movement of the supported structure over six degrees of freedom with respect to the supporting structure, wherein the supported structure contains a torque-producing device for developing predetermined control torques over a given vibration frequency range, comprising:

• a cradle for supporting said supported structure,
• a plurality of isolators, each isolator having a body, a first end flexibly secured to said supporting structure, and a second end flexibly secured to said cradle, said isolators supporting said cradle with respect to said supporting structure, pairs of said isolators having a common base on said supporting structure and having intersecting longitudinal axes disposed to define a substantially isosceles triangle at a predetermined acute angle with respect to said base, said pairs being substantially parallel to an azimuthal axis passing through said supporting structure and said cradle, said isolators being arranged in substantially equiangularly disposed pairs about said azimuthal axis, a flexible joint at each of said first and second ends of said isolators adapted to provide at least two degrees of freedom of motion, so that opposite ends of each said isolator are relatively movable axially, each of said isolators being movable relative to each other along their respect longitudinal axes while maintaining said supported structure in kinematic relation with said supporting structure,
• said isolators providing a predetermined complex mechanical impedance as a function of vibration frequency and adapted for transmission of control torques over said given vibration frequency range,
• wherein said isolators are arranged in three pairs substantially 120 degrees apart, each isolator member of each isolator pair being inclined substantially at 38.3 degrees relative to the plane of said cradle,
• said cradle further comprising a plurality of mounting surfaces for said supported structure distributed laterally and equiangularly thereupon and further comprising a member associated with each said pair of isolators extending at right angles to said cradle for supporting said second ends of said isolators so that the plane of said flexible joints thereat contains said center of mass of said supported structure,
• wherein said isolator is comprised of a stem extending from said body to said second end supporting member, at least one said stem in each isolator pair having a portion laterally offset, for providing a clearance between stems of associated isolators,
• further comprising means to limit the movement of said cradle relative to said supporting structure to a predetermined maximum, which movement is less than a maximum deflection of said cradle relative to said supporting structure provided for by said isolators, wherein said means limiting the maximum movement of said cradle is comprised of first and second coaxial metallic tubes, said tubes disposed in parallel to the plane of said cradle and radial to said azimuthal axis passing through said cradle, being joined at a first end proximate to said azimuthal axis, said first tube being affixed to said cradle proximate to said isolator pairs, said cradle being provided with an aperture having a predetermined clearance for a stop arm extending radially and outwardly, said stop arm affixed to a second end of said second tube and disposed for constraining said motion of said cradle relative to said supporting structure, whereat a predetermined deflection of said cradle induced by motion of said supported structure will cause said stop arm resiliently to apply a predetermined counterforce to said cradle, thereby restraining said isolator from deflection greater than a predetermined value.

Vibration isolating and damping apparatus for passively isolating vibrations between a supporting structure and a supported structure while permitting movement of the supported structure over six degrees of freedom with respect to the supporting structure, comprising:

• a cradle for supporting said supported structure, a plurality of vibration isolators, each isolator having a body, a first end flexibly secured to said supporting structure, and a second end flexibly secured to said cradle, said isolators supporting said cradle with respect to said supporting structure, pairs of said isolators having a common base on said supporting structure and having intersecting longitudinal axes disposed to define a substantially isosceles triangle at a predetermined acute angle with respect to said base, said first ends of said isolators being disposed at a first predetermined radius with respect to an azimuthal axis passing through said supporting structure and said cradle, said isolators being arranged in substantially equiangularly disposed pairs about said azimuthal axis, a flexible joint at each of said first and second ends of said isolators adapted to provide at least two degrees of freedom of motion, so that opposite ends of each said isolator are relatively movable axially, each of said isolators being movable relative to each other along their respect longitudinal axes while maintaining said supported structure in kinematic relation with said supporting structure, said second ends of said isolators being disposed at a further predetermined radius from said azimuthal axis,
• said isolators providing a predetermined complex impedance as a function of vibration frequency and adapted for transmission of said control torques over said given vibration frequency range.