Force (torque) nulling inertially servoed structural interface

An apparatus for nulling the transmission of disturbing translational force through a structural member disposed between first and second assemblies by application of a corrective inertial translational force on said structural member, said apparatus comprising:

• a disturbing translational force sensor positioned within said structural member for sensing said disturbing translational force transmitted from the first assembly to said structural member, and wherein said sensor further includes means for outputting a signal proportional to said disturbing translational force;
• means for application of a corrective inertial translational force wherein said application means has an inertial mass associated therewith, and said application means further includes a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein said first axial end is connected to said structural member by a first spring member and said second axial end is connected to said structural member by a second spring member, wherein said application means applies said corrective inertial translational force to said structural member through said spring members;
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• an electronic control circuit electrically connected to said sensor signal output means so as to output a second signal to said means for application of a corrective inertial translational force such that said application means applies said corrective inertial translational force proportionally responsive to said disturbing translation force so as to null the transmission of said force from the first assembly through said structural member to the second assembly.

An apparatus for nulling the transmission of disturbing torque through a structural member disposed between first and second assemblies by application of a corrective inertial torque on said structural member, said apparatus comprising:

• a disturbing torque sensor positioned within said structural member for sensing said disturbing torque transmitted from the first assembly to said structural member, and wherein said sensor further includes means for outputting a signal proportional to said disturbing torque;
• means for application of a corrective inertial torque wherein said application means has an inertial mass associated therewith, and said application means further includes a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein said first axial end is connected to said structural member by a first spring member and said second axial end is connected to said structural member by a second spring member, wherein said application means applies said corrective inertial torque to said structural member through said spring members;
• and
• an electronic control circuit electrically connected to said sensor signal output means so as to output a second signal to said means for application of a corrective inertial torque such that said application means applies said corrective inertial torque proportionally responsive to said disturbing torque so as to null transmission of said torque from the first assembly through said structural the member to the second assembly.

A distributed inertially servoed force nulling structural interface comprising a plurality of apparatus for nulling the transmission of disturbing translational forces through a structural member thereof disposed between a first plurality of adjacent panels and a second plurality of adjacent panels, wherein each panel of said first and second plurality has one of said apparatus associated therewith, and wherein said apparatus further comprises:

• a disturbing translational force sensor contained internally by said structural member for sensing said disturbing translational force transmitted from an associated first panel to said structural member, and wherein said sensor further includes means for outputting a signal proportional to said disturbing translational force;
• means for application of a corrective inertial translational force, wherein said application means has an inertial mass associated therewith, and said application means further includes a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein said first axial end is connected to said structural member by a first spring member and said second axial end is connected to said structural member by a second spring member, and wherein said application means applies said corrective inertial translational force to said structural member through said spring members;
• and
• an electronic control circuit electrically receptive to said sensor signal output so as to output a second signal to said means for application of a corrective inertial translational force such that said application means applies said corrective inertial translational force proportionally responsive to said disturbing translation force so as to null the transmission of said force from the associated first panel through said structural member to the associated second panel.