Vertical liquid inertia vibration isolator

A vibration isolator for connecting two bodies while isolating one body from vibration in the other body comprising:

• an outer cylinder, adapted to be connected to one of the bodies and having an elongate inner volume;
• an inner cylinder movably disposed within the inner volume, the inner cylinder and the inner volume defining first and second chambers at either end of the inner cylinder;
• a tuning port connecting the first and second chambers wherein the first and second chambers and the tuning port define a fluid reservoir;
• a spring connecting the inner cylinder to the outer cylinder;
• a tuning mass substantially filling the first and second chambers and the tuning port;
• a spherical bearing mounted to the inner cylinder and adapted to be connected to a second body;
• and
• a gas to fluid accumulator connected to the uppermost portion of the fluid reservoir by means of a first and second one-way valve wherein the first one-way valve allows fluid to pass from the fluid reservoir to the accumulator and the second one-way valve allows fluid to pass from the accumulator to the fluid reservoir.

An apparatus for reducing vibration transfer between a first and a second body, comprising:

• an upper housing, having a generally concave shape, adapted to be connected to the first body;
• a lower housing, having a generally concave shape, adapted to be connected to the first body, the lower housing disposed adjacent to the upper housing and oriented such that the concave portion of the lower housing faces the concave portion of the upper housing, said upper and lower housings together defining an inner volume therebetween;
• an inner cylinder movably disposed within the inner volume, the inner cylinder and the inner volume defining first and second chambers at either end of the inner cylinder;
• a spherical bearing adapted to connect the inner cylinder to the second body;
• a tuning port passing through the inner cylinder and connecting the first and second chambers, wherein the first and second chambers and the tuning port define a fluid reservoir;
• an upper tubeform bearing connecting the inner cylinder to the upper housing and sealing the gap therebetween;
• a lower tubeform bearing connecting the inner cylinder to the lower housing and sealing the gap therebetween;
• a tuning mass substantially filling the first and second chambers and the tuning port;
• and
• a volume compensator, communicated to the uppermost portion of the fluid reservoir via an orifice.

A method of manufacturing a vibration isolator comprising a housing having an inner surface, a piston having two ends, and two tubeform bearings, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an inner surface and a volume compensator at one end thereof;
• selecting a first tubeform bearing from a set of known good bearings;
• selecting a second tubeform bearing from a set of known good bearings;
• bonding the first tubeform bearing between a first end of the piston and the inner surface of the housing;
• and
• bonding the second tubeform bearing between a second end of the piston and the inner surface of the housing.