Fluid amplifiers and vibration damping and isolation systems

A fluid amplifier comprising:

• a housing assembly;
• a piezo-electric element disposed within the housing assembly and capable of being energized to axially lengthen;
• a first amplification stage disposed within the housing assembly adjacent to the piezo-electric element and adapted to amplify an input stroke from the piezo-electric element to a first magnitude, the first amplification stage including:
• a first outer bellows assembly adapted to receive a force from the piezo-electric element and to move axially, when the piezo-electric element is energized and axially lengthens, and
• a first inner bellows assembly nested within the first outer bellows assembly and adapted to move axially;
• a second amplification stage disposed in series with the first amplification stage and adapted to increase the input stroke from the first magnitude to a second magnitude that is greater than the first magnitude to yield an amplified input stroke, the second amplification stage including:
• a second outer bellows assembly adapted to move axially in response to axial movement of the first inner bellows assembly, and
• a second inner bellows assembly nested with the second outer bellows assembly and adapted to move axially and to cause the rod to move axially;
• and
• a rod extending through the second amplification stage and coupled thereto transmit the amplified input stroke having the second magnitude.

A vibration damping and isolation system comprising:

• a fluid amplifier including:
• a housing assembly,
• a piezo-electric element disposed within the housing assembly and capable of being energized to axially lengthen,
• a first amplification stage disposed within the housing assembly adjacent to the piezo-electric element and adapted to amplify an input stroke from the piezo-electric element to a first magnitude,
• a second amplification stage disposed in series with the first amplification stage and adapted to increase the input stroke from the first magnitude to a second magnitude that is greater than the first magnitude to yield and amplified input stroke, and
• a rod extending through the second amplification stage and coupled thereto transmit the amplified input stroke having the second magnitude, and
• a vibration isolator coupled to the rod.