High damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator

Abstract

A high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator is described. Two mounting bars are strategically positioned to interconnect the turns of a single-strand or multi-strand cable in two diametrically opposite zones. The mounting bars may include mounting holes to fasten the isolator to a load and / or a floor. The mounting bars may further have mounting holes for screws to fasten the cable in place. The cable and the mounting bars are encapsulated by a high damped elastomer compound providing an isolator with significantly higher damping characteristics than traditional rope mount isolators, while limiting negative performance effects due to temperature, flammability, and toxicity.

Description

Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1HIGH DAMPED ELASTOMER HIGH ENERGY ROPE MOUNT ISOLATORCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63 / 713,214 filed on October 29, 2024. The disclosures of the Provisional Application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted as prior art by inclusion in this section.

[0003] Standard wire rope isolators are comprised of metal stranded cable threaded through metallic retaining bars that are mounted for effective shock and vibration isolation. Non-standard wire ropes isolators may alter the cable material, the retaining bar material, and number of wire rope loops to meet specific application needs. Wire rope isolators may be used in a variety of applications including, but not limited to, pump, generator & compressor isolation, shipping cases, skids & containers, chemical processing equipment, carts, transporters & gurneys, chimneys, scrubbers & vessels, power plant piping suspension, over-the-road transport, navigation equipment, transportable shelters, electronic cabinets, and seismic isolation.SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure generally describes a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator.

[0005] According to some examples, a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator may include a top mounting bar; a bottom mounting bar; a cable wound between the top and bottom mounting bars, where the cable is passed through lateral cable holes in the top and bottom mounting bars; and an elastomer body encompassing the entire cable and at least a portion of the top and bottom mounting bars, where the elastomer body is arranged to enhance a friction damping characteristic of the cable with a viscoelastic damping characteristic.Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1

[0006] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:FIG. 1A through 1C illustrate various views of an example high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator;FIG. 2 illustrates example corrosion resistant, all-metal construction helical rope mount isolators without the elastomer;FIG. 3 A through 3C illustrate various views of helical rope mount isolators without the elastomer;FIG. 4A through 4C illustrate example types of high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolators; andFIG. 5 illustrates load axis definitions, deflection considerations, and typical mounting orientations for a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator, all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of theDocket No. 3100.0163WOU1 subject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.

[0009] This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator designed to reduce the harmful effects of shock and vibration.

[0010] FIG. 1A through 1C illustrate various views of an example high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0011] Diagram 100A shows a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator. As mentioned herein, standard wire rope isolators include metal stranded cable threaded through metallic retaining bars that are mounted for effective shock and vibration isolation. Elastomer encompassed wire rope isolators provide environmentally stable, high-performance shock and vibration isolation unaffected by temperature extremes, ozone, and abrasives, which may be encountered in application environments such as ships, containers, etc. The isolator includes an elastomer body 102 (encompassing the wire rope isolators), bottom and top mounting bars 104, 106, and mounting holes 108. The mounting holes 108 on the top mounting bar 106 may be used to fasten a load (e.g., a platform, a cabinet, an electronic device, a weapon system, etc.) to the isolator. The mounting holes (not shown) on the bottom mounting bar 104 may be used to fasten the isolator to a floor. As shown in the example configuration of diagram 100A, the mounting bars may extend beyond the elastomer body 102 and have one or more extra mounting holes on their extended portions.

[0012] The elastomeric compound may encapsulate the entire cable and at least part of the top and bottom mounting bars. The elastomeric compound provides additional stiffness and damping by combining the Coulomb (friction) damping of the cable with viscoelastic damping of the elastomer. The elastomer body may be manufactured using rubber, silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, urethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermoset, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polymer, or combinations thereof, along with other similar materials.

[0013] Diagram 100B shows construction of the wire rope isolator 112 with the cable 114 and mounting bars 116, 118. The mounting bars 116, 118 may have mounting holes 120 for screws to fasten the cable in place in addition to fastening a load and / or a floor to the isolator.Docket No. 3100.0163WGU1The cable and the mounting bars are encapsulated by a high damped elastomer compound providing an isolator with significantly higher damping characteristics than traditional rope mount isolators, while limiting negative performance effects due to temperature, flammability, and toxicity. A high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator combines friction damping (wire) with elastomeric viscoelastic properties (elastomer) for enhanced performance for shipboard shock and blast mitigation, for example. The multi-axis vibration and shock isolation may be used in applications to protect electronics, weapon systems, vertical launch systems, missile transport applications, cabinets, platforms, rafts, cradles, canisters, and containers in other examples. The example configuration shown in diagram 100B has the mounting bars terminating within the elastomer body of the isolator without extended portions.

[0014] Diagram 100C shows an installed example of a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator. Mounting holes 124 on the bottom mounting bar may be used to fasten the elastomer body 122 onto a floor (or platform) 128, whereas mounting holes on the top mounting bar may be used to fasten a platform onto the isolator (e.g., through nuts and bolts 126). With versatile mounting options and a variety of sizes, the high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolators may effectively meet performance requirements in commercial, industrial, and defense industries, and standards such as MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-167, MIL-S-901D, MIL-E- 5400, STANAG-042, BV43-44 and DEF-STND 0755. In some examples, the level of damping achieved by the elastomer may be capable of achieving a loss factor as high as 0.8 and be effective at low frequency ranges such as 12-16 Hz with minimum sway space.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates example corrosion resistant, all-metal construction helical rope mount isolators without the elastomer, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0016] Diagram 200 shows various helical wire rope mount isolators with different loop numbers and cable sizes. The isolator features a robust metal body constructed from at least one helically wound length of cable 206, 208, comprising multiple turns. Two bars 202 are strategically positioned to interconnect the turns of the cable in two diametrically opposite zones. The bars 202 may include mounting holes 204 to fasten the isolator to a load and / or a floor. Depending on isolation performance needs, the cable type / size and the loop numbers may be selected. The cable may be a single-strand wire (208) or a multi-strand wire (206). The cableDocket No. 3100.0163WOU1 may be wound to form a helical structure, a spiral structure, a circular structure, or any other curved structure.

[0017] The high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolators may be used in a variety of environments for applications such as pump, generator and compressor isolation, shipping cases, skids & containers, chemical processing equipment, carts, transporters and gurneys, chimneys, scrubbers and vessels, power plant piping suspension, over-the-road transport, navigation equipment, transportable shelters, electronic cabinets, seismic isolation. The elastomer compound may be specifically formed to meet flammability requirements, maximize operating temperature ranges, bonding capability, and / or processing needs. The elastomeric compound may encapsulate the entire cable and at least part of the top and bottom mounting bars. The elastomeric compound provides additional stiffness and damping by combining the Coulomb (friction) damping of the cable with viscoelastic damping of the elastomer. Thus, the resulting isolator damps vibration or shock, absorbs vibration or shock energy mitigating adverse effects of vibration or shock.

[0018] FIG. 3 A through 3C illustrate various views of helical rope mount isolators without the elastomer, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0019] Diagrams 300A, 300B, and 300C show perspective, top, and bottom views of a rope mount isolator with the helically wound cable 302 and two mounting bars 304, 306. Some configurations may have a crimp design, which lowers cost by using fewer mounting bars when compared to the clamp design, no assembly hardware, and reduced assembly time. Other configurations may include a clamp design, which are constructed by clamping the wire rope between two fastened mount bars. Two generate two different zones, the helical winding may be reversed (310) at a center of the mounting bars. In addition to the helical winding, the cable may be wound to form a spiral structure, a circular structure, or any other curved structure. The mounting bars and the cable may be manufactured from any suitable material such as various metals and metal alloys.

[0020] FIG. 4A through 4C illustrate example types of high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolators, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0021] Depending on application, expected load, vibration, or shock, a size and mounting configuration of the isolator may be selected differently. Similarly, a number of mounting holes may also be selected depending on the size of the isolator and / or the load.Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1

[0022] Diagram 400A shows an example mounting configuration, where a bottom mounting bar 404 is extended beyond the elastomer body 402 to provide two mounting holes to a bottom surface (e.g., floor, stabilizer, etc.) and one or more (depending on loop number) mounting holes 406 on a top surface of the isolator, where the top mounting bar does not extend beyond the elastomer body.

[0023] Diagram 400B shows another example mounting configuration, where a bottom mounting bar 404 and a top mounting bar 408 are both extended beyond the elastomer body 402 to provide two pairs of mounting holes to a bottom surface and a top surface (e.g., floor, ceiling, stabilizer, etc.).

[0024] Diagram 400C shows yet another example mounting configuration, where a number of mounting holes 412, 414 (depending on the number of loops) are provided on top and bottom surfaces of the isolator without extensions of the mounting bars beyond the elastomer body 402. The example configurations are for illustration purposes and are not intended to provide limits on embodiments. Any combination of the mounting configurations may be implemented using the principles described herein to provide reduction in harmful effects of shock and vibration. For example, the mounting bars may extend beyond the elastomer body only on one side, only at the top, only at the bottom, or combinations of those. Example implementations may also provide a full range of mounting combinations of through-hole, countersunk, and threaded bars with two or more loops. Diagram 400C also shows a cross-section of the cable 416 inside the elastomer body passing through cable holes in the top mounting bar.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates load axis definitions, deflection considerations, and typical mounting orientations for a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments described herein.

[0026] Diagram 500 shows isolator axes and deflections at the top diagram and example mounting options for different purposes in the bottom diagram. The static and dynamic performance of high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolators (e.g., vibration stiffness values (Kv) and average shock stiffness values (Ks)) can be changed and tuned to meet specific application needs by altering the cable size, number of loops, and elastomer compound properties. Illustrated example isolator axes and deflections include compression 502, 45-degree compression / roll 504, fixed shear 506, and fixed roll 508. Illustrated example mounting optionsDocket No. 3100.0163WOU1512, 514, 516, and 516 are also for compression, 45-degree compression / roll, fixed shear, and fixed roll.

[0027] According to some examples, a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator may include a top mounting bar; a bottom mounting bar; a cable wound between the top and bottom mounting bars, where the cable is passed through lateral cable holes in the top and bottom mounting bars; and an elastomer body encompassing the entire cable and at least a portion of the top and bottom mounting bars, where the elastomer body is arranged to enhance a friction damping characteristic of the cable with a viscoelastic damping characteristic.

[0028] According to other examples, at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars includes one or more mounting holes arranged orthogonally to the cable holes. The mounting holes of the top mounting bar are to fasten the isolator to a load, a platform, or a ceiling, and the mounting holes of the bottom mounting bar are to fasten the isolator to a wall, a platform, or a floor. At least one of the top and bottom mounting bars extends beyond the elastomer body on one or both sides, and an extended portion of the at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars includes at least one mounting hole. Both of the top and bottom mounting bars are contained within the elastomer body. The elastomer body is manufactured using rubber, silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, urethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermoset, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polymer, or a combination thereof. The isolator is arranged to achieve a loss factor of up to 0.8 and provide vibration and shock mitigation in a frequency range from 12 Hz to 16 Hz.

[0029] According to further examples, the top and bottom mounting bars are positioned to interconnect windings of the cable in two diametrically opposite zones. The cable is wound to form a helical structure, a spiral structure, a circular structure, or a curved structure. The cable is single-stranded or multi-stranded. One or more of a type, a size, or a loop number of the cable is selected based on a size of a load and an expected damping. At least one of the top and bottom mounting bars comprise two portions and are arranged to fasten the cable through clamping between the two portions. The top and bottom mounting bars are arranged to fasten the cable through crimping. The top and bottom mounting bars and the cable are manufactured using a metal or a metal alloy.

[0030] According to yet other examples, a vibration stiffness value (Kv) and an average shock stiffness value (Ks) of the isolator is tunable by altering one or more of a cable size, a number of cable windings, or an elastomer compound property. The isolator is arranged to beDocket No. 3100.0163WOU1 mounted for one of a compression deflection, a 45-degree compression / roll deflection, a fixed shear deflection, or a fixed roll deflection. A method for manufacturing a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator as described herein is also provided, where a cable may be wound through the two mounting bars and fastened to the bars (crimping or clamping). The cable and at least portions of the mounting bars may then be covered with (e.g. dipped into) liquid elastomer, which may be cured with the cable / mounting bar structure inside.

[0031] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, are possible from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0032] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. Such depicted architectures are merely examples, and in fact, many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two components so associated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or “operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewed as being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically connectable and / or physically interacting components and / or wirelessly interactable and / or wirelessly interacting components and / or logically interacting and / or logically interactable components.

[0033] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and / or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and / or from the singularDocket No. 3100.0163WOU1 to the plural as is appropriate to the context and / or application. The various singular / plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0034] In general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., “a” and / or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations).

[0035] Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and / or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1

[0036] For any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

[0037] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are possible. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

Docket No. 3100.0163WOU1CLAIMSI / WE Claim:

1. A high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator comprising: a top mounting bar; a bottom mounting bar; a cable wound between the top and bottom mounting bars, wherein the cable is passed through lateral cable holes in the top and bottom mounting bars; and an elastomer body encompassing the entire cable and at least a portion of the top and bottom mounting bars, wherein the elastomer body is arranged to enhance a friction damping characteristic of the cable with a viscoelastic damping characteristic.

2. The isolator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars includes one or more mounting holes arranged orthogonally to the cable holes.

3. The isolator of claim 2, wherein the mounting holes of the top mounting bar are to fasten the isolator to a load, a platform, or a ceiling, and the mounting holes of the bottom mounting bar are to fasten the isolator to a wall, a platform, or a floor.

4. The isolator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars extends beyond the elastomer body on one or both sides, and an extended portion of the at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars includes at least one mounting hole.

5. The isolator of claim 1, wherein both of the top and bottom mounting bars are contained within the elastomer body.

6. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the elastomer body is manufactured using rubber, silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, urethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), thermoset, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), polymer, or a combination thereof.Docket No. 3100.0163WOU17. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the isolator is arranged to achieve a loss factor of up to 0.8 and provide vibration and shock mitigation in a frequency range from 12 Hz to 16 Hz.

8. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom mounting bars are positioned to interconnect windings of the cable in two diametrically opposite zones.

9. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the cable is wound to form a helical structure, a spiral structure, a circular structure, or a curved structure.

10. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the cable is single-stranded or multi-stranded.

11. The isolator of claim 1, wherein one or more of a type, a size, or a loop number of the cable is selected based on a size of a load and an expected damping.

12. The isolator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and bottom mounting bars comprise two portions and are arranged to fasten the cable through clamping between the two portions.

13. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom mounting bars are arranged to fasten the cable through crimping.

14. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom mounting bars and the cable are manufactured using a metal or a metal alloy.

15. The isolator of claim 1, wherein a vibration stiffness value (Kv) and an average shock stiffness value (Ks) of the isolator is tunable by altering one or more of a cable size, a number of cable windings, or an elastomer compound property.

16. The isolator of claim 1, wherein the isolator is arranged to be mounted for one of a compression deflection, a 45-degree compression / roll deflection, a fixed shear deflection, or a fixed roll deflection.Docket No. 3100.0163WOU117. A method for manufacturing a high damped elastomer high energy rope mount isolator according to any of the claims 1 through 16.

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