Device for damping vibration-sensitive devices

Abstract

The invention relates to machine manufacturing. A device for damping vibration- sensitive equipment comprises a sealed container filled with a viscous liquid, with a suspended load. The container consists of a housing with one open end and a flat lid tightly fitting to said open end, corresponding in shape and size to the open end of the housing. A load made of a high-density material is placed inside the housing in such a way as not to touch the inner walls of the housing and the upper surface of the lid. The load, depending on its shape and the shape of the housing, is suspended by one or more flexible, inextensible or extensible threads that are neutral to the chemical action of the viscous liquid. The threads are secured in a plate for fastening the thread, located on a retaining ring in the highest possible part of the housing. The load consists of several conjugated coaxial volumetric elements. The increase of the operating accuracy of extremely motion-sensitive equipment and the improvement of the quality of its use in relevant processes is provided.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR DAMPING VIBRATION-SENSITIVE DEVICES

[0002] Field of Technology

[0003] The invention relates to devices for eliminating vibrations from internal and external sources and can be used in various fields of technology where the stable operation of motionsensitive equipment requires reducing the impact of vibration on the equipment, such as in sound reproduction devices, electron and optical microscopes, micromanipulators and optical stages, and frequency generators.

[0004] Background of the Technology

[0005] High-precision audio equipment, such as record players, vacuum tube-based equipment, and equipment with frequency generators, are particularly susceptible to external sources of vibration, which significantly impacts their performance: sound output, image quality, and timing accuracy. Specifically, vibrations are known to degrade the performance of quartz resonators in frequency generators, which are present in most electronic components of audio playback equipment. As the amplitude of these vibrations increases, the stability of the generated frequency decreases. When a frequency generator experiences vibration, the resonator inside becomes unstable, and the time intervals between clock cycles become unequal. This leads to timing errors, leading to distorted operation of devices that require precise timing, such as audio equipment, telecommunications equipment, 4G and 5G network transmitters, and navigation equipment. Devices that use transistors or vacuum tubes are also susceptible to the negative effects of vibrations, which introduce unnecessary harmonics into the audio material being played.

[0006] Under ideal conditions, a turntable should be completely isolated from ambient vibrations, such as air disturbances in the listening room, vibrations transmitted through the floor and equipment rack, and seismic vibrations. To isolate audio equipment from external sources of parasitic vibration, special floor structures, equipment racks, and various types of isolation supports and platforms are used for turntables and other audio equipment. However, complete isolation is never achieved. The energy of parasitic vibrations accumulates within the equipment itself, requiring damping to dissipate the vibrations and reduce their amplitude. Vibrations are also transmitted through the turntable body and tonearm to the cartridge, where they are converted into parasitic sound signals and distort the audio information. It's worthnoting that turntables contain internal sources of vibration that distort the audio signal and cannot be isolated by adding anti- vibration supports and platforms. These sources include platter bearing noise, motor vibration, and cantilever vibrations in the record groove. When playing vinyl records, the cantilever, mounted in the cartridge, vibrates in the modulated groove of the record. These cantilever vibrations are transmitted through the rubber surround of the cartridge body into the tonearm tube, reach its end, and return to the cartridge mount, where they are superimposed on the useful audio signal along with vibrational noise from external sources. Cantilever vibrations are also transmitted through the record to the turntable body and then back to the tonearm. These parasitic vibrations are often within the audio bandwidth and, accordingly, negatively impact the audio performance of audio equipment.

[0007] In medicine, biology, and genetic engineering, ultra-precise vibration- sensitive devices (micromanipulators, microinjectors) are used to manipulate microscopic objects such as individual cell nuclei, cells, and cell groups. For such devices to function effectively, they also require microscopes that are equally sensitive to motion. In medical facilities and scientific laboratories, it is common practice to place equipment on special optical tables or tabletop platforms that isolate the devices from external vibration sources. However, as practice shows, airborne vibration noise generated by the devices themselves or personnel remains, distorting the observed image, complicating manipulation of microscopic objects, and leading to errors.

[0008] The problems caused by unwanted vibration of extremely motion- sensitive equipment used in various processes have been extensively studied, resulting in numerous solutions developed to prevent or reduce the transmission of vibrational motion. Devices designed to reduce unwanted vibration picked up by equipment from its surroundings are commonly referred to as vibration isolators or suspension devices. Their designs typically utilize various combinations of elements such as elastic pads made of various materials, mechanical springs of various types, and pneumatic devices. However, known vibration isolators have design flaws that prevent them from reducing the transmission of unwanted vibration to sensitive equipment due to vibrations transmitted by the air and generated within the isolators themselves.

[0009] Specific vibration isolation systems most closely related to the claimed invention are described in patents (US 5,804,776, US 6,655,668, US 1,018,7712, EP 4,239,214). Forming an intermediate link between the equipment and the supporting surface, they provide universal isolation of the payload from vibration from the supporting surface, exhibiting low rigidity in the axial direction, typically in the direction of the payload weight, and in any direction transverse to the axial direction, typically horizontal, and can accommodate slight tilt.However, these systems do not address the problem of reducing internal vibrations of the equipment itself or vibrations induced by the air environment.

[0010] Summary of the Invention

[0011] The technical objective of the claimed invention is to create a device that reduces vibration levels and dampens extremely motion- sensitive equipment in six degrees of freedom. The technical result is an increase in the operating accuracy of such equipment and an improvement in the quality of its use in the relevant processes.

[0012] The stated technical problem is solved, and the technical result is achieved, by providing a device for damping vibration- sensitive equipment in the form of a sealed container filled with a viscous liquid and consisting of a housing with one open end and a flat lid tightly fitting to said open end, the lid corresponding in shape and size to the open end of the housing. A weight made of a high-density material is placed within the housing so as not to touch the inner walls of the housing or the upper surface of the lid. The weight, depending on its shape and the shape of the housing, is suspended by one or more flexible, inextensible or extensible threads that are inert to the chemical action of the viscous liquid. The threads are secured to a thread attachment plate located on a retaining ring in the highest possible portion of the housing. The weight itself consists of several conjugate, coaxial volumetric elements.

[0013] The housing may have one of the following volumetric shapes: a cylinder, a pyramid, a parallelogram, a cube, or another.

[0014] The load can be made of steel, lead, tungsten or other high-density material (large weight with a small volume).

[0015] The coaxial volumetric elements that make up the load may have one of the following volumetric shapes: a cylinder, sphere, parallelepiped, prism, or other volumetric shape symmetrical to its perpendicular cross-section. The flexible, inextensible thread, inert to the chemical attack of the viscous liquid, may be made of nylon, nylon, Kevlar, or other synthetic or natural fibers, such as silk. The flexible, stretchable thread, inert to the chemical attack of the viscous liquid, may be made of elastomers or rubber, or it may be a steel spring.

[0016] To prevent abrasion, it is advisable to pass the flexible thread through plastic bushings at the points where it connects to the load and the thread attachment plate.

[0017] Silicone oil, glycerin, or other synthetic or mineral oils may be used as the viscous liquid. The body and lid are made of a material that is inert to viscous liquids and unaffected by the environment, such as light metals or their alloys: aluminum, titanium, plastic,polyamide, fiberglass, carbon fiber composites, Kevlar, and other materials with similar properties, but unknown in the current state of the art.

[0018] In a specific embodiment of the invention, the lid can be mounted on a clamp for attachment to equipment.

[0019] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] A specific embodiment of the claimed invention is shown in Figs. 1-3 using the following designations:

[0021] 1 - weight;

[0022] 2 - thread attachment plate;

[0023] 3 - retaining ring;

[0024] 4 - bushing;

[0025] 5 - sealing gasket;

[0026] 6 - cover;

[0027] 7, 11 - screw;

[0028] 8 - nut;

[0029] 9 - clamp bar;

[0030] 10 - cover plate;

[0031] 12 - housing.

[0032] Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0033] The device for damping vibration- sensitive equipment, the general appearance of which is shown in Fig. 1, is a sealed container consisting of a housing 12 with one open end and a flat cover 6 that fits tightly to said open end and corresponds in shape and size to the open end of the housing 12. A sealing gasket 5 is fixed to the cover 6 (Figs. 2-3) using screws 7, ensuring a tight seal after assembly of the device. The interior of the housing 12 is filled with a viscous liquid, in particular silicone oil. Inside the housing 12, a load 1 is placed (Fig. 2-3), made of several conjugated coaxial volumetric elements made of a high-density material, in such a way as not to touch the inner walls of the housing 12 and the upper surface of the cover 6. Thus, the load 1 has a backlash on all sides in the form of a viscous liquid, which separates it from accidental contact during transportation, installation or operation with the parts of the device surrounding it: the plate for fastening the thread 2, the cover 6, the housing 12,preventing damage to the threads, their tangling and / or abrasion. The construction of load 1 from several conjugate, coaxial volumetric elements allows for the maintenance and easy restoration of its orientation within housing 12, as well as facilitates the installation of load 1. Load 1, depending on its shape and the shape of housing 12, is suspended by one or more flexible, inextensible or extensible threads that are inert to the chemical action of the viscous liquid. These threads are secured to a thread-attaching plate 2, which is located on a retaining ring 3 in the maximum possible upper portion of housing 12 to ensure the maximum length of the flexible threads, which determines the operating efficiency of the device. Moreover, at the junctions of the flexible thread with load 1 and with the thread -attaching plate 2, the flexible thread passes through plastic bushings 4.

[0034] A device for damping vibration- sensitive equipment can be installed on the equipment by directly attaching a cover 6 to the equipment, for example, by gluing, or using a clamping clamp. The clamping clamp consists of clamping clamp bars 9, on one of which the cover 6 is mounted on the outer side at one end, pads 10 made of plastic located on the inner side of the other ends of the clamping clamp bars 9 to protect the attachment point to the equipment from abrasion, screws 11 for tightening the clamping clamp bars 9, and a nut 8 for adjusting the distance between the clamping clamp bars 9. Cover 6 is attached to the outer side of one of the clamping clamp bars 9 using screws.

[0035] The present invention is an additional device that improves the technical characteristics of existing equipment without replacing it by enabling rigid fastening and tight fit to a location that must be maximally isolated from the effects of vibration.

[0036] For example, when using the claimed device for damping a tonearm arm, if the tonearm arm vibrates due to resonance in the cartridge-tonearm system, the tonearm arm itself and the device rigidly attached to it for damping vibration- sensitive equipment may vibrate with significant amplitude. However, the weight 1 suspended within the housing 12 will tend to maintain a stationary position relative to the turntable due to gravity. The viscous fluid filling the interior of the housing 12 will exhibit the same oscillatory motion as the device itself, and the weight 1 will experience viscous resistance and friction to its motion, damping the amplitude of the resulting vibrations. Maximum efficiency of the viscous resistance of weight 1 in the audio and subsonic frequency ranges is achieved through optimal fluid viscosity and the shape and weight of weight 1, which consists of several conjugate, coaxial volumetric elements. Vibrations transmitted through the air to the tonearm arm from the cartridge, turntable body, and other sources will also be damped by the present invention over a wide frequency range.The tracking force at the cantilever tip where it contacts the record is precisely specified by the cartridge manufacturer. Typically, the cartridge's tracking weight at the cantileverrecord contact point ranges from 1 to 5 g with a possible error of ±0.1 g, for example, 1.65-1.85 g for the Lyra Delos cartridge. Fine adjustment of this tracking force is achieved by moving the counterweight on the tonearm arm when changing cartridges. Mounting the claimed invention on the tonearm arm at its closest proximity to the cartridge significantly increases the tracking force. Therefore, to compensate for the added mass, the tonearm design must either include a counterweight of sufficient mass or allow it to be offset further relative to the tonearm's axis of rotation.

[0037] When using the invention, for example, to reduce vibrations affecting optical equipment, telecommunications equipment (switches, routers, etc.), laboratory equipment, or a microscope located on a special platform, the weight of load 1 is selected based on the weight of the platform itself, the table, and the equipment on it. For example, to stabilize an optical table with equipment weighing a total of 45 kg, load 1 weighing several kilograms is required. Flat cover 6 will increase the contact patch with the table or clamp to better transmit vibrations to the device.

Claims

I claim:

1. A device for damping vibration- sensitive equipment, comprising a sealed container filled with a viscous liquid, with a suspended load, characterized in that the container consists of a housing with one open end and a flat lid tightly fitting to said open end, corresponding in shape and size to the open end of the housing, a load made of a high-density material is placed inside the housing in such a way as not to touch the inner walls of the housing and the upper surface of the lid, and the load, depending on its shape and the shape of the housing, is suspended by one or more flexible, inextensible or extensible threads that are neutral to the chemical action of the viscous liquid, secured in a plate for fastening the thread, located on a retaining ring in the highest possible part of the housing, and the load itself consists of several conjugated coaxial volumetric elements.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing has one of the following volumetric shapes: a cylinder, a pyramid, a parallelogram, a cube, or other.

3. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the load is made of steel, lead, tungsten, or other high-density material.

4. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the volumetric elements have one of the following shapes: a cylinder, a sphere, a parallelepiped, a prism, or another volumetric shape symmetrical to its perpendicular cross-section.

5. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the flexible, inextensible thread, inert to the chemical action of the viscous liquid, is made of nylon, nylon, Kevlar, or other synthetic or natural fibers.

6. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the flexible, extensible thread, inert to the chemical action of the viscous liquid, is made of elastomers or rubber, or is a steel spring.

7. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the flexible thread is passed through plastic bushings at the points where it connects to the load and to the thread attachment plate.

8. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that silicone oil, glycerin, or other synthetic or mineral oils are used as the viscous liquid.

9. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the body and lid are made of a material that is neutral to the viscous liquid and is not susceptible to environmental influences.

10. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the lid is mounted on a clamp.

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