Coaxial Spring Damper Layout for Shock and Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spring mass damper systems face challenges in effectively damping resonant vibrations between structures while maintaining the primary spring's spring rate, especially in applications involving high shock events.

Innovation Solution

A spring damper device comprising a directional spring and a viscoelastic damper, where the viscoelastic damper is configured to extend within the inner diameter region of the directional spring, allowing it to operate independently and maintain the spring rate of the directional spring during compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fluid damper mechanism is used as a secondary spring to the primary coil spring, then the spring rate of the primary spring is modified or affected, but the damping effect is improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping effectVSAvoidspring rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the damping function from the spring function by placing the viscoelastic damper inside the coil spring's inner diameter region. This segmentation allows the damper to provide damping without acting as a secondary spring, thus maintaining the primary spring's spring rate while improving damping effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The viscoelastic damper is nested within the inner diameter region of the coil spring, allowing the damper to be contained within the spring's working space. This nesting arrangement enables the damper to operate independently without interfering with the spring's external dimensions or mounting configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a complex damping system is included to attenuate vibration, then vibration damping is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The viscoelastic damper is nested within the inner diameter region of the coil spring, utilizing the existing space within the spring's working envelope. This nesting eliminates the need for separate damping components and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective vibration damping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively absorbs impact shocks and dampens vibrations without affecting the spring rate of the directional spring, providing improved performance in applications requiring precise shock absorption and vibration control.

Implementation Method 1

a viscoelastic damper comprising a viscoelastic polymer comprising both an element of viscosity and an element of elasticity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 2

the viscoelastic damper operates to dampen vibration associated with the load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Implementation Method 3

the directional spring operates to compress to absorb the load and any impact shock associated with the load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3899314B1Coaxial spring damper device and system
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 RAYTHEON CANADA LTD
  • EP3899314B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3899314B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3899314B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A spring damper device comprising a directional spring having first and second ends, and defining an inner diameter region. A damper (e.g., viscoelastic polymer slug) comprising an element of elasticity configured to be situated within the inner diameter region of the directional spring. In response to a load on the spring damper device, the directional spring operates to compress, and the damper operates to dampen vibration associated with the load. The damper can comprise a viscoelastic damper comprising both an element of viscosity and the element of elasticity. The damper can be substantially coaxially aligned with the directional spring. Spring damper device(s) can be preloaded in a micro adjustment mechanism to account for positional adjustments between two structures (e.g., between a scope and a firearm), such that the spring(s) attenuate a shock impulse event (e.g., when firing), while the damper(s) attenuate vibration (e.g., to prevent damage the scope).