Flexure Isolator Structure for Vibration Isolation Under Thermal Growth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration isolation systems fail to effectively address the issue of stress increase due to thermal gradients, leading to ineffective isolation or failure in critical components, particularly in applications with large thermal gradients.
Innovation Solution
A vibration isolation system comprising multiple isolators with flexures and expansion mechanisms that allow for relative displacement in both longitudinal and radial directions, including single-piece and multi-part isolators with spring-loaded wedge elements, to accommodate thermal expansion and maintain effective isolation despite temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid isolation members are used to provide effective vibration isolation, then isolation performance is improved, but the members fail under thermal stress due to inability to accommodate expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation member is divided into multiple segments that can move relative to each other. The first segment is connected to the first structure, the second segment is connected to the second structure, and these segments are interconnected through a joint that allows relative movement. This segmentation enables the isolation system to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining isolation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation member transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic structure with degrees of freedom. The joint between segments provides rotational and/or translational freedom, allowing the isolation member to adapt its configuration in response to thermal gradients. This dynamic capability enables the system to maintain isolation effectiveness while accommodating thermal stress.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the isolation system is made rigid to maintain stable configuration, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion causes stress increase and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid structure is segmented into multiple parts connected through movable joints. These joints allow the structure to maintain overall stability while accommodating local thermal expansion through controlled relative movements between segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation member's configuration parameters (position, orientation) are allowed to change in response to thermal conditions. The joint enables changes in the relative position and orientation of segments, allowing the system to adapt to thermal expansion while maintaining structural integrity.
3Strength
If the isolation member is made flexible to accommodate thermal expansion, then thermal stress resistance is improved, but vibration isolation effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible isolation member is segmented to provide controlled flexibility only at specific joints, while other portions maintain rigidity for effective vibration isolation. This selective flexibility allows thermal accommodation without compromising overall isolation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation member incorporates dynamic joints that provide flexibility for thermal expansion while maintaining sufficient rigidity for vibration isolation. The joint's degrees of freedom are designed to accommodate thermal movements while filtering out vibration frequencies.
4Device complexity
If a simple single-piece isolator is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to thermal gradients is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The single-piece isolator is replaced with a multi-segment structure connected by joints. This segmentation adds thermal adaptation capability while keeping each individual segment relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint connecting segments serves multiple functions: it allows relative movement for thermal expansion, maintains structural connectivity, and provides vibration isolation. This multi-functionality achieves thermal adaptability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
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 system effectively attenuates vibrations and shocks by allowing for adaptive displacement and expansion, ensuring the isolation of critical components from damaging frequency content and maintaining isolation performance even under thermal stress.
Implementation Method 1
A vibration isolation system includes both single-piece isolators with flexures, and multi-piece isolators... at least some of the isolators expand in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction
Implementation Method 2
each of the multiple isolators includes a flexure... The flexures are S-shape flexures
Implementation Method 3
The system effectively attenuates vibrations and shocks by allowing for adaptive displacement and expansion
Implementation Method 4
at least one spring provides a force on the wedge element to provide a force separating the inner isolator part and the outer isolator part
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration isolation system includes multiple isolators between an inner object and an outer housing that surrounds the object. In one example the inner object may be a rack or container that holds electronics, such as printed circuit boards, and the outer housing may be a housing for a missile, such as a supersonic or hypersonic missile. The isolators have flexures to attenuate vibrations, isolating the inner object at least in part from vibrations encountered by the outer housing. The flexures may be oriented in different directions for different isolators to change the resonant frequency of the system for a given axis. In addition the isolators are able to compensate for differences in expansion between the inner object and the outer housing. The isolators may also include multi-part isolators that have spring-loaded wedge elements used to expand the isolators in one or more radial directions.