Mounting Assemblies with Hybrid Stiffness for Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mounting assemblies often fail to effectively isolate or dampen vibrations across a wide range of frequencies, leading to reduced performance and increased deflection when attempting to reduce rigidity, and they are typically designed for specific load ranges, making them inadequate for varied applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of a mounting assembly that combines positive-stiffness and negative-stiffness biasing elements, where the negative-stiffness biasing elements are connected in parallel with the positive-stiffness biasing elements to reduce the overall spring rate and natural frequency, thereby reducing the transmission of vibrations and kinetic energy inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the rigidity of mounting assemblies is reduced to dampen vibrations, then vibration isolation improves, but structural deflection increases and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from conventional single-positive-stiffness mounting assemblies to assemblies incorporating both positive-stiffness and negative-stiffness biasing elements. The negative-stiffness elements (such as pre-compressed springs or buckled beams) provide a stabilizing effect that counteracts the loss of structural rigidity, allowing the system to maintain both vibration isolation performance and structural integrity simultaneously. This changes the stiffness parameter from purely positive to a combination of positive and negative stiffness components.
2Reliability
If conventional mounting assemblies are designed for specific load ranges, then they maintain performance within those ranges, but they become inadequate for varied applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing mounting assemblies with a hybrid stiffness system that can adapt to multiple operating conditions. The combination of positive-stiffness elements (providing load-bearing capacity) and negative-stiffness elements (providing vibration isolation) creates a multi-functional system that performs reliably across varied load ranges and application types, from light-duty automotive to heavy-duty industrial applications.
3Strength
If positive-stiffness biasing elements are used alone, then structural integrity is maintained, but natural frequency remains high and vibration transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the anti-weight principle by introducing negative-stiffness biasing elements that act as a counterbalance to the positive-stiffness elements. The negative-stiffness elements provide a counteracting force that reduces the overall spring rate and natural frequency of the mounting assembly, thereby improving vibration isolation performance while the positive-stiffness elements maintain structural integrity.
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
This configuration effectively isolates and reduces the transmission of vibrations by shifting the natural frequency away from targeted frequencies, enhancing performance across a broader range of loads and frequencies while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a base and a mounting element that are operatively associated with one another and dimensioned for securement between associated supported and supporting structures. The base and the mounting element can together at least partially define a chamber configured to receive a quantity of pressurized gas to thereby form a positive-stiffness biasing element
Implementation Method 2
At least one biasing element capable of exhibiting a negative stiffness can be operatively connected between the base and mounting element in parallel with the positive-stiffness biasing element
Implementation Method 3
At least one negative-stiffness biasing element can be operatively disposed in parallel with the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element such that a combined spring rate of the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element and the at least one negative-stiffness biasing element is less than the positive-stiffness spring rate of the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element alone
Implementation Method 4
Mounting assemblies having conventional constructions of a wide variety of types, kinds, configurations and arrangements have been developed for use in transmitting or otherwise communicating the static and dynamic loads to, from and/or otherwise between the supported and supporting structures
Data Source
AI summary
A mounting assembly (200) includes first and second mounting components (108, 112) that are displaceable relative to one another. At least one positive-stiffness biasing element (236) exhibiting a positive-stiffness spring rate is operatively disposed between the first and second mounting components. At least one negative-stiffness biasing (288, 290) element exhibiting a negative-stiffness spring rate is disposed between the first and second mounting components in parallel with the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element. A combined spring rate of the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element and the at least one negative-stiffness biasing element is less than the positive-stiffness spring rate of the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element alone. The mounting assembly can exhibit a natural frequency that is less than a natural frequency of a mounting assembly having the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element without the at least one negative-stiffness biasing element. Systems including such mounting assemblies are also included.