Projectile Vibration Isolation System with Stress-Limiting Stops
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical waves, such as vibrations and shock, negatively affect components in systems and devices, particularly in guided projectiles during launch and flight, where inertial measurement units (IMUs) may resonate or experience extreme acceleration, leading to diminished performance.
Innovation Solution
A vibration isolation system comprising isolators and stops is used to isolate sensitive components within the projectile, limiting stress loading during launch and pyrotechnic events, featuring a base, isolators, and axial and lateral stops to prevent direct contact and absorb forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If isolators are used to reduce mechanical wave transmission to sensitive components, then the performance and reliability of guidance systems is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation system is divided into multiple functional components: isolators for vibration reduction, axial stops for longitudinal stress limitation, and lateral stops for transverse force protection. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of mechanical wave interference, improving overall reliability while keeping individual components simple and manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The isolators are pre-configured with appropriate stiffness and damping characteristics to provide immediate protection against mechanical waves during critical events such as launch and pyrotechnic deployments. The stops are pre-positioned to engage at predetermined stress thresholds, providing beforehand cushioning that prevents damage before it occurs
2Reliability
If additional vibration and shock requirements are added to equipment design specifications, then component reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The isolators serve as intermediary elements between the harsh external environment (mechanical waves) and the sensitive equipment (IMU and guidance system). These intermediaries absorb and attenuate vibrations and shocks, protecting the equipment without requiring the equipment itself to be redesigned with enhanced vibration resistance, thereby reducing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation system uses relatively simple, cost-effective components (isolators and stops) that can be easily manufactured and replaced if necessary, rather than requiring expensive, complex vibration-resistant equipment designs. The stops act as sacrificial elements that protect more valuable components
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the source of mechanical waves is reduced or eliminated, then the harmful effects on components are minimized, but this is often difficult, prohibitive, costly, or impossible in many systems
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful mechanical wave effects are extracted and isolated from the sensitive equipment through the use of isolators and stops. Instead of trying to eliminate the source of mechanical waves (which would require modifying the launch system or pyrotechnic events), the solution extracts and contains the vibrations and shocks within the isolation system, protecting the IMU and guidance system
Solution Approach 2:
The isolators convert harmful mechanical wave energy into beneficial damping and heat, transforming the harmful vibrations and shocks into a form that does not damage the equipment. The stops convert excessive forces into controlled engagement events, turning potentially damaging stress into a protective mechanism
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 reduces the transmission of mechanical waves to sensitive components, ensuring accurate data from IMUs and preventing damage during extreme accelerations, thereby enhancing the performance and reliability of guidance systems.
Implementation Method 1
a set of isolators and a series of stops configured to isolate a piece of equipment in a projectile
Implementation Method 2
The system effectively reduces the transmission of mechanical waves to sensitive components
Implementation Method 3
The stops serve to limit the amount of stress loading placed on the isolators during transient events where loads associated with launch of the projectile or deployment of flight control surface might damage the isolators
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for reducing transmission of mechanical waves according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a set of isolators and a series of stops configured to isolate a piece of equipment in a projectile. The stops serve to limit the amount of stress loading placed on the isolators during transient events where loads associated with launch of the projectile or deployment of flight control surface might damage the isolators or cause the equipment to fail.