Tunable Vibration Damper with Elastomeric Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tuned damper systems for optical tables are difficult to manufacture and adjust, requiring hermetic seals and skilled labor, with factory-set tuning characteristics that are inflexible for changing environments or needs.
Innovation Solution
A tunable damper assembly with a frame providing structural rigidity, a movable damper mass, flexible mass engaging members, and a load mechanism to apply biasing forces, allowing for adjustable mechanical compliance and resonance frequency matching, eliminating the need for hermetic seals and enabling user-adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hermetic seals are used to ensure damper fluid remains in place, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hermetic seal requirement entirely by replacing fluid-based damping with solid elastomeric damping elements. The elastomeric elements are contained within a simple housing without requiring sealed chambers, eliminating the manufacturing complexity of hermetic sealing while maintaining damping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric damping elements can be easily replaced if needed, and the simple unsealed housing allows for cost-effective manufacturing. The system trades the complexity of permanent sealed structures for simpler, potentially replaceable components that are easier and faster to manufacture.
2Manufacturing precision
If factory-determined tuning characteristics are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable tuning mechanisms that allow the damper's resonance frequency to be modified after manufacturing. This enables the system to adapt to different environmental conditions and application requirements while maintaining precise control over the tuning characteristics through mechanical adjustment rather than fixed factory settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping system allows for changes in key parameters such as resonance frequency and damping coefficient through adjustable components. This enables the same manufactured unit to be tuned for different applications and environments, providing adaptability without sacrificing manufacturing precision.
3Reliability
If complex sealing mechanisms are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the sealing mechanism entirely from the damper design. By using solid elastomeric elements instead of enclosed fluids, the system achieves reliable damping function without any sealing components, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining or improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elimination of sealing mechanisms simplifies the overall device structure, making it less complex and potentially more reliable. The design accepts simpler components that don't require maintenance of sealed environments, trading the complexity of precision sealing for robust, simple construction.
4Manufacturing precision
If hermetic seals are required, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hermetic seal requirement from the manufacturing process. By using open-chamber designs with solid elastomeric elements, the system eliminates the need for precision sealing operations, making assembly simpler and more accessible to manufacturers without specialized sealing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The design accepts simpler manufacturing processes that don't require high-precision sealing operations. The elastomeric elements can be installed in unsealed housings, allowing for easier assembly and potential field replacement without requiring specialized sealing equipment or techniques.
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 allows for easy manufacturing, user-tuning, and adaptability to varying environments, providing effective vibration damping across a range of frequencies without the need for complex sealing or specialized equipment.
Implementation Method 1
at least one flexible mass engaging member configured to elastically support the movable damper mass
Implementation Method 2
the mass engaging member may be assembled with a highly damped element that experiences shear deformation during the flexural motion of the mass engaging member upon movement of the damper mass
Implementation Method 3
the load mechanism, load plate and engaging member supports are configured to apply a biasing force to the one or more mass engaging members
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
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AI summary
Embodiments are directed to tunable damper embodiments and methods of using the same for damping resonant and non-resonant vibrations present within an object that the tunable damper is secured to. In some cases, the tunable damper may be tuned before, during or after being secured to an object.