Csa Engineering, Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Honeywell G.m.b.h.

Moog Gmbh

Conor D Johnson

Paul S Wilke

Toren S Davis

David A Osterberg

Scott C Pendleton

John M Howat

A vibration isolator () includes a flexure (), a constrained VEM layer coupler (), and a constrained VEM layer () configured to oppose relative translational and rotational motion between points of the flexure. The flexure may be a loop flexure and may include multiple loops that may be elliptical, circular, rectangular or square in overall aspect, for example. In multi-loop embodiments, the loops may share a common major axis or their major axes may be at an angle to one another. The device enhances damping by providing an increase in viscoelastic surface area over that available in the surface area of the flexure and provides a method of adjusting the strain in the VEM as the flexure undergoes deflection.

Vibration isolation system and method

The invention disclosed is a low-profile, multi-axis, highly passively damped, vibration isolation mount which when used in multiplicity provides a complete vibration load isolation mounting system. The device provides in unique fashion a very low profile interface in combination with independently determinable compliance in all directions of vibration loading. Substantial passive damping is afforded without sacrifice to strength and linearity of behavior through adaptation of a shear wall type constrained layer damping. The result is a highly passively damped vibration isolation device that provides a very low profile interface, wide ranging longitudinal and lateral compliance management, in a durable, reliable, lightweight, and compact form.

Low-profile, multi-axis, highly passively damped, vibration isolation mount

A container with an inside surface and a mass mounted for oscillation in the container with a pair of bellows in the container each having a bias spring therein and a removable end to expose the interior of the bellows to exchange the spring for easy tuning of the damping characteristics and a plurality of balls, one each positioned in a plurality of troughs around the periphery of the mass proximate the ends there to bear against the inside surface so as to provide low friction oscillation of the mass in the container.

Tuned mass damper with tunable damping and anti friction rolling mass

The excitations from the engines of launch vehicles and the aerodynamics of flight produce large vibrations which are highly detrimental to spacecraft during launch. Significant dynamic loads often exist in all three translations and for rotations as well, therefore, complete six degree-of-freedom vibration load isolation is often desired. The disclosed device utilizes a previously disclosed passive axial vibration isolation device to simply and effectively create a passive three-axis vibration isolation device suitable for effecting a six degree-of-freedom whole-spacecraft passive vibration isolation system. The vibration isolation system design can be simply tuned to address various dynamic load frequency bands of concern, including isolation for pyrotechnic shock. The resulting system is compact and lightweight and can be easily utilized with existing launch vehicle-to-payload support structures.

Three-axis, six degree-of-freedom, whole-spacecraft passive vibration isolation system

A passive, multi-axis, highly damped, shock load isolation mount which can serve as a complete one-piece mount, particularly of a spacecraft to its launch vehicle or launch vehicle adaptor structure, or can serve in multiplicity as necessary to provide a complete shock load isolation mounting system. When used as a one-piece mount or used in multitude as a system, the invention provides substantial reduction in the shock load transmission to a payload from its support base for both axial loads and lateral loads. The unique multi-layered, opposed beam, contorted load path flexure design combined with a shear wall type constrained layer damping treatment provides substantial shock load isolation in a durable, reliable, lightweight, and compact form.

Passive, multi-axis, highly damped, shock isolation mounts for spacecraft

Excitations from engines of the launch vehicles and the aerodynamics of flight produce large vibrations which are very detrimental to spacecraft during launch. Whole-spacecraft vibration isolation systems that greatly reduce the transmitted structure-borne vibrations to the spacecraft are disclosed. The disclosed devices, when combined together into an isolation system, provide vibration isolation for the complete spacecraft and are the only connection between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle. Devices that provide isolation in the axial (thrust) direction are disclosed. These devices consist of an arrangement of damped metallic flexures and machined springs, which provide relative flexibility in the desired direction. Passive damping is provided by compressing and shearing viscoelastic materials.

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Belmont, CA, United States of America

Conor D Johnson