Lord Corporation

Dennis P McGuire

Lane R Miller

Mark R Jolly

Askari Badre-Alam

Gerald P Whiteford

Peter J Jones

Warren E Schmidt

Charles M Nobles

Paul T Herbst

J Brian Watson

Henry T Wu

Kaya A Kosar

Ram J Baheti

A support strut includes a strut isolator with a first strut end member and a second strut end member, the second strut end distal from the first strut end. The first strut end member includes an outer rigid housing with an inner cavity. The second strut end member includes an inner rigid member extending into the outer rigid housing inner cavity and includes an inertial track extending in a direction from the first strut end towards the second strut end. The inertial track has a first entrance end proximate the first strut end and a second entrance end proximate the second strut end. The isolator includes a first outer tubular elastomer disposed between the outer rigid housing and the inner rigid member. The isolator includes a second inner end tubular elastomer disposed between the outer rigid housing and the inner rigid member proximate the second strut end. The isolator includes a third inner end tubular elastomer, the third inner end tubular elastomer disposed between the outer rigid housing and the inner rigid member proximate the first strut end. The isolator includes an isolator fluid in a first variable volume fluid chamber proximate the second strut end and the second track entrance end, and in a second variable volume fluid chamber proximate the first strut end and the first track entrance end. Movement of the first strut end member in a first strut direction towards the second strut end member plungers the fluid from the second variable volume chamber through the track towards the first variable volume chamber, and an opposite movement of the first strut end member in a second direction away from the second strut end plungers the fluid from the first variable volume chamber through the track towards the second variable volume chamber.

Isolated axial support strut for supporting an axial load and axial support strut isolator

Helicopter reduced vibration axial support struts and aircraft suspension system are disclosed with at least one vibration controlling fluid containing strut. The powered struts include an outer rigid housing containing an inner rigid member and first and second variable volume fluid chambers. Fluid pressure differentials are created between the first and second variable volume fluid chambers to control motion between the strut ends. The powered fluid containing struts, support isolators, suspension systems, and methods of operation provide reduced helicopter aircraft vibrations.

Helicopter reduced vibration isolator axial support strut

A fluid and elastomer device for isolating dynamic loading between members connected to the device, the fluid and elastomer device comprising: an inner member that defines a compliance chamber; an outer member that defines an outer housing chamber; an elastomeric element flexibly interconnecting said inner member relative to said outer member; a passageway located in the compliance chamber and flow connecting the compliance chamber with a primary working chamber; a secondary compliance member joined to the passageway in the compliance chamber; a volume compensator located in the housing chamber the volume compensator comprising spring means, piston member at one spring end and a diaphragm member that overlies the piston; a member located between the compliance and housing chambers, the member being moveable with the outer housing, the moveable member in combination with the diaphragm defining a compensator chamber; and a volume of working fluid in said chambers and passageway.

Fluid and elastomer apparatus with discrete volume compensator and secondary compliance

A fluid isolator apparatus (,) for isolating vibration between a vibrating member, such as a helicopter transmission or pylon and another structure, such as a helicopter fuselage. In one aspect, the fluid and elastomer apparatus (,) includes an inner member (,), an outer member (,), and an elastomer element (,) flexibly interconnecting them. First (,) and second (,) operating chambers are interconnected by a passageway (,). Fluid (,) oscillates between the operating chambers (,) through passageway (,). A spring (,) flexibly suspends the piston (,) such that dynamic motion between said inner and outer member (,) displaces piston (,) and spring (,). Preferably the a hollow cavity (,) houses both the piston (,) and a metal coil spring (,). The stiffness of the coil spring (,) may be interchanged to adjust a resonant parameter. Optionally, the piston mass itself or an additional tuning mass (,) mounted on the piston (,) may be used to accomplish tuning. Embodiments describing pistons (,) including rolling diaphragms, elastomer tubeforms, and metal bellows are described.

Fluid and elastomer apparatus

A fluid damper to damp unwanted vibration between a first member (21) and a second member (23, 23'), such as between a rotor blade and hub within a helicopter rotor system. According to a first aspect, the fluid damper (20) includes an outer member (22), first and second inner members (24, 24'), first and second elastomeric elements (26, 26'), a hollow (28), a divider (30) subdividing hollow (28) into first (32) and second (32') operating chambers, a connector (34) interconnecting first (24) and second (24') inner members, a fluid passageway (36) interconnecting operating chambers (32, 32'), a fluid (38) contained within said passageway (36) and operating chambers (32, 32'), and a volume compensator (40) including a compensator chamber (42) housed within one of first (24) and second (24') inner members. In another aspect, an annular bubble trap (58) is formed in a wall portion (62) of the operating chamber (32) to focus any air bubbles into a fill port (54) during fill. In another aspect, a first chamber fill port (54) and a second chamber fill port (54') each interconnect with the annular bubble trap (58) to aid in filling the chamber (32') and removing air bubbles therefrom. In yet another aspect, a first fill port (54) interconnects to the operating chambers (32, 32') and a second fill port (56) interconnects to the compensator chamber (42) for allowing separate fill of the compensator (42) and operating chambers (32, 32').

Fluid and elastomer damper

A method and apparatus is described for limiting transient motions between an aircraft power member and aircraft structure. The apparatus incorporates a coupler (20) for use with inertial-type mounts and includes a body portion (21) having a coupler piston (32) telescopically received therein. Upon exceeding a transient relative motion which causes a fluid flow velocity to be exceeded, seat (38) formed on coupler piston (32) interacts with lip (39) on body portion (21) to cause a fluid flow restriction. This method and apparatus restricts and limits transient motions, i.e., acts as a snuffer, to limit further relative motion between an aircraft power member (54) and an aircraft structural member (52). The coupler piston (32) preferably includes a flexible seal (38) formed thereon and orifice (40) therethrough for providing additional throttle-type damping upon snubbing. This method and apparatus is particularly useful in inertial-type fluid mounts for mounting aircraft engines, fluid pylon isolators for helicopter pylon isolation, and Fluid Torque Restraint (FTR) systems for aircraft for limiting transient motions under certain conditions, such as during takeoff, landing, and maneuvers, yet providing isolation under normal operating conditions.

Method and apparatus for reducing transient motion between an aircraft

A method is described for identifying the primary load path of a particular engine. An elastomeric mount may then be made laterally soft in a first (in the disclosed case, the tangential) direction and more rigid in the direction of the primary load path. Efforts can then be directed to dynamically softening the mount in the primary load path. Specific apparatus may include passive fluid devices, active fluid devices, passive non-fluid devices and active non-fluid devices. In the case of a fluid mount, another feature of the invention is to have an auxiliary fill port of the volume compensator in alignment with at least one and, preferably both, of the primary fill port for the mount and the inertia track to facilitate filling.

Dynamically optimized engine suspension system

The invention relates to a fluid device for providing high load carrying capacity in an one direction and which provides a high level of damping along a substantially perpendicular direction. This is achieved by a device which includes an inner member and an outer member and a flexible section causing a connection therebetween, said flexible section exhibiting a substantially higher stiffness along one axis, a fluid cavity formed within said device, a piston attached to one of said inner member and said outer member, said piston being substantially surrounded by, and submersed in said fluid. In one embodiment, the piston includes a piston area A.sub.p which is substantially greater than 1/2 the fluid cavity area A.sub.c. Movement of the piston within the fluid cavity causes a damping force comprising a throttling component as well as a viscous shear component. Means are disclosed for substantially increasing the viscous shear component and throttling component including novel piston concepts. This invention has particular utility for use in hingeless rotor systems for helicopters.

Fluid damping devices

A hybrid fluid and elastomer damper. A damper, which may be utilized as a lead-lag damper for a helicopter rotor application, reduces vibratory motion transmitted axially, torsionally and angularly between a pair of components such as a rotor and a blade by hysteresis of the elastomer and throttling and shearing of the fluid through a narrow annular passageway. The hybrid damper captures the best features of both the elastomer and fluid dampers while avoiding many of the disadvantages of each.

Hybrid fluid and elastomer damper

A damping device which provides superior damping stiffness K', has linear damping characteristics as a function of amplitude and for which the temperature sensitivities of stiffnesses K*, K', K' have been minimized. The device includes a first second fluid-filled chambers which are interconnected by a passageway. The length and diameter of the passageway, as well as the fluid viscosity, are chosen to give the optimum damping characteristics. Further, a plurality of spring loaded pressure relief valves are integrated into the assembly to allow more flow area to open when a threshold pressure is encountered, thereby reducing the internal pressures and dynamic stiffness K* at cold temperatures.

Fluid-and-elastomer support device

A torque-restraint mounting system for connecting an aircraft engine to a structure including at least two hydraulic mountings and at least one other resilient mounting. At least two of the hydraulic mountings are fluidicly interconnected via a fluid filled conduit. This allows for the torque to be reacted between the aircraft engine and the structure by placing the fluid in compression. The relative torque-induced displacement occurring between the aircraft engine and the structure for any specific operating copndition is counteracted by tuning the amount or volume of fluid within the torque-restraint system, or by tuning the coefficient of thermal expansion of the fluid. Thus, as the torque-restraint mounting system heats up, the aircraft engine will change rotational position such that its room temperature untorqued orientation can be maintained. This can have significant benefits in terms of increasing service life of the engine mounting system.

Fluid torque-restraint system with optimized fluid expansion

A reversible endless belt rotary coupling particularly suited for use in connecting a drive shaft and driven shaft permitting the driven shaft to rotate in either, rotational direction and to rotate about an axis that may be angularly misaligned with respect to the rotational axis of the drive shaft. The coupling includes a series of preloaded endless belts embedded in an elastomer matrix material, arranged tangentially with respect to the connected shafts and connected thereto by bobbin-like spools at the ends of the belts. The endless belts are axially stiff to accommodate tensile and compression loads and are flexibly and torsionally soft to accommodate the motion while transferring torque between the drive and driven shaft.

Reversible endless belt rotary coupling

A lightweight, flexible coupling suitable for transmitting torque and accommodating axial and angular misalignment between drive and driven members. The coupling includes at least one reinforcing rim disposed between a pair of hubs having a plurality of projecting pins about which are secured filaments that are coated with a flexible matrix material. The filaments are geodesically wrapped from the hub one side of the reinforcing ring and then to the hub on the opposite side of the reinforcing ring. The driven and driven members are respectively attached to the projecting pins.

Composite coupling having hubs connectable to drive and driven members

A mount capable of being pressed into an installed position in a hole in a plate. The mount has inner and outer concentric annular elements connected together by an intermediate flexible thermoplastic elastomeric web. The outer annular element has a peripheral groove which receives the plate and a deflectable wall with a chamfered outer surface and a series of slots. The flexible web permits the inner element to vibrate with respect to the plate and thereby isolate an item from the plate.

Snap-in plate mount

The damper assembly has improved valve means that includes at least one annular movable valve member of the voice-coil type. Such valve member is formed at least in part of composite material that increases the strength and stiffness of the member, while reducing its coefficient of thermal expansion and its weight. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly includes two movable annular valve members which are driven in unison with each other such that when one occupies a flow-permitting position the other occupies a flow-inhibiting position. Check valves utilized in the assembly preferably are of a resilient split-ring type.

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Erie, PA, United States of America

Dennis P McGuire