United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of Nasa

The Uab Research Foundation (The University of Alabama at Birmingham)

University of Maine System

Other

The Boeing Company

Linc Research, Inc.

Frederick Scott Gant

Jeffrey Lee Lindner

Robert E Berry

John S Townsend

Rebecca L Williams

W Neill Myers

James Bertram Blackmon

Habib J Dagher

Anthony M Viselli

Andrew J Goupee

Christopher K Allen

Hannah C Kish

A system and method for modifying motion of a liquid is provided. Containers are disposed within a liquid contained within a tank. Each container has an open end. Each container is disposed in the liquid such that a portion of the liquid fills a portion of each container to seal its open end. A remainder of each container is filled with a gas. At least one gas pressurization source is in fluid communication with the remainder or gas-containing portion of at least one of the containers for pressurizing the gas therein. Pressure is applied to the gas in each container. For each container, the portion of the liquid contained therein and the pressure applied to the gas therein cooperate to modify movement of the liquid in the tank.

Compliant-volume motion modification system and method

A tuned mass damper (TMD) system in combination with a floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) platform includes a barge type FOWT platform having a hull configured to have a wind turbine tower mounted thereon. A TMD system is mounted in the hull and has a first TMD configured to operate at a first frequency, and a second TMD configured to operate at a second frequency different than the first frequency.

Tuned mass damper for floating structures

A motion stabilizing system includes at least one stabilizer coupled to a structure in a water environment. Each stabilizer includes a tension member, an open-ended container having a set of holes, and at least one one-way valve associated with the holes. For each stabilizer, the tension member has a first end and a second end with the first end coupled to a portion of the structure and the second end disposed in the water environment; the container is coupled to the tension member and is suspended in the water environment; and the one or more one-way valves are operable to seal the holes when the portion of the structure moves away from the container and unseal the holes when the portion of the structure moves towards the container.

Submerged container system for stabilizing environmentally-induced motion of a maritime structure

A motion damper for structures includes a housing coupled to a structure such that the housing moves in correspondence with the structure. The housing includes a wall with a vent, and has an air chamber therein in fluid communication with the vent. A piston is sealed within the housing for one-dimensional motion therein. A rigid plate is disposed within the housing's air chamber. The plate is disposed between the piston and the vent, and is spaced apart from and fixedly coupled to the piston such that the plate moves in correspondence with the one-dimensional motion of the piston. At least one spring is mounted in the housing and is coupled to the plate for applying a force thereto that is in opposition to the one-dimensional motion of the piston.

Motion damper for floating structures

A motion damping system includes a tank compartmentalized to have a first compartment having a first opening, a second compartment having a second opening, and a third compartment disposed between the first and second compartments. The third compartment is in fluid communication with the first and second openings. A first piston is movably sealed within the first compartment and is in fluid communication with its first opening. A second piston is movably sealed within the second compartment and is in fluid communication with its second opening. A liquid fills the third compartment, a portion of the first compartment up to the first piston, and a portion of the second compartment up to the second piston. A coupling fixedly attached to the first and second pistons moves in correspondence with the first and second pistons. Motion damper(s) coupled to the coupling resist movements of the first and second pistons.

Motion damping system for tank of liquid

A dynamics management system for a structure includes a line whose first end is coupled to a first location within a structure. A tension resistance device is coupled to a second location within the structure. The tension resistance device generates a first force when a tension force is applied thereto and generates a lesser second force when the tension force is not applied thereto. The second end of the line is coupled to the tension resistance device wherein the first force is applied to the line when it is in tension and the second force is applied to the line when it is not in tension. The line traverses at least one Z-shaped path within and in a plane of the structure. The line is coupled to the structure at each inflection point of the Z-shaped path(s) for supporting movement of the line there along.

Dynamics management system for a structure using tension and resistance elements

A motion absorbing system and method for a structure includes the coupling of a container to a structure. The container has a liquid disposed therein wherein a ullage is defined above a surface of the liquid. An elastic element is positioned in the liquid. The elastic element has a natural frequency tuned to damp motion of the liquid.

Motion absorbing system and method for a structure

A coupling system can include an energy transfer device and a load mitigation system. The energy transfer device can include a shaft, gear, chain or piston-cylinder arrangement to transfer the energy from a power supply to an object to be moved. The load mitigation system can be used to limit or prevent the transfer of forces from the object to the drive unit as a result of external loads being applied to the object. The load mitigation system can be pre-loaded such that external loads on the object having an excessive impulsive or resonant cyclic force greater than the pre-load force on the load mitigation system are reduced and only partially transferred to the energy transfer device and power supply. The load mitigation system can dampen both resonant loads and impulsive impact loads occurring at the object thereby preventing damage and extending life.

Coupling system for reducing fatigue and dynamic amplification of loads in objects

A unidirectional damping system includes a shaft and unidirectional damping modules. Each module is fixedly coupled to the shaft. Each module includes a fluid-filled variable-volume chamber and spring(s). The chamber has at least one port through which fluid flows based on changes in volume of the chamber wherein, when the shaft is adapted to have a unidirectional force applied thereto, the chamber decreases in volume. The spring(s) is coupled to the chamber for increasing volume of the chamber when the unidirectional force is not applied to the shaft. A fluid-filled spacer chamber is coupled between adjacent modules and is uncoupled from the shaft. The spacer chamber includes at least one venting port through which fluid flows based on pressure in the spacer chamber.

Unidirectional damping system

A damping system includes a spool about which a tension line is wound. The line's first end is coupled to a first structure subject to forces causing unwanted movement thereof. A damper is coupled to a second structure not subject to the unwanted movement of the first structure. The damper is coupled to the spool for engagement with the spool to slow a rotational speed thereof when the spool rotates in a first direction. The damper is disengaged from the spool when the spool rotates in a second direction in opposition to the first direction. A device, coupled to the line's second end and to the second structure, applies a tension force to the line's second end. The tension force is exceeded when the first structure moves to place the line in tension, and is not exceeded when the first structure moves to place the line in compression.

Structure movement damping system using tension element

A bi-directional damping system generates damping forces in two opposing directions. A shaft has a plurality of bi-directional damping modules fixedly coupled thereto. Each module includes a fluid-filled variable-volume first chamber including at least one port through which fluid can flow based on changes in volume of the first chamber, and a fluid-filled variable-volume second chamber including at least one port through which fluid can flow based on changes in volume of the second chamber. The first chamber and second chamber are fluidically isolated from one another. A fluid-filled spacer chamber is coupled to adjacent ones of the modules. The spacer chamber includes at least one venting port through which fluid can flow based on pressure in the spacer chamber.

Bi-directional damping system

An azimuth drive unit for a solar power system has a multistage sprocket configuration. The drive unit includes an input shaft for receiving an input torque, where the multistage sprocket configuration is coupled to the input shaft. The sprocket configuration converts the input torque into an output torque, and an output shaft is coupled to the sprocket configuration for applying the output torque to a solar reflector. In a highly preferred embodiment, the sprocket configuration includes a tensioning system contacting one or more of the chains and a housing of the drive unit. The tensioning system applies a tension force to the contacted chains such that backlash in the sprocket configuration is reduced. The present invention also provides for a plurality of bearing members coupled to the output shaft for adding stiffness to the output shaft. The use of a multistage sprocket configuration eliminates destructive backlash forces, dampens shock, prevents reflector oscillations, and provides redundancy while reducing the overall cost of the drive unit.

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

Frederick Scott Gant