Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Gerald Lett
  • Patent number: 6435470
    Abstract: A tunable mass coupled to a body subjected to forced vibrations that reduces the vibration amplitudes of the body in the forced vibration frequency band. The mass includes a container having a plurality of cavities with grooves in the lower surfaces and notched side walls. Each cavity is filled with spherical elements which are restrained by the grooves and notches. The tunable mass is constructed to respond in a spring like manner so that vibration frequencies of the mass are tunable to provide counter vibrations in the forced vibration frequency band. Vibration frequency amplitude reduction is provided by vibrations of the mass that are in phase opposition to the vibrations of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Jamil I. Lahham, Lloyd S. Sikes, Stephen J. Ryan