Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a compact and lightweight hybrid pneumatic-magnetic isolator-actuator capable of large force, substantial stroke and bandwidth actuation with near frictionless operation and vibration isolation with very low break frequency. Pneumatic and magnetic forces are applied to a single carriage comprised primarily of a coaxially arranged air piston and coil. The carriage is driven relative to a frame or housing including an internally mounted cylindrical piston sleeve and magnetic actuator body. A combination of air bearings and air bearing piston construction provide for frictionless motion of the carriage relative to the frame. The pneumatic piston provides the actuation force for both static loads and low frequency dynamic loads. An integrally mounted sensor and control unit determine the pressure error resulting at the pneumatic piston.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a compact and lightweight hybrid pneumatic-magnetic isolator-actuator capable of large force, substantial stroke and bandwidth actuation with near frictionless operation and vibration isolation with very low break frequency. Pneumatic and magnetic forces are applied to a single carriage comprised primarily of a coaxially arranged air piston and coil. The carriage is driven relative to a frame or housing including an internally mounted cylindrical piston sleeve and magnetic actuator body. A combination of air bearings and air bearing piston construction provide for frictionless motion of the carriage relative to the frame. The pneumatic piston provides the actuation force for both static loads and low frequency dynamic loads. An integrally mounted sensor and control unit determine the pressure error resulting at the pneumatic piston.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a compact and lightweight hybrid pneumatic-magnetic isolator-actuator capable of large force, substantial stroke and bandwidth actuation with near frictionless operation and vibration isolation with very low break frequency. Pneumatic and magnetic forces are applied to a single carriage comprised primarily of a coaxially arranged air piston and coil. The carriage is driven relative to a frame or housing including an internally mounted cylindrical piston sleeve and magnetic actuator body. A combination of air bearings and air bearing piston construction provide for frictionless motion of the carriage relative to the frame. The pneumatic piston provides the actuation force for both static loads and low frequency dynamic loads. An integrally mounted sensor and control unit determine the pressure error resulting at the pneumatic piston.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a magnetorheological fluid device offering vibration isolation and broad modulation range damping in a high load carrying and compact form. A cylindrically shaped flexure structure has a bottom cap attached to one end and a top cap attached to the other end. A piston comprising a toroidal displacement body, a central shaft, and intermediate connecting plate, attaches to the top cap. A fluid chamber surrounding and generally conforming to the shape of the toroidal displacement body, is attached to the bottom cap. Two bellows attaching between the piston connecting plate and top and bottom portions of the fluid chamber complete an enclosed volume around the toroidal displacement body and allow frictionless motion of the toroidal displacement body relative to the fluid chamber.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a compact, high efficiency, smart material element driven hydraulic pump comprising a diaphragm, a face plate coupled to and spanning across the diaphragm, and a smart material element. The diaphragm comprises on a first side a recess and a stiff face-seal surface surrounding the recess. On the second side of the diaphragm is a stiff center pedestal and a flexure means attached to the periphery of the center pedestal. The diaphragm and face plate coupled together form a chamber that is dynamically sealed by contact of the face-seal surface against the face plate and such chamber's compliance is primarily and effectively within the flexure means within the diaphragm. A smart material element is positioned and constrained against the stiff center pedestal such that extension and contraction of the smart material element deforms the diaphragm such that the pumping chamber compresses and expands through compliance and deformation within the flexure means alone.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is a direct driven, smart material actuated servovalve providing very high actuation control bandwidth for moderate to large flow systems. The servovalve is comprised of a valve body and a valve spool, a smart material element such as a piezoelectric, electrostrictive or magnetostrictive material, and a mechanical lever. The lever is mounted to a pivot support in the valve body and is positioned relative to the smart material element and valve spool such that expansion/contraction motion induced into the smart material element enforces motion on the first end of the mechanical lever. This motion is amplified by the lever at the second end of the lever and drives the end of the valve spool. The resulting amplified motion causes the valve spool to shift along its longitudinal axis of sufficient distance to afford high bandwidth valve spool positioning on large flow valves.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration isolation system. The Airborne Stabilization/Vibration Isolation System (AS/VIS) is a combination of advanced pneumatic passive suspension, high-capacity voice-coil actuators, integrated sensors, a control processor and a commercial system of software development tools. The entire vertical weight load is borne by the pneumatic mounts. Vertical payload motion is accommodated with little or no friction through the use of air bearings at all sliding surfaces of the mounts. The high-force voice-coil actuators provide a variety of performance enhancements to the passive isolation system. Primarily, they allow control of the payload mean position in the presence of low-frequency quasistatic load variations due to aircraft maneuvering. Horizontal and vertical displacement sensors detect the position of each actuator moving element relative to ground. The controller sends a signal to power amplifiers, which drive the horizontal and vertical voice-coil actuators.