US3568805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspended mass impact damper
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1969-01-29
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1989-01-29
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure concerns a damper mechanism for tall and towerlike structures, such as smokestacks and antennas, etc., and comprises a suspended mass such as a chain confined in an enclosure fastened to the primary structure. Vibrations of the primary structure produce opposing movements of the mass and resulting impacts of the mass with the enclosure sides in turn produce a damping force on the primary structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilmer H Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/20; B; B64; B64D; B64D1/00; B64D1/02; F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/10; F23; F23J; F23J11/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A suspended mass impact damper for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a damper mass member consisting of a flexible length of material; an enclosure fixed to said primary structure having at least two opposed surfaces juxtaposed with said damper mass member therebetween, support means connected to said primary structure; means pivotally supporting said damper mass member so as to allow undulating pendulous movement of said damper mass member whereby said damper mass member whereby said damper mass member moves into and impacts said enclosure and damps oscillations of said Primary structure by opposing movements and impacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A suspended mass impact damper for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a damper mass member consisting of a flexible length of material; an enclosure fixed to said primary structure having at least two opposed surfaces juxtaposed with said damper mass member therebetween, support means connected to said primary structure; means pivotally supporting said damper mass member so as to allow undulating pendulous movement of said damper mass member whereby said damper mass member whereby said damper mass member moves into and impacts said enclosure and damps oscillations of said Primary structure by opposing movements and impacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The damper of claim 1 wherein said damper mass member consists of a length of segmented material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
A suspended mass impact damper for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a damper mass member consisting of a chain; an enclosure fixed to said primary structure having at least two opposed surfaces juxtaposed with said damper mass member therebetween, support means connected to said primary structure; means pivotally supporting said damper mass member so as to allow said damper mass member to move into and impact said enclosure, whereby oscillations of said primary structure are damped by opposing movements and impacts of said damper mass member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A suspended mass impact damper for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a damper mass member consisting of a chain; an enclosure fixed to said primary structure having at least two opposed surfaces juxtaposed with said damper mass member therebetween, support means connected to said primary structure; means pivotally supporting said damper mass member so as to allow said damper mass member to move into and impact said enclosure, whereby oscillations of said primary structure are damped by opposing movements and impacts of said damper mass member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The damper of claim 1 wherein said enclosure completely surrounds said damper mass member and said support means allows undulating pendulous movement in all directions, whereby damping in all directions is provided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The damper of claim 3 further including a resilient covering on said length of chain, whereby impact noise and damage to said enclosure are minimized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
A suspended mass impact damper for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a damper mass member consisting of a flexible length of material; an enclosure fixed to said primary structure having at least two opposed surfaces juxtaposed with said damper mass member therebetween, support means connected to said primary structure; means securing said damper mass member at both ends so as to tension said member and to allow said member to move into and impact said enclosure, whereby oscillations of said primary structure are damped by opposing movements and impacts of said damper mass member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
A suspended mass impact damper for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a damper mass member consisting of a flexible length of material; an enclosure fixed to said primary structure having at least two opposed surfaces juxtaposed with said damper mass member therebetween, support means connected to said primary structure; means securing said damper mass member at both ends so as to tension said member and to allow said member to move into and impact said enclosure, whereby oscillations of said primary structure are damped by opposing movements and impacts of said damper mass member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A suspended mass impact damper system for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a plurality of enclosures disposed about and fixed to said primary structure, each having at least two opposed surfaces; a plurality of damper mass members consisting of flexible lengths of material disposed with at least one member in each enclosure; support means connected to said primary structure pivotally supporting each of said damper mass members so as to allow undulating pendulous impaction of each of said mass members against said opposing surfaces of an enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
A suspended mass impact damper system for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a plurality of enclosures disposed about and fixed to said primary structure, each having at least two opposed surfaces; a plurality of damper mass members consisting of flexible lengths of material disposed with at least one member in each enclosure; support means connected to said primary structure pivotally supporting each of said damper mass members so as to allow undulating pendulous impaction of each of said mass members against said opposing surfaces of an enclosure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The damper system of claim 7 wherein said damper mass members each consist of a length of segmented material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A suspended mass impact damper system for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a plurality of enclosures disposed about and fixed to said primary structure, each having at least two opposed surfaces; a plurality of damper mass members consisting of lengths of flexible material disposed with at least one member in each enclosure; support means connected to said primary structure and securing said ends of said flexible mass member so as to tension said member while allowing movement of said member into said opposing surface of an enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A suspended mass impact damper system for damping oscillations in a primary structure comprising: a plurality of enclosures disposed about and fixed to said primary structure, each having at least two opposed surfaces; a plurality of damper mass members consisting of lengths of flexible material disposed with at least one member in each enclosure; support means connected to said primary structure and securing said ends of said flexible mass member so as to tension said member while allowing movement of said member into said opposing surface of an enclosure.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of damping specific vibrations of a primary structure comprising: supporting a flexible length of material from a point connected to said primary structure; allowing free undulating pendulous movement in the direction of the vibrations; fixing opposing surfaces to the primary structure disposed with the material therebetween and free to impact said surfaces and spaced with a clearance less than approximately five times the amplitude of the primary structure vibrations to be damped.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of damping specific vibrations of a primary structure comprising: supporting a flexible length of material from a point connected to said primary structure; allowing free undulating pendulous movement in the direction of the vibrations; fixing opposing surfaces to the primary structure disposed with the material therebetween and free to impact said surfaces and spaced with a clearance less than approximately five times the amplitude of the primary structure vibrations to be damped.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of damping specific vibrations in a primary structure comprising: fixing a member to the primary structure, said member having at least two opposed surfaces; suspending a flexible length of material between said surfaces so as to allow contact therewith as a result of undulating pendulous movement from at least one point fixed to said primary structure and in such a manner as to have a natural fundamental pendulum frequency at leAst twice that of the specific vibrations to be damped.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of damping specific vibrations in a primary structure comprising: fixing a member to the primary structure, said member having at least two opposed surfaces; suspending a flexible length of material between said surfaces so as to allow contact therewith as a result of undulating pendulous movement from at least one point fixed to said primary structure and in such a manner as to have a natural fundamental pendulum frequency at leAst twice that of the specific vibrations to be damped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2195041A
Cited
US3259212A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |