US3704877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means and method of energy storage and damping
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-22
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract A one-piece energy controlling device formed of a composite of at least two different materials, having desired energy storage and energy damping characteristics. The preferred devices have a plurality of unidirectional, elongated filaments of one material extending through and embedded in a matrix of a second dissimilar material to form an elongated structure which is set in a spring shape. The devices can be designed for use either as springs to store energy or for use as one-piece spring energy damper to both store energy and/or dissipate energy at different selected load levels.
Inventors
- 👤 John Nunes
- 👤 Arthur L Geary
- 👤 John A Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:31
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/12; B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/06; B29C70/10; B29C70/12; B29C70/14; B29C70/16; B29C70/20; F16F1/00; F16F1/36; F16F1/366; F16F3/00; F16F3/08; F16F3/087; F16F3/093; F16F3/10; F16F3/12; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/721; B29L2031/774
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An energy controlling composite formed of at least two dissimilar materials comprising; a primary material and a secondary material, with said secondary material having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the lowest measurable elastic yield strain limit of the primary material, said materials being bonded together therebetween at interfaces thereof, and said energy controlling composite capable of exhibiting an energy storage property at strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield limit, and said energy controlling composite exhibiting energy storage and energy dissipating properties in the form of a stress-strain hysteresis loop at strain levels at or below the secondary material elastic yield limit but above the primary material elastic yield limit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An energy controlling composite formed of at least two dissimilar materials comprising; a primary material and a secondary material, with said secondary material having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the lowest measurable elastic yield strain limit of the primary material, said materials being bonded together therebetween at interfaces thereof, and said energy controlling composite capable of exhibiting an energy storage property at strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield limit, and said energy controlling composite exhibiting energy storage and energy dissipating properties in the form of a stress-strain hysteresis loop at strain levels at or below the secondary material elastic yield limit but above the primary material elastic yield limit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy controlling composite in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bond is such that it prevents movement of either material relative to the other when a load is applied to said composite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary material comprises a plurality of elongated structures embedded in the secondary material separating said primary structures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the dissimilar materials are made of metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary material comprises a plurality of elongated structures embedded in the primary material separating said secondary structures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the composite is in the form of a spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An energy controlling composite in accordance with claim 6 wherein said spring shaped composite is in the form of a helix.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary material comprises a plurality of discrete elongated structures embedded in the secondary material separating said discrete elongated structures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary material comprises a plurality of discrete elongated structures embedded in the primary material separating said secondary discrete elongated structures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary material is in the form of an annulus embedded in the secondary material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the primary material and the secondary material are laminated together.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the bond between said primary and said secondary materials is a mechanical and/or metallurgical interfacial bond therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein said composite exhibits energy storage and energy dissipating properties above 500* F.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the tensile strength of the composite is independent of the size of the composite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy dissipating property is independent of the rate of input of energy and capable of operating over a continuous range of energy inputs.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of obtaining energy storage and damping between two positions, one position movable with respect to the other, said method comprising providing an energy controlling composite formed of at least two dissimilar materials comprising; a primary material and a secondary material, with said secondary material having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the lowest measurable elastic yield strain limit of the primary material, said materials being bonded together therebetween at interfaces thereof, and said energy controlling composite capable of exhibiting only an energy storing property at strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield limit, and said energy controlling composite exhibiting only energy storage and energy absorbing properties in the form of a stress-strain hysteresis loop at strain levels at or below the secondary material elastic yield limit but above the primary material elastic yield limit, positioning said composite between said two positions, and moving at least one of said positions with respect to the other whereby energy storage and energy damping is obtained.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of obtaining energy storage and damping between two positions, one position movable with respect to the other, said method comprising providing an energy controlling composite formed of at least two dissimilar materials comprising; a primary material and a secondary material, with said secondary material having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the lowest measurable elastic yield strain limit of the primary material, said materials being bonded together therebetween at interfaces thereof, and said energy controlling composite capable of exhibiting only an energy storing property at strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield limit, and said energy controlling composite exhibiting only energy storage and energy absorbing properties in the form of a stress-strain hysteresis loop at strain levels at or below the secondary material elastic yield limit but above the primary material elastic yield limit, positioning said composite between said two positions, and moving at least one of said positions with respect to the other whereby energy storage and energy damping is obtained.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of obtaining energy storage between two positions one position movable with respect to the other, said method comprising providing an energy storage composite formed of at least two dissimilar materials comprising; a primary material and a secondary material, with said secondary material having an elastic yield strain at least twice that of the lowest measurable elastic yield strain of the primary material, said materials being bonded together therebetween at interfaces thereof, and said energy controlling composite exhibiting an energy storing property at strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield strain, positioning said shape between said two positions, and moving at least one of said positions with respect to the other such that strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield strain are developed in the composite whereby said composite acts to store energy.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of obtaining energy storage between two positions one position movable with respect to the other, said method comprising providing an energy storage composite formed of at least two dissimilar materials comprising; a primary material and a secondary material, with said secondary material having an elastic yield strain at least twice that of the lowest measurable elastic yield strain of the primary material, said materials being bonded together therebetween at interfaces thereof, and said energy controlling composite exhibiting an energy storing property at strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield strain, positioning said shape between said two positions, and moving at least one of said positions with respect to the other such that strain levels at or below the primary material elastic yield strain are developed in the composite whereby said composite acts to store energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
115 words
An energy controlling composite comprising: a first material structure and a second material structure, the second material structure having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the elastic yield strain limit of the first material structure, the first material structure interfacially bonded to the second material structure, characterized in that the composite exhibits energy storing and energy dissipating properties at a strain level above the elastic yield strain limit of the first material but at or below the elastic yield strain limit of the second material, and characterized in that the composite exhibits energy storing properties at a strain level at or below the elastic yield strain limit of the first material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
115 words
An energy controlling composite comprising: a first material structure and a second material structure, the second material structure having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the elastic yield strain limit of the first material structure, the first material structure interfacially bonded to the second material structure, characterized in that the composite exhibits energy storing and energy dissipating properties at a strain level above the elastic yield strain limit of the first material but at or below the elastic yield strain limit of the second material, and characterized in that the composite exhibits energy storing properties at a strain level at or below the elastic yield strain limit of the first material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
An energy controlling composite as recited in claim 18, wherein the energy controlling composite exhibits energy storage and energy dissipating properties in the form of a stress-strain hysteresis loop at strain levels at or below the second material elastic yield limit but above the first material elastic yield limit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
An energy controlling device comprising: a continuous first material structure; a continuous second material structure, the second material structure having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the elastic yield strain limit of the first material, the first and second material structures inter-facially bonded together; and means for energy storing and energy dissipating at a strain level above the elastic yield strain limit of the first material but at or below the elastic strain limit of the second material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
82 words
An energy controlling device comprising: a continuous first material structure; a continuous second material structure, the second material structure having an elastic yield strain limit at least twice that of the elastic yield strain limit of the first material, the first and second material structures inter-facially bonded together; and means for energy storing and energy dissipating at a strain level above the elastic yield strain limit of the first material but at or below the elastic strain limit of the second material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2277500A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |