Vibration isolator mount

Claim 2

In a low-resonant frequency, vibration isolating, fluid medium mount for interposition between a load and a base for maintaining the load at a predetermined equilibrium height, which comprises: an inner chamber mounted on the base having an opening in one surface thereof; a flexible diaphragm positioned over said opening for sealing said inner chamber to provide an enclosure to confine a volume of fluid medium within said inner chamber; a piston abutting and supported by said diaphragm for supporting the load externally of said inner chamber and for causing oscillatory contraction and expansion of said confined volume of fluid medium in response to the vibrational displacement of the base to alternately store and release vibrational energy; an outer chamber positioned about said inner chamber; means interconnecting and communicating with said inner and outer chambers for effectively increasing the enclosure within which said volume of fluid medium is confined to lower the resonant frequency of said volume of fluid medium; said interconnecting means being of such size as to dampen the oscillation of said confined volume of fluid medium; and means responsive to changes in the magnitude of the load for admitting fluid medium to and exhausting fluid medium from said chambers to maintain a predetermined equilibrium height for said piston-supported load.

Claim 3

In the mount as recited in claim 1, which includes: means communicating with said fluid medium admitting and exhausting means for controlling the rate of ingress and egress of the fluid medium.

Claim 4

In a mount for interposition between a load and a base for isolating and damping vibrational displacements and for maintaining the load at a preset equilibrium height; a first chamber for receiving a volume of fluid medium having a closed bottom wall abutting the base and being formed with an upper wall having an opening therein; a second chamber for receiving a volume of fluid medium arranged about said first chamber; a flexible diaphragm over said opening in said first chamber and sealing said first chamber for enclosing a volume of fluid medium therein; load bearing means abutting said diaphragm for supporting the load externally of said first chamber on the volume of fluid medium enclosed within said first chamber to store vibratory energy generated by the load and the base, thereby reducing the transmission of vibratory energy, said load bearing means normally supporting the load at a preset equilibrium height from the base; a passageway communicating with and interconnecting said first and second chambers for effectively increasing said volume of supporting fluid medium to further decrease the transmission of vibratory energy and for dissipating vibratory energy as heat to damp vibrational displacements in the load and the base; and means for controlling the pressure exerted by the fluid medium to support the load at the preset equilibrium height.

Claim 5

In a mount for interposition between a load and a base for isolating and damping vibrational displacements and for maintaining the load at a preset equilibrium height; a first chamber for receiving a volume of fluid medium having a closed bottom wall abutting the base and being formed with an upper wall having an opening therein; a second chamber for receiving a volume of fluid medium arranged about said first chamber; a flexible diaphragm over said opening in said first chamber and sealing said first chamber for enclosing a volume of fluid medium therein; load bearing means abutting said diaphragm for supporting the load externally of said first chamber on the volume of fluid medium enclosed within said first chamber to store vibratory energy generated by the load and the base, thereby reducing the transmission of vibratory energy, said load bearing means normally supporting the load at a preset equilibrium height from the base; a passageway communicating with and interconnecting said first and second chambers for effectively increasing said volume of supporting fluid medium to further decrease the transmission of vibratory energy and for dissipating vibratory energy as heat to damp vibrational displacements in the load and the base; and means for controlling the pressure exerted by the fluid medium to support the load at the preset equilibrium height.

Claim 6

The mount as set forth in claim 3, which includes: a needle valve positioned in said passageway for varying the communication between the volumes of fluid medium enclosed within said first and second chambers to alter the vibratory energy storing performance of the mount and to alter the damping effect of said passageway on vibrational displacements in the load and the base.

Claim 7

The mount as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pressure controlling means includes: means for admitting fluid medium to and exhausting flUid medium from said chambers; means for actuating said fluid medium admitting and exhausting means; and means actuated by a predetermined extent of movement of said load bearing means from the preset equilibrium height for operating said actuating means to admit fluid medium to or exhaust fluid medium from said chambers, depending upon the direction of movement of said load bearing means, to return the load to the equilibrium height.

Claim 8

The mount as set forth in claim 3, wherein said pressure controlling means includes: first and second valves mounted adjacent to said second chamber for admitting fluid medium to and exhausting fluid medium from said first and second chambers; a rod mounted adjacent to said second chamber for longitudinal movement away from and toward the base; a plate mounted at a first end to said load bearing means and at the opposite end to said rod opposite the base for imparting like movement to said rod when said load bearing means is moved; first and second cam followers pivotally mounted on said second chamber adjacent to said rod for engaging and actuating said first and second valves; and first and second cam plates mounted in spaced relationship on said rod for movement with said rod, whereupon, in response to changes in the magnitude of the supported load, a predetermined extent of movement of the load and said rod relative to the base from the preset equilibrium height causes said first or said second cam plate to engage and pivot said first or said second cam follower, whereafter said pivoting cam follower engages and actuates said first or said second valve to admit fluid medium to or exhaust fluid medium from said chambers to return said rod and the load to the preset equilibrium height.

Claim 9

A compact, low-resonant frequency, vibration isolating mount for interposition between a load and a base, which comprises: a first cylindrical chamber having a closed bottom wall abutting the base and having an upper wall with an opening formed therein; a flexible diaphragm positioned over and sealing said opening for providing a cylindrical enclosure to confine a volume of fluid medium to store vibratory energy from the base and the load, thereby reducing the transmission of vibratory energy; a piston abutting said diaphragm and supporting the load externally of said first chamber for movement away from and toward the base; a second cylindrical chamber arranged about said first chamber for confining a volume of fluid medium; a passageway formed between said chambers for permitting the flow of fluid medium between said chambers to effectively increase the length of said cylindrical enclosure to further reduce the transmission of vibratory energy, said passageway being of such size as to dissipate stored vibratory energy as heat; a valve positioned in said passageway for varying the flow of fluid medium between said chambers to adjust the vibratory energy dissipation of said passageway and the effect of said passageway on the transmission of vibratory energy; first and second valves mounted adjacent to said second chamber for admitting fluid medium to and exhausting fluid medium from said chambers; a rod mounted adjacent to said second chamber for longitudinal movement away from and toward the base; plate means mounted at a first portion thereof to the rod opposite the base and at a second portion thereof, spaced from said first portion, to said piston for imparting movement of the load and said piston to said rod; first and second cam followers pivotally mounted on said second chamber adjacent to said rod for engaging and actuating said valves; and first and second cam plates mounted in spaced relationship on said rod for movement with said rod, whereupon, in response to changes in the magnitude of the supported load, a predetermined extent of movement of the load and said rod relative to said base from a preset position causes said first or said second cam plaTe to engage and pivot said first or said second cam follower, whereafter said pivoting cam follower engages and actuates said first or said second valve to admit fluid medium to or exhaust fluid medium from said chambers and return said rod and the load to the preset position.

Claim 10

A compact, low-resonant frequency, vibration isolating mount for interposition between a load and a base, which comprises: a first cylindrical chamber having a closed bottom wall abutting the base and having an upper wall with an opening formed therein; a flexible diaphragm positioned over and sealing said opening for providing a cylindrical enclosure to confine a volume of fluid medium to store vibratory energy from the base and the load, thereby reducing the transmission of vibratory energy; a piston abutting said diaphragm and supporting the load externally of said first chamber for movement away from and toward the base; a second cylindrical chamber arranged about said first chamber for confining a volume of fluid medium; a passageway formed between said chambers for permitting the flow of fluid medium between said chambers to effectively increase the length of said cylindrical enclosure to further reduce the transmission of vibratory energy, said passageway being of such size as to dissipate stored vibratory energy as heat; a valve positioned in said passageway for varying the flow of fluid medium between said chambers to adjust the vibratory energy dissipation of said passageway and the effect of said passageway on the transmission of vibratory energy; first and second valves mounted adjacent to said second chamber for admitting fluid medium to and exhausting fluid medium from said chambers; a rod mounted adjacent to said second chamber for longitudinal movement away from and toward the base; plate means mounted at a first portion thereof to the rod opposite the base and at a second portion thereof, spaced from said first portion, to said piston for imparting movement of the load and said piston to said rod; first and second cam followers pivotally mounted on said second chamber adjacent to said rod for engaging and actuating said valves; and first and second cam plates mounted in spaced relationship on said rod for movement with said rod, whereupon, in response to changes in the magnitude of the supported load, a predetermined extent of movement of the load and said rod relative to said base from a preset position causes said first or said second cam plaTe to engage and pivot said first or said second cam follower, whereafter said pivoting cam follower engages and actuates said first or said second valve to admit fluid medium to or exhaust fluid medium from said chambers and return said rod and the load to the preset position.