US4669893A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Annular oil damper arrangement
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1986-02-18
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Granted: 1987-06-02
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Expires: 2006-02-18
Abstract
Abstract A fluid damper for controlling transverse orbital movement (14) of a non-rotating cylindrical body (12) is provided with a sealed, fluid filled reservoir (30) in fluid communication with a vent opening (24) disposed in a surrounding support member (10). A sized orifice (34) controls the volumetric flow rate of the damping fluid, maintaining an elevated average static fluid pressure in the annular volume (16) and resisting surge flow into the reservoir (30) through the vent (24) during the periodic occurrence of high fluid pressure in the annular volume (16) adjacent the vent opening (24).
Inventors
- 👤 Donald K. Chalaire
- 👤 Halfen L. Hoyt
- 👤 James Hurchalla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:27
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F15/00; F16F15/02; F16F15/023; F16F15/0237; F16C; F16C27/00; F16C27/04; F16C27/045; F16C19/00; F16C19/02; F16C19/04; F16C19/06; F16C2360/00; F16C2360/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An annular oil damper for controlling transverse orbital movement of a non-rotating cylindrical member within a surrounding support member, comprising: means for supplying a flow of damping fluid into a fluid-tight annular volume defined between the interior surface of the support member and the exterior surface of the cylindrical member; means for venting the damping fluid from the annular volume; an enclosed reservoir, defining an internal volume of fixed magnitude and in fluid communication with the venting means, for receiving and holding an equivalent solid volume of damping fluid therein; and an orifice, disposed in the reservoir for conducting the damping fluid therefrom, the orifice defining a fixed flow area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An annular oil damper for controlling transverse orbital movement of a non-rotating cylindrical member within a surrounding support member, comprising: means for supplying a flow of damping fluid into a fluid-tight annular volume defined between the interior surface of the support member and the exterior surface of the cylindrical member; means for venting the damping fluid from the annular volume; an enclosed reservoir, defining an internal volume of fixed magnitude and in fluid communication with the venting means, for receiving and holding an equivalent solid volume of damping fluid therein; and an orifice, disposed in the reservoir for conducting the damping fluid therefrom, the orifice defining a fixed flow area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The damper as recited in claim 1, further comprising: first and second means, disposed between the cylindrical body and the support member for sealing axially spaced apart first and second ends of the annular volume against leakage of damping fluid therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The damper as recited in claim 2, wherein the damping fluid supply means comprises a conduit, passing through the support member and opening into the annular volume, and a fluid pump for providing a flow of pressurized damping fluid in the conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The damper as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a check valve, disposed in the supply conduit proximate the annular volume, for preventing any reverse flow of damping fluid from the annular volume into the supply conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The damper as recited in claim 2, wherein the first and second sealing means comprise first and second elastomeric O-rings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the venting means defines a fluid flow path of sufficient cross section to provide substantially unrestricted flow between the reservoir and the annular volume.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The damper as recited in claim 1, wherein the damping fluid supply means comprises a conduit, passing through the support member and opening into the annular volume, and a fluid pump for providing a flow of pressurized damping fluid in the conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The damper as recited in claim 7, further comprising: a check valve, disposed in the supply conduit proximate the annular volume, for preventing any reverse flow of damping fluid from the annular volume into the supply conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an annular fluid damper for suppressing orbital movement of a non-rotating cylindrical body within a surrounding support member, the damper receiving a flow of damping fluid into a sealed annular volume formed between the cylindrical body and the support member via a supply conduit, and exhausting the flowing fluid from the annular volume through a vent opening in the support member, the improvement comprising: means, in fluid communication with the vent opening, for opposing the cyclical surge of damping fluid from the annular volume induced by the orbiting zone of relatively high pressure and for preventing the entry of gas into the annular volume through the vent opening as a result of the subsequent orbiting zone of low pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
In an annular fluid damper for suppressing orbital movement of a non-rotating cylindrical body within a surrounding support member, the damper receiving a flow of damping fluid into a sealed annular volume formed between the cylindrical body and the support member via a supply conduit, and exhausting the flowing fluid from the annular volume through a vent opening in the support member, the improvement comprising: means, in fluid communication with the vent opening, for opposing the cyclical surge of damping fluid from the annular volume induced by the orbiting zone of relatively high pressure and for preventing the entry of gas into the annular volume through the vent opening as a result of the subsequent orbiting zone of low pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The improved damper as recited in claim 9, wherein the opposing and preventing means includes a closed reservoir having an internal volume for receiving the vented fluid and being completely filled thereby; and a sized, fixed orifice, disposed in fluid communication with the reservoir, for regulating the volumetric flow of damping fluid at a rate relatively independent of the pressure in the reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved damper as recited in claim 10, wherein the improvement further comprises a check valve disposed in the supply conduit for preventing any reverse flow of damping fluid therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved damper as recited in claim 9, wherein the improvement further comprises a check valve disposed in the supply conduit for preventing any reverse flow of damping fluid therein.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controlling repeating, high frequency orbital motion of a non-rotating cylindrical body within a surrounding housing, comprising the steps of: supplying a unidirectional, pressurized flow of damping fluid to the annular volume formed between the cylindrical body and the support housing; venting the damping fluid from the annular volume into a fluid filled closed reservoir; controlling the rate of damping fluid exiting the reservoir to a pre-selected, relatively pressure-independent flow rate, collecting the damping fluid from the reservoir for recycling to the annular volume by the fluid supplying step.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for controlling repeating, high frequency orbital motion of a non-rotating cylindrical body within a surrounding housing, comprising the steps of: supplying a unidirectional, pressurized flow of damping fluid to the annular volume formed between the cylindrical body and the support housing; venting the damping fluid from the annular volume into a fluid filled closed reservoir; controlling the rate of damping fluid exiting the reservoir to a pre-selected, relatively pressure-independent flow rate, collecting the damping fluid from the reservoir for recycling to the annular volume by the fluid supplying step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of controlling the flow rate of damping fluid exiting the reservoir includes the step of providing a fixed exit orifice in the reservoir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the step of supplying a unidirectional, pressurized damping fluid includes the step of providing a check valve in the flow of damping fluid supplied to the annular volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of supplying a unidirectional, pressurized damping fluid includes the step of providing a check valve in the flow of damping fluid supplied to the annular volume.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-01 | 1990-12-01 | 1991-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-01 | 1994-12-01 | 1995-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-12-01 | 1999-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |