US5174552A — Fluid mount with active vibration control

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

An apparatus for controlling the amount of vibration induced by a first member in a second member, comprising: a) a housing; b) a first fluid-filled compliant chamber; c) a second fluid-filled compliant chamber; d) means for interconnecting said first and second chambers; e) at least one piston having a first side for transmitting energy from the fluid in said first chamber through said interconnecting means to said second compliant chamber and a second side for transmitting energy from said fluid in said second chamber through said interconnecting means to said first compliant chamber, said transmitting of energy from both said first and second chambers being responsive to relative movement between said first vibrating member and said second member, said piston being connected to one of said first and second members; f) energy input means consisting essentially of an actuator fluidically interconnecting said first and second compliant chambers to actively augment the transmission of energy caused by said at least one piston; whereby the amount of vibrational energy in said second member can be controlled in a desired manner.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 178 words

An apparatus for controlling the amount of vibration induced by a first member in a second member, comprising: a) a housing; b) a first fluid-filled compliant chamber; c) a second fluid-filled compliant chamber; d) means for interconnecting said first and second chambers; e) at least one piston having a first side for transmitting energy from the fluid in said first chamber through said interconnecting means to said second compliant chamber and a second side for transmitting energy from said fluid in said second chamber through said interconnecting means to said first compliant chamber, said transmitting of energy from both said first and second chambers being responsive to relative movement between said first vibrating member and said second member, said piston being connected to one of said first and second members; f) energy input means consisting essentially of an actuator fluidically interconnecting said first and second compliant chambers to actively augment the transmission of energy caused by said at least one piston; whereby the amount of vibrational energy in said second member can be controlled in a desired manner.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for interconnecting comprises at least one passageway fluidically interconnecting said first and second fluid-filled chambers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said actuator is in parallel with said at least one passageway for modifying the oscillation of fluid within some portion of said apparatus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises an electrohydraulic servovalve.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuator comprises an electromagnetic actuator.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a pair of bellows extending into said first and second fluid-filled compliant chambers and which contain said actuator, whereby said actuator is isolated from the fluid within said fluid-filled chambers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a spool of said actuator is interconnected in series with said passageway.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said energy input means comprises said actuator which extends between said first and second chambers in order to influence transmission of energy therebetween.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said actuator comprises an electrohydraulic servovalve.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said actuator comprises an electromagnetic actuator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a pair of bellows extending into said first and second fluid-filled compliant chambers and which contain said actuator, whereby said actuator is isolated from the fluid within said fluid-filled chambers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said at least one piston comprises a pair of movable pistons coupled together for simultaneous movement in said first and second chambers, respectively, on opposite sides of an intermediate dividing wall which is fixed in said housing.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said intermediate dividing wall further comprises a secondary passageway extending through said dividing wall fluidically communicating with said first and second fluid-filled chambers.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is connected to the other of said first and second members.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 14, said second member further comprising a relatively stationary structural support such as an engine-mounting pylon.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 71 words

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising sensor means to detect at least a single variable from the group including displacement of a structural member, velocity of a structural member, acceleration of a structural member, force exerted upon a structural member, flow rate of the fluid in said passageway, and pressure in at least one of said fluid chambers, to provide a feedback signal for adjustment of said energy input means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for controlling operation of an isolation system which has stiffness means for attaching a disturbance source which, in operation has a plurality of excitation frequencies which define a disturbance spectrum, to a structure to be isolated and actuation means for imparting a controlled force between the disturbance source and said structure to be isolated, said apparatus comprising: a) signal generation means including i) sensing means for measuring a force transmitted by said isolation system to said structure to be isolated, and ii) means for generating a signal responsive to at least a portion of said disturbance spectrum; b) compensation means for filtering said generated signal and developing an output, said compensation means having a frequency content generally similar to that of said at least a portion of said disturbance spectrum; c) control means for activating said actuation means in such a manner as to reduce said magnitude of said transmitted force.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 152 words

Apparatus for controlling operation of an isolation system which has stiffness means for attaching a disturbance source which, in operation has a plurality of excitation frequencies which define a disturbance spectrum, to a structure to be isolated and actuation means for imparting a controlled force between the disturbance source and said structure to be isolated, said apparatus comprising: a) signal generation means including i) sensing means for measuring a force transmitted by said isolation system to said structure to be isolated, and ii) means for generating a signal responsive to at least a portion of said disturbance spectrum; b) compensation means for filtering said generated signal and developing an output, said compensation means having a frequency content generally similar to that of said at least a portion of said disturbance spectrum; c) control means for activating said actuation means in such a manner as to reduce said magnitude of said transmitted force.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said compensation means accentuates frequencies corresponding to structural resonance frequencies which do not dominate the disturbance spectrum.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said compensation means further comprises sensor means for determining dominant frequencies of said disturbance spectrum.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 175 words

An active fluid isolation mount for isolating an aircraft engine from its support structure comprising a) a housing, said housing being adapted for attachment to said engine; b) a piston mounted in said housing, said piston adapted for connection to said support structure; c) means for isolating said piston from said housing, said means including i) elastomeric means bonded to said piston and said housing; ii) a first fluid-filled chamber having a first volume stiffness on one side of said piston; iii) a second fluid-filled chamber having a volume stiffness which is substantially similar to said first volume stiffness on another opposite side of said piston; iv) at least one passageway fluidically interconnecting said first and second fluid-filled chambers in order to enable the transmission of vibrational energy between said chambers; v) an actuator associated with and directly fluidically interconnected to said at least one passageway for actively altering an amount of vibrational energy transmitted between said chambers in order to control the amount of vibrational energy in said support structure in a desired manner.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 175 words

An active fluid isolation mount for isolating an aircraft engine from its support structure comprising a) a housing, said housing being adapted for attachment to said engine; b) a piston mounted in said housing, said piston adapted for connection to said support structure; c) means for isolating said piston from said housing, said means including i) elastomeric means bonded to said piston and said housing; ii) a first fluid-filled chamber having a first volume stiffness on one side of said piston; iii) a second fluid-filled chamber having a volume stiffness which is substantially similar to said first volume stiffness on another opposite side of said piston; iv) at least one passageway fluidically interconnecting said first and second fluid-filled chambers in order to enable the transmission of vibrational energy between said chambers; v) an actuator associated with and directly fluidically interconnected to said at least one passageway for actively altering an amount of vibrational energy transmitted between said chambers in order to control the amount of vibrational energy in said support structure in a desired manner.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-12-29	1996-06-29	1996-12-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-12-29	2000-06-29	2000-12-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-12-29	2004-06-29	2004-12-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluid mount with active vibration control

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