US5256223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber enhancement of viscoelastic damping polymers
Assignee: Old Dominion University
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Filing: 1991-12-31
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Granted: 1993-10-26
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Expires: 2011-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A Viscoelastic medium with fibers dispersed throughout eliminates the need for a constraining layer, thus reducing the size and weight of a damping treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas E. Alberts
- 👤 Yung Chen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:46
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H5/00; D04H5/04; B; B62; B62D; B62D27/00; B62D27/04; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/42; E; E01; E01D; E01D19/00; E01D19/04; E01D19/041; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/92; E04B1/98; F; F16; F16F; F16F1/00; F16F1/36; F16F1/366; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/16; G10K11/162; G10K11/168; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/916; Y10S277/935; Y10S277/936; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249924; Y10T428/24994; Y10T428/249941; Y10T428/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for damping structural noise and vibration, consisting essentially of: a viscoelastic polymer having length, width and height dimensions defining a volume and having at least one surface securable to a structure; and a plurality of non-woven, spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed in-situ throughout said volume defined by said viscoelastic polymer with respect to said height dimension, said fibers being sized to induce strain in said viscoelastic polymer, said fibers being of a length which requires several of said fibers to span said length dimension of said viscoelastic polymer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for damping structural noise and vibration, consisting essentially of: a viscoelastic polymer having length, width and height dimensions defining a volume and having at least one surface securable to a structure; and a plurality of non-woven, spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed in-situ throughout said volume defined by said viscoelastic polymer with respect to said height dimension, said fibers being sized to induce strain in said viscoelastic polymer, said fibers being of a length which requires several of said fibers to span said length dimension of said viscoelastic polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said securable surface includes an adhesive bonded thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fibers are shorter than said length dimension of said polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fibers are graphite fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said volume which includes said viscoelastic polymer and said fibers is in the form of a tape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said viscoelastic polymer includes a plurality of regions along its length dimension with fibers therein and a plurality of regions along its length dimension without fibers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of damping structural noise and vibration, comprising the steps of: determining a fiber length for a damping tape which is comprised of a viscoelastic polymer with a plurality of spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed throughout said viscoelastic polymer which will provide a desired damping response for a particular frequency of vibration; and applying said damping tape having said fiber length determined to produce said desired damping response to a structure.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of damping structural noise and vibration, comprising the steps of: determining a fiber length for a damping tape which is comprised of a viscoelastic polymer with a plurality of spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed throughout said viscoelastic polymer which will provide a desired damping response for a particular frequency of vibration; and applying said damping tape having said fiber length determined to produce said desired damping response to a structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 7 wherein said step of applying includes the steps of securing a damping tape with uncut fibers to said structure, and cutting said uncut fibers to said fiber length after said step of securing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of damping structural noise and vibration, comprising the steps of: determining a fiber spacing for a damping tape which is comprised of a vescoelastic polymer with a plurality of spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed throughout said viscoelastic polymer which will provide a desired damping response for a particular frequency of vibration; and applying said damping tape having said fiber spacing determined to produce said desired damping response to a structure.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of damping structural noise and vibration, comprising the steps of: determining a fiber spacing for a damping tape which is comprised of a vescoelastic polymer with a plurality of spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed throughout said viscoelastic polymer which will provide a desired damping response for a particular frequency of vibration; and applying said damping tape having said fiber spacing determined to produce said desired damping response to a structure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of damping structural noise and vibration, comprising the steps of: determining a volume fraction of fibers for a damping tape which is comprised of a viscoelastic polymer with a plurality of spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed throughout said viscoelastic polymer which will provide a desired damping response for a particular frequency of vibration; and applying said damping tape having said volume fraction of fibers determined to produce said desired damping response to a structure.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of damping structural noise and vibration, comprising the steps of: determining a volume fraction of fibers for a damping tape which is comprised of a viscoelastic polymer with a plurality of spaced apart fibers uniformly distributed throughout said viscoelastic polymer which will provide a desired damping response for a particular frequency of vibration; and applying said damping tape having said volume fraction of fibers determined to produce said desired damping response to a structure.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-25 | 1997-04-26 | 1997-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-25 | 2001-04-26 | 2001-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-25 | 2005-04-26 | 2005-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |