Tuned mass damper

Claim 2

A damping apparatus for controlling a dynamic response in a primary structure, the primary structure having a natural vibrational frequency, said damping apparatus comprising: a secondary mass; a support means for the secondary mass, the support means operably connecting the secondary mass and the primary structure and providing for two dimensional movement of the secondary mass relative to the primary structure; at least one spring interposed between the primary structure and the secondary mass; and at least one viscoelastic element interposed between the primary structure and the secondary mass; wherein said at least one spring and said at least one viscoelastic element are tuned to a frequency to provide said damping apparatus with a vibrational frequency of approximately said natural vibrational frequency of said primary structure; and whereby when said dynamic response is initiated in the primary structure, the dynamic response is damped by the movement of the secondary mass.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support means include roller bearings.

Claim 4

The apparatus for claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic element comprises at least one viscoelastic material component.

Claim 5

A damping apparatus for controlling a dynamic response in a primary structure, the primary structure having a natural vibrational frequency, said damping apparatus comprising: means for attaching to the primary structure; a secondary mass; a plurality of springs interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass; a plurality of viscoelastic elements interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass; the springs and viscoelastic elements interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass such that the movement of the secondary mass is constrained to at least two dimensions; wherein said plurality of springs and said plurality of viscoelastic elements are tuned to a frequency to provide said damping apparatus with a vibrational frequency of approximately said natural vibrational frequency of said primary structure; and whereby when said dynamic response is initiated in the primary structure, the dynamic response is damped by the movement of the secondary mass.

Claim 6

A damping apparatus for controlling a dynamic response in a primary structure, the primary structure having a natural vibrational frequency, said damping apparatus comprising: means for attaching to the primary structure; a secondary mass; a plurality of springs interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass; a plurality of viscoelastic elements interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass; the springs and viscoelastic elements interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass such that the movement of the secondary mass is constrained to at least two dimensions; wherein said plurality of springs and said plurality of viscoelastic elements are tuned to a frequency to provide said damping apparatus with a vibrational frequency of approximately said natural vibrational frequency of said primary structure; and whereby when said dynamic response is initiated in the primary structure, the dynamic response is damped by the movement of the secondary mass.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the viscoelastic elements comprise at least one viscoelastic material component.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the viscoelastic elements additionally comprise at least one rigid component.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one viscoelastic material component is intermediate a central rigid component and lateral rigid components, and the at least one component is interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass.

Claim 10

A damping apparatus for controlling a dynamic response in a primary structure, the primary structure having a natural vibrational frequency, said damping apparatus comprising: means for attaching to the primary structure; a secondary mass; a plurality of springs interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass, the springs being interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass such that the movement of the secondary mass is constrained to at least two dimensions; and at least one viscoelastic element interposed between the primary structure and the secondary mass; wherein said plurality of springs and said at least one viscoelastic element are tuned to a frequency to provide said damping apparatus having vibrational frequency of approximately said natural vibrational frequency of said primary structure; and whereby when said dynamic response is initiated in the primary structure, the dynamic response is damped by the movement of the secondary mass.

Claim 11

A damping apparatus for controlling a dynamic response in a primary structure, the primary structure having a natural vibrational frequency, said damping apparatus comprising: means for attaching to the primary structure; a secondary mass; a plurality of springs interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass, the springs being interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass such that the movement of the secondary mass is constrained to at least two dimensions; and at least one viscoelastic element interposed between the primary structure and the secondary mass; wherein said plurality of springs and said at least one viscoelastic element are tuned to a frequency to provide said damping apparatus having vibrational frequency of approximately said natural vibrational frequency of said primary structure; and whereby when said dynamic response is initiated in the primary structure, the dynamic response is damped by the movement of the secondary mass.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the viscoelastic elements comprise at least one viscoelastic material component.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of the viscoelastic elements additionally comprise at least one rigid component.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one viscoelastic material component is intermediate a central rigid component and lateral rigid components, and the at least one component is interposed between the attaching means and the secondary mass.