Patent US2649079A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5775049A
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US
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Method and apparatus for damping structural vibrations
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1996-06-12
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2016-06-12
Abstract
Abstract The damped structural member includes a structural member and granular material in intimate contact with the member. In one embodiment the granular material is lightweight and has a bulk specific gravity of less than 1.5. When low weight is important, the granular material has a bulk specific gravity of less than or equal to one. The particles of the granular material are also in intimate contact with one another. The granular material may be substantially non-viscoelastic. Preferred granular material is low density polyethylene and glass microspheres. The granular material fills hollow structural members or is placed into intimate contact with open structural members. The lightweight fill effectively damps vibrational modes without excessively increasing the weight of the structural member.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Robert Fricke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:21
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/01; F16F7/015; B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/24; B64G1/38; E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/92; E04B1/98; E04C; E04C3/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
Method for damping vibration in a structure comprising: placing granular material into intimate contact with the structure wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other, the granular material having a bulk specific gravity less than 1.5.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
Method for damping vibration in a structure comprising: placing granular material into intimate contact with the structure wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other, the granular material having a bulk specific gravity less than 1.5.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method f or damping vibration in a structure comprising: placing granular material into intimate contact with the structure wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other, the granular material being substantially non-viscoelastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Method f or damping vibration in a structure comprising: placing granular material into intimate contact with the structure wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other, the granular material being substantially non-viscoelastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the placing of granular material further comprises placing granular low density polyethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the placing of granular material further comprises placing granular glass microspheres.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 comprising providing the structure as a hollow member and filling the provided hollow member with the granular material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the structure is an open beam and further comprising confining the granular material for contact with the open beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Damped structural member comprising: a structural member; and granular material having a bulk specific gravity less than 1.5 in intimate contact with the member wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Damped structural member comprising: a structural member; and granular material having a bulk specific gravity less than 1.5 in intimate contact with the member wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Damped structural member comprising: a structural member; and granular, substantially non-viscoelastic material in intimate contact with the member wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
Damped structural member comprising: a structural member; and granular, substantially non-viscoelastic material in intimate contact with the member wherein particles of the granular material are in intimate contact with each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The member of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the member is hollow and granular material fills the hollow member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structural member of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the member is an open member and further including structure for maintaining the granular material in contact with the open member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structural member of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the granular material is low density polyethylene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structural member of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the granular material is glass microspheres.
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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) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |