Constrained layer damper

Abstract

A system includes a first layer of a first polymeric material being visco-elastic when solidified. The first polymeric material covers a first portion of a substrate. A second layer of a second polymeric material (being stiff when solidified) covers at least a portion of the first layer and at least a second portion of the substrate. Additionally, a method includes applying a layer of first polymeric material to a first portion of a substrate. The first polymeric material is visco-elastic when solidified. Additionally, a layer of a second polymeric material (being stiff when solidified) is applied to the first polymeric material and a second portion of the substrate. The first polymeric material is constrained between the second polymeric material and the substrate. Both of the first polymeric material and the second polymeric material are dispensed in fluid form from a bulk source of fluid material.

1 . A system comprising: 
 a first layer of a first polymeric material being visco-elastic when solidified, said first polymeric material covering a first portion of a substrate; and    a second layer of a second polymeric material covering at least a portion of said first layer and covering at least a second portion of said substrate, said second polymeric material being stiff when solidified.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second polymeric materials dispensed in fluid form solidifies at room temperature without the addition of an external, non-chemical catalyst.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and said second polymeric materials dispensed in fluid form solidifies when heated above room temperature.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material is dispensed from an applicator head disposed on an articulated robot arm.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material are dispensed from separate sources of fluid material.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material are both dispensed from a common applicator head disposed on an articulated robot arm.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a first version of said first polymeric material is applied to a first product and a second version of said first polymeric material is applied to a second product, and said first version and said second version have relatively different vibration damping characteristics.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said substrate is a panel of an automotive vehicle.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first version of said first polymeric material is applied to a first product and a second version of said first polymeric material is applied to a second product, and said first version and said second version have relatively different vibration damping characteristics.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first polymeric material is a first thickness and said second polymeric material is a second thickness when said substrate forms part of a first product of manufacture; and 
 said first polymeric material is a third thickness and said second polymeric material is a fourth thickness when said substrate forms part of a second product of manufacture.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a panel of an automotive vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic water based resins, synthetic solvent based resins, natural water based resins, natural solvent based resins, bituminous based materials, cement based materials, polyurethanes, styrene block co-polymers, acrylic polymers, polyureas, silane terminated polyurethanes, modified silane polymers, polyisobutylenes, EPDM, natural rubber, Poly vinyl chloride, epoxy resins, and waterbased resins.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said second polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, polyureas, acrylic polymers, polyurethanes, epoxy polyurethane hybrids, polyesters, modified polyesters, and waterbased resins.  
   
   
       14 . A method comprising: 
 Applying a layer of first polymeric material to a first portion of a substrate, said first polymeric material being visco-elastic when solidified;    applying a layer of second polymeric material to said first polymeric material and a second portion of said substrate such that said first polymeric material is constrained between said second polymeric material and said substrate, said second polymeric material being stiff when solidified; and    wherein both said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material are dispensed in fluid form from a bulk source of fluid material.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first and said second polymeric materials dispensed in fluid form solidifies at room temperature without the addition of an external, non-chemical catalyst.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first and said second polymeric materials dispensed in fluid form solidifies when heated above room temperature.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material is dispensed from an applicator head disposed on an articulated robot arm.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material are dispensed from separate sources of fluid material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said first polymeric material is dispensed from a first applicator head disposed on a first articulated robot arm; and said second polymeric material is dispensed from a second applicator head disposed on a second articulated robot arm.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material are both dispensed from a common applicator head disposed on an articulated robot arm.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said applying a layer of first polymeric material to said substrate comprises applying a first version of said first polymeric material to a first product and applying a second version of said first polymeric material to a second product, and said first version and said second version of said first polymeric material have relatively different vibration damping characteristics.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said substrate is a panel member of an automotive vehicle.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said applying a layer of first polymeric material to said substrate comprises applying a first version of said first polymeric material to a first product and applying a second version of said first polymeric material to a second product, and said first version and said second version of said first polymeric material have relatively different vibration damping characteristics.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 applying a first thickness of at least one selected from said fluidic first polymeric material and said fluidic second polymeric material when said substrate forms part of a first product of manufacture; and    applying a second thickness of the at least one selected from said fluidic first polymeric material and said fluidic second polymeric material when said substrate forms part of a second product of manufacture.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said substrate is a panel member of an automotive vehicle.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said first layer material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic water based resins, synthetic solvent based resins, natural water based resins, natural solvent based resins, bituminous based materials, cement based materials, polyurethanes, styrene block co-polymers, acrylic polymers, polyureas, silane terminated polyurethanes, modified silane polymers, polyisobutylenes, EPDM, natural rubber, Poly vinyl chloride, epoxy resins, and waterbased resins.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said second layer material is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, polyureas, acrylic polymers, polyurethanes, epoxy polyurethane hybrids, polyesters, modified polyesters, and waterbased resins.  
   
   
       28 . A method for installing a constrained layer damper on a product of manufacture, comprising: 
 applying a first layer of a first polymeric material to a first portion of a substrate of the product, said first polymeric material being visco-elastic;    applying a second layer of a second polymeric material to at least a portion of said first polymeric material and a second portion of said substrate, such that said first polymeric material is constrained between said second polymeric material and the substrate of the product, said second polymeric material being stiff when solidified; and    wherein at least one of said first polymeric material and said second polymeric material is dispensed in fluid form during the manufacture of the product from a bulk source of fluid material.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials solidify without the application of heat above room temperature, and the first polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of a bituminous based material, a silane terminated polyurethane, a polyurea, and an epoxy polyurethane hybrid.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials solidify when heated above room temperature.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of synthetic water based resins, synthetic solvent based resins, natural water based resins, natural solvent based resins, bituminous based materials, cement based materials, polyurethanes, styrene block co-polymers, acrylic polymers, polyureas, silane terminated polyurethanes, modified silane polymers, polyisobutylenes, EPDM, natural rubber, Poly vinyl chloride, epoxy resins, and waterbased resins.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said second polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of epoxy resins, polyureas, acrylic polymers, polyurethanes, epoxy polyurethane hybrids, polyesters, modified polyesters, and waterbased resins.