Mount for Shock and Vibration Damping

Abstract

An isolator mount for the active dissipation of shocks and vibrations is presented. The invention includes at least one energy dissipating layer and deflectable elements so as to provide soft damping for small disturbance excitations, yet remaining sufficiently stiff to mitigate large shocks. The mount transfers mechanical energy to the dissipating layers via the device structure. Dissipating layers convert shock and vibration energies to either heat or magnetic energy.

1 . A passive isolator for shock and vibration isolation comprising:
 (a) a mount capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains; and   (b) at least one coated layer composed of an energy damping material attached to said mount, said coated layer minimizing stiffness change to said mount.   
   
   
       2 . The passive isolator of  claim 1 , wherein said mount is c-shaped. 
   
   
       3 . The passive isolator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said coated layer is attached to both sides of said mount. 
   
   
       4 . The passive isolator of  claim 1 , wherein at least two said coated layers form a multi-laminate structure. 
   
   
       5 . The passive isolator of  claim 1 , wherein said mount having short fiber inclusions. 
   
   
       6 . The passive isolator of  claim 1 , wherein said coated layer having short fiber inclusions. 
   
   
       7 . The passive isolator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (c) an element attached to said mount and capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains.   
   
   
       8 . The passive isolator of  claim 7 , wherein said mount is c-shaped. 
   
   
       9 . The passive isolator of  claim 7 , wherein at least one said coated layer is attached to both sides of said mount. 
   
   
       10 . The passive isolator of  claim 7 , wherein at least two said coated layers form a multi-laminate structure. 
   
   
       11 . The passive isolator of  claim 7 , wherein said mount having short fiber inclusions. 
   
   
       12 . The passive isolator of  claim 7 , wherein said coated layer having short fiber inclusions. 
   
   
       13 . A passive isolator for shock and vibration isolation comprising:
 (a) a rigid element capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains;   (b) at least two damping elements composed of an energy damping material, said damping elements disposed about said rigid element; and   (c) a composite shell encapsulating said rigid element and said damping elements, said composite shell capable of withstanding repeated deflections and strains.   
   
   
       14 . The passive isolator of  claim 13 , wherein said passive isolator mount is c-shaped. 
   
   
       15 . The passive isolator of  claim 13 , wherein said damping elements dissipate mechanical energy as heat. 
   
   
       16 . The passive isolator of  claim 13 , wherein said damping elements dissipate mechanical energy as magnetic energy. 
   
   
       17 . The passive isolator of  claim 13 , wherein said damping elements are segmented. 
   
   
       18 . A non-standard extrusion process orienting stress factors within an isolator mount so as to withstand repeated tensile loads comprising the steps of:
 (a) plasticating a polymeric material;   (b) forcing said polymeric material through a shaping die;   (c) forming a continuous extrusion so that shear flow aligns a plurality of energy damping particulates within said polymeric material along a preferred direction; and   (d) cutting said continuous extrusion after said forming step.   
   
   
       19 . The non-standard extrusion process of  claim 18 , wherein said energy damping particulates are randomly oriented. 
   
   
       20 . The non-standard extrusion process of  claim 18 , wherein said continuous extrusion has a plurality of randomly oriented short fiber inclusions. 
   
   
       21 . The non-standard extrusion process of  claim 18 , wherein said energy damping particulates are composed of a plurality of short length chaff inclusions.