Enhanced damping using cryogenic cooling

Abstract

A damping apparatus is disclosed having at least one magnet, a conducting member movable relative to the magnet, a cryogenic fluid, and a channel that confines the cryogenic fluid in contact with the conducting member. The cryogenic fluid may maintain the conducting member at cryogenic temperatures, thereby increasing a damping force provided by the conducting member to a payload.

1 . A damping apparatus comprising:
 at least one magnet   a conducting member movable relative to the magnet;   a cryogenic fluid; and   a channel that confines the cryogenic fluid in contact with the conducting member.   
     
     
         2 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conducting member comprises a conducting material chosen such that a conductivity of the conducting member is increased when a temperature of the conducting member is decreased by contact with the cryogenic fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel confines the cryogenic fluid such that the cryogenic fluid contacts a substantial portion of a surface of the conducting member. 
     
     
         4 . The damping apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the channel confines the cryogenic fluid such that the cryogenic fluid contacts the entire surface of the conducting member. 
     
     
         5 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is a substantially closed channel, and the cryogenic fluid is circulated in the substantially closed channel. 
     
     
         6 . The damping apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the substantially closed channel includes a vent for venting the cryogenic fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The damping apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a pump configured to circulate the cryogenic fluid through the channel. 
     
     
         8 . The damping apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the conducting member; and   means for varying a flow rate of the cryogenic fluid circulated by the pump,   wherein the flow rate of the cryogenic fluid circulated by the pump is controlled based on the temperature of the conducting member.   
     
     
         9 . The damping apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a manifold for collecting circulated cryogenic fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is an open channel, and the cryogenic fluid is released from the damping apparatus after flowing through the channel. 
     
     
         11 . The damping apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a pressurized fluid holder for holding the cryogenic fluid and for releasing the cryogenic fluid into the open channel. 
     
     
         12 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein the channel is defined at least in part by the housing and the conducting member. 
     
     
         13 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is defined at least in part by the magnet and the conducting member. 
     
     
         14 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is defined at least in part by one or more hollow portions of the conducting member. 
     
     
         15 . The damping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the channel is defined entirely within the one or more hollow portions of the conducting member. 
     
     
         16 . The damping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the channel confines the cryogenic fluid such that the cryogenic fluid contacts an interior surface and an exterior surface of the conducting member. 
     
     
         17 . The damping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the channel confines the cryogenic fluid such that the cryogenic fluid contacts the conducting member at an area of the conducting member adjacent the at least one magnet. 
     
     
         18 . The damping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more hollow portions defining the channel are not located at portions of the conducting member adjacent edges of the at least one magnet. 
     
     
         19 . The damping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic fluid is configured to flow through the channel, further comprising:
 a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the conducting member; and   means for varying a flow rate of the cryogenic fluid through the channel,   wherein the flow rate of the cryogenic fluid is controlled based on the temperature of the conducting member.   
     
     
         20 . A damping apparatus comprising:
 at least one magnet   a conducting member movable relative to the magnet; and   a channel adapted to confine a cryogenic fluid in contact with the conducting member.   
     
     
         21 . The damping apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a pump configured to circulate the cryogenic fluid through the channel.   
     
     
         22 . The damping apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the conducting member; and   means for varying a flow rate of the cryogenic fluid through the channel,   wherein the flow rate of the cryogenic fluid is controlled based on the temperature of the conducting member.