Instrumented Platform For Vibration-Sensitive Equipment

Abstract

A vibration damper assembly that can be attached and moved about a payload surface of a table. The vibration damper assembly includes a sensor and a damper located within a housing. The housing can be attached to the payload surface by one or more fasteners. An operator can move the vibration damper assembly to different locations of the payload assembly to optimize the damping function of the assembly.

1 . A table assembly, comprising:
 a table with a first surface and a second surface;   a structure that is coupled to said second surface;   a housing movably attached to an external surface of said first surface of said table;   a vibration sensor located within said housing and coupled to said table; and,   a damper located within said housing and coupled to said table.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener that attaches said housing to said table. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a first compartment that contains said vibration sensor and a second compartment that contains said damper. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said damper includes an active actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector that is connected to said sensor and extends from said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connector that is connected to said damper and extends from said housing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is constructed from a metal material. 
     
     
         8 . A method for damping vibration in a table that has a first surface, and a second surface that is coupled to a structure, comprising:
 attaching at least one housing of at least one vibration damper assembly to an external surface of the first surface of the table;   sensing the vibration with the vibration damper assembly;   processing vibration data received from the vibration damper assembly with a controller; and,   damping the vibration of the first surface with the vibration damper assembly in response to data from the controller.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the vibration damping assembly is attached to the first surface of the table with at least one fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising detaching the vibration damping assembly from the first surface and reattaching the vibration damping assembly to a different location of the payload surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising attaching an electrical connector of the vibration damper assembly to a controller. 
     
     
         12 . A table assembly, comprising:
 a table with a first surface and a second surface;   at least one vibration isolator coupled to said second surface, the vibration isolator configured to support the table;   at least one housing movably attached to an external surface of said first surface of said table;   at least one vibration sensor located within said housing and coupled to said table;   at least one damper located within said housing and coupled to said table; and   at least one controller in communication with the vibration sensor and damper, the controller configured to receive vibration data from the vibration sensor and controllably damp the vibration using the damper.   
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener that attaches said housing to said table. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said housing includes a first compartment that contains said vibration sensor and a second compartment that contains said damper. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said damper includes an active actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising an electrical connector that is connected to said sensor and extends from said housing. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising an electrical connector that is connected to said damper and extends from said housing. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said housing is constructed from a metal material.