The present invention is directed to three dimensional weaves composed of wires or yarns that offer the potential for damping not achievable with solid materials, including high temperature damping. Three damping mechanisms have been identified: (1) Internal material damping, (2) Frictional energy dissipation (Coulomb damping), and (3) inertial damping (tuned mass damping). These three damping mechanisms can be optimized by modifying the wire material chemistries (metals, ceramics, polymers, etc.), wire sizes, wire shapes, wire coatings, wire bonding, and wire architecture (by removing certain wires). These have the effect of modifying the lattice and wire stiffnesses, masses, coefficients of friction, and internal material damping. Different materials can be used at different locations in the woven lattice. These design variables can also be modified to tailor mechanical stiffness and strength of the lattice, in addition to damping.

One aspect is an insert molded friction torque device with a rotatable shaft, a friction element mounted over the rotatable shaft in an interference fit, a rigid enclosure structure at least partially enclosing the friction elements, and a single-piece molded housing enclosing the friction element and at least partially enclosing the rigid enclosure structure such that a first portion of the housing is between the friction elements and the rigid enclosure structure within the rigid enclosure structure and a second portion of the housing is outside the rigid enclosure structure.

A computer of an active vibration damping device calculates an output average duty ratio which is used for realizing operation command values. On the basis of the operation command values and an integer value point number, which is set so as to become larger as a period of rotation of the drive source becomes longer, the computer calculates a reference average duty ratio for realizing the operation command values when an actuator internal temperature is a reference temperature. The computer calculates the actuator internal temperature on the basis of a deviation between the output average duty ratio and the reference average duty ratio.

A support assembly for a load-bearing unit, a gas turbine engine including the support assembly, and a method of operation of the support assembly are provided. The support assembly includes a support element, a damper, and a variable stiffness member. The support element supports the load-bearing unit. The damper supports the support element and is configured to provide dampening of the load-bearing unit. The variable stiffness member is positioned between the damper and the load-bearing unit. The variable stiffness member is configured to provide a serial dampening of the load-bearing unit with the damper. The variable stiffness member includes a shape memory alloy.

A temperature-independent rotation damper 100 is presented. A housing 108 and a piston 102, between which a viscous liquid is located in annular gaps 118, 120, rotate one around the other. When the temperature falls, the damping by the viscous liquid increases. This effect is countered by reducing the effective area which constitutes the braking action, or by enlarging the volume in the annular gaps 118, 120. As the drive, a material having a positive expansion coefficient is used, which material drives a piston 132. In this way, the damping of the rotation damper 100 is broadly practically independent of the temperature.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a novel system, device, and methods for providing an isolator for components and instrumentation to isolate vibrations, shock, static or quasi-static loads, thermal loads, and electrical currents. The novel isolator has an asymmetrical shape, experiences uniform motion under quasi-static loading, and reduces the effective modal mass across a range of frequencies. The novel isolator outperforms conventional vibration isolators in terms of cost, schedule (manufacturing time and lead time), heat dissipation, and performance.

A computer of an active vibration damping device calculates an output average duty ratio which is used for realizing operation command values. On the basis of the operation command values and an integer value point number, which is set so as to become larger as a period of rotation of the drive source becomes longer, the computer calculates a reference average duty ratio for realizing the operation command values when an actuator internal temperature is a reference temperature. The computer calculates the actuator internal temperature on the basis of a deviation between the output average duty ratio and the reference average duty ratio.

A computer of an active vibration damping device calculates operation command values for an actuator from rotation information of a drive source, and corrects the operation command values in accordance with an internal temperature of the actuator. The computer applies a drive voltage to the actuator using a voltage duty ratio based on the corrected operation command values. The computer also estimates the internal temperature on the basis of an average duty ratio as an average of the voltage duty ratios in a predetermined interval.

A spiral spring and a method of manufacturing the spiral spring are disclosed. The spiral spring includes at least one winding, which includes a core made of a silicon material. The core comprises two long, parallel, straight sides, and two short, parallel, straight sides. At least the opposite long sides of the core are covered by a SiO.sub.2 layer. In the method, the at least one winding is etched out of the silicon material such that the core of the at least one winding of the spiral spring is formed and includes two long, parallel, straight sides and two short, parallel, straight sides.

A suspension system for a work vehicle includes a shock absorber including a fluid, a coil positioned at least partially in the fluid, a sensor configured to detect a work status of the work vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to determine the work status of parked or operational based on the sensor, determine an electrical resistance of the coil in a shock absorber based on the work status, predict a temperature of a fluid in the shock absorber based on the electrical resistance of the coil, provide an electric current in the coil based on the predicted temperature of the fluid, determine the electrical resistance of the coil while the electric current is on, and terminate the electric current in the coil based on the work status and the predicted temperature.