A structure having limited supportable portions has been difficult to isolate from vibration in the direction in which a load is applied. A base isolation apparatus includes a Z-axis base isolation unit, an X-axis base isolation unit, and a Y-axis base isolation unit. The base isolation unit includes a vibration-source connector, an isolated-object connector, a lock device disposed between the isolated-object connector and the vibration-source connector for switching between a state of fixing the isolated-object connector and a state of making it movable, a distance recovery device for generating a force to cause an amount of change in distance to approach zero, depending on the amount of change, and a vibration damper for generating a force in an orientation of hindering the change, depending on the rate of change in distance.

Apparatus and methods to reduce unwanted motion in precision instruments are described. An active vibration-isolation system may include a feedback loop that senses motion of an intermediate mass. In noisy environments, where the feedback loop would otherwise fail or provide inadequate isolation, feedforward control can be implemented to sense floor vibrations and reduce motion of the intermediate mass that would otherwise be induced by the floor vibrations. The feedforward control can reduce motion of the intermediate mass to a level that allows the feedback loop to operate satisfactorily.

A body weight adjustment mechanism for automatic adjustment to a balanced point is provided to improve vibration absorption characteristics and impact absorption characteristics. A torsion angle of a lower frame-side torsion bar when an upper frame is at a balanced point is found in advance, a torsion angle of the lower frame-side torsion bar in a state in which a person is seated is detected, the detected torsion angle is compared with the aforesaid balanced point torsion angle, a control signal is sent to an elastic force adjusting unit, and torsion angles of upper frame-side torsion bars are adjusted so that the torsion angle of the lower frame-side torsion bar becomes equal to the balanced point torsion angle. The upper frame can be set to an appropriate position in an initial state and a static state in which a person is seated and vibration and impact absorption characteristics are improved.

A vibration damping apparatus configured to damp a vibration of a target member includes a mass body, a base disposed on the target member, a support member disposed on the base and configured to support the mass body, a housing disposed on the base so as to surround the support member, an elastic member disposed so as to form a space in the housing and configured to apply a force to the support member, and a control unit configured to control a pressure of a fluid in the space by supplying the fluid to the space based on a vibration state of the target member.

A low-profile shock isolating payload mounting assembly comprises a first mount, a second mount, and an isolator. The second mount is movable relative to the first mount and comprises a riser comprising an inclined surface. The isolator comprises an inner frame and an outer frame. The inner frame couples to the first mount and comprises a platform and a leg extending from the platform. The leg is inclined to be complementary to the inclined surface of the second mount. The outer frame couples to the second mount and comprises an opening for accessing the platform of the inner frame. The rail is inclined so as to be complementary to the leg to capture the leg between the rail of the outer frame and the inclined surface of the second mount. The isolator operates to dampen vibrations and shocks propagating between the first and second mounts.

Proposed is a vibration-proof hanger. According to one embodiment, the vibration-proof hanger includes a fitting bracket having a fixed plate configured to allow a first surface to be integrally fixed to an artificial structure, wherein a hinge unit is provided on a second surface of the fixed plate, a tilting arm unit configured to allow one end to be rotatably fixed to the hinge unit to be tilted, and a vibration-proof unit configured to be coupled to the tilting arm unit to absorb vibration transferred to the tilting arm unit or rotate to prevent vibration of the tilting arm unit.

Disclosed is a self-powered vibration damper based on piezoelectricity and a control method. The damper comprises a loading platform, an energy collecting mechanism, a curved leaf spring, a vibration control mechanism and a substrate all connected in sequence, the circuit system comprises a rectifier circuit, a DC-DC voltage conversion circuit, an energy storage circuit, a control circuit and a charging battery, a first piezoelectric stack is connected with the input end of the rectifier circuit, the output end of the rectifier circuit is connected with the input end of the DC-DC voltage conversion circuit, the output end of the DC-DC voltage conversion circuit is connected with the input ends of the energy storage circuit and the charging battery, the output end of the energy storage circuit is connected with the input end of the control circuit, the output end of the control circuit is connected with the second piezoelectric stack.

Apparatus and methods to reduce unwanted motion in precision instruments are described. An active vibration-isolation system may include a feedback loop that senses motion of an intermediate mass. In noisy environments, where the feedback loop would otherwise fail or provide inadequate isolation, feedforward control can be implemented to sense floor vibrations and reduce motion of the intermediate mass that would otherwise be induced by the floor vibrations. The feedforward control can reduce motion of the intermediate mass to a level that allows the feedback loop to operate satisfactorily.

A suspension system for a vehicle is provided. A linear regenerative suspension system that converts mechanical energy into storable electrical energy is also provided. The system utilizes pistons, one on each side of the vehicle, engaged with a vehicle body at a distal end and having a fluid chamber at the proximal end. The system further has a central chamber having a rod freely laterally moving therein. A fluid communicates between the central chamber and each piston fluid chamber. Upon nonlinear forces applied to the vehicle, the rod is urged in one direction or another. This urging applies force to the fluid in the central chamber, and in turn, to the piston in the corresponding side of the vehicle, urging the piston up and in turn urging the vehicle body up.

A shock absorbing system for force attenuation, impact modification or reduction, employs an envelope having a chamber containing a first working fluid, the envelope deformable in response to the impulse to attenuate impact force. A plurality of resilient supplemental absorber elements dispersed within the chamber. The plurality of resilient supplemental absorber elements are deformable in response to the force to assist in attenuating impact force and provide additional resilient restoring force to return the envelope to a pre-impact shape. In alternative implementations, a unitary cell for energy dissipation employs an envelope having a chamber containing a first working fluid and an inner element contained within the chamber and having an inner chamber containing a second working fluid.