A lattice structure and system for absorbing energy, damping vibration, and reducing shock. The lattice structure comprises a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of rib elements with at least a portion of the rib elements including a solid bendable hinge portion for converting energy into linear motion along a longitudinal axis of the respective rib element.

The invention relates to a device (10) for damping flexural vibrations, comprising at least one damping apparatus (DE) and at least one retaining apparatus (12) for the damping apparatus (DE), wherein the at least one damping apparatus (DE) is connected to the at least one retaining apparatus (12), and wherein the at least one damping apparatus (DE) comprises at least one damper mass (26) and at least one spring element (28, 30), wherein the at least one spring element (28, 30) is designed and preloaded in such a way that the at last one spring element (28, 30) holds the at least one damper mass (26) in a predetermined position on the at least one retaining apparatus (12) in the resting state of the device (10)

In one embodiment, a shape-reconfigurable structure includes a rigid base having first and second ends, a rigid first beam having a lateral end and a central end, the lateral end being connected to the first end of the base, and a rigid second beam having a lateral end and a central end, the lateral end of the second beam being connected to the second end of the base and the central end of the second beam being connected to the central end of the first beam, wherein the structure can be placed in an expanded orientation in which the first and second beams extend outward away from the base and a contracted orientation in which the first and second beams extend inward toward the base.

A lattice structure and system for absorbing energy, damping vibration, and reducing shock. The lattice structure comprises a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of rib elements with at least a portion of the rib elements including a solid bendable hinge portion for converting energy into linear motion along a longitudinal axis of the respective rib element.

A system for passive damping of mechanical vibrations generated by a vibrating structure supported by a support, including a transducer interposed between the vibrating structure and the support to transform mechanical energy of vibrations into electrical energy. The transducer includes a flextensional structure having a first axis perpendicular to a second axis, a stack of piezoelectric elements adapted to produce electrical energy when stressed, the stack stressed in compression by the flextensional structure along the first axis so that deformation of the structure modifies the compressive stress applied to the stack, two peripheral fasteners are secured to the flextensional structure, each fastener disposed along the second axis, a first fastener for securing the flextensional structure to the vibrating structure, a second fastener for securing the flextensional structure to the support, at least one fastener integrates an elastic suspension, a shunt connected to the piezoelectric stack to dissipate electrical energy.

A lattice structure and system for absorbing energy, damping vibration, and reducing shock. The lattice structure comprises a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of rib elements with at least a portion of the rib elements including a solid bendable hinge portion for converting energy into linear motion along a longitudinal axis of the respective rib element.

This invention relates to the constraint of a flexible body with low distortion and low uncertainty in its location. A class of mechanisms involving at least one pivot rocker is disclosed. These mechanisms fully constrain a body in space, but when constrained allow the flexible body to vibrate in the shape of one or more of its free mode shapes. Such a set of constraints yields a constrained system with high natural frequencies without over-constraining the body.

A vibration isolation device includes flexures and a multi-part mounting interface for coupling a frame that supports equipment to a structure. The flexures may include three pairs of flexures that allow movement in three orthogonal directions, to allow compliance and/or damp vibrations in the three directions. The flexures may surround the multi-part mounting interface, the parts of which are configured to move relative to one another. One of the parts of the mounting interfaces passes through another part of the mounting interface, such as in one or more holes in one of the interfaces. The device allows equipment mounted on the frame to be isolated from some or all of vibrations produced at the structure. In an example embodiment the vibration isolation system is used in mounting an optical sensor or device to an aircraft.

In one embodiment, a shape-reconfigurable structure includes a rigid base having first and second ends, a rigid first beam having a lateral end and a central end, the lateral end being connected to the first end of the base, and a rigid second beam having a lateral end and a central end, the lateral end of the second beam being connected to the second end of the base and the central end of the second beam being connected to the central end of the first beam, wherein the structure can be placed in an expanded orientation in which the first and second beams extend outward away from the base and a contracted orientation in which the first and second beams extend inward toward the base.

A system for passive damping of mechanical vibrations generated by a vibrating structure supported by a support, including a transducer interposed between the vibrating structure and the support to transform mechanical energy of vibrations into electrical energy. The transducer includes a flextensional structure having a first axis perpendicular to a second axis, a stack of piezoelectric elements adapted to produce electrical energy when stressed, the stack stressed in compression by the flextensional structure along the first axis so that deformation of the structure modifies the compressive stress applied to the stack, two peripheral fasteners are secured to the flextensional structure, each fastener disposed along the second axis, a first fastener for securing the flextensional structure to the vibrating structure, a second fastener for securing the flextensional structure to the support, at least one fastener integrates an elastic suspension, a shunt connected to the piezoelectric stack to dissipate electrical energy.