Energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may include a gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, an aerated gel member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the top surface of the aerated gel member secured to the bottom surface of the gel member. In some embodiments, the energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may include a support structure secured to the gel member, and a cover extending over the top surface of the support structure and the bottom surface of the aerated gel member. The energy dampening and/or dispersing systems may be operable in ballistic garments, footwear, sporting goods, and vehicles.

The present disclosure is related to reducing shake and vibration in Head-Up Displays (HUDs) under dynamic operating conditions. The apparatus includes a curved mirror for projecting an image from a display unit on a windshield of a vehicle. The curved mirror has damping tape on its nonreflective side to absorb vibrational energy and shift the first natural frequency of the curved mirror to a higher frequency. The damping tape includes at least a viscoelastic adhesive layer and a constraining layer. The method for stabilizing the HUD includes applying damping tape selected and positioned to reduce vibrational amplitude and shift the first natural frequency of the curved mirror to a higher frequency.

A damper member may include a gel-like member and a first film joined to a first surface of the gel-like member in a thickness direction, in which a side surface of the gel-like member located between a second surface opposite to the first surface of the gel-like member in the thickness direction and the first surface is opened.

Vibration damping viscoelastic damping material laminates are described. The tapes generally include at least two viscoelastic damping material layers and at least one substrate. The tapes may optionally include one or more release liners. Also described are constrained layer systems formed by adhering the tape to a first substrate and/or second substrate undergoing vibration.

Disclosed are impact sensor arrangements for active hood systems, methods for making and for using such impact sensor arrangements, and motor vehicles with active hood systems using such impact sensor arrangements. Disclosed, for example, is an impact sensor arrangement for an active hood system of a motor vehicle. An active hood system actuator is selectively actuable to displace the vehicle's engine hood. The impact sensor arrangement includes a sensor connected to a sensing tube to detect a characteristic change of the sensing tube and responsively output an actuator trigger signal. First and second blocks, each formed from a high-density material, attach to the vehicle body adjacent the bumper and collectively define an internal channel within which is nested the sensing tube. The first block is movably attached to the second block such that displacement of one block with respect to the other initiates the characteristic change of the sensing tube.

A mechanism is hereby disclosed that, when activated in the linear direction of its axis, will expand and contract radially. The novel nature of the device is that of compliant methods and materials used in its design. Compliant members, referred to as dyads, translate the motion and imply resistance in a single structure. Thus eliminating the need for separate members, hinges, pins, springs and the associated assembly. When these compliant dyads are combined in the novel configurations hereby disclosed, a device is created that expands (or contracts) in multiple directions from its primary axis of actuation. Furthermore, one or more actuation dyad sets could be arranged at various angles relative to the global vertical axis. The radial expansion/contraction can be 2D or 3D by adding more primary activation dyad sets. Such a device can be applied to many applications and industries. One such application is for gripping the inside of a tube or object for moving manually or in automation. The compliant nature of this device can be optimized to auto-adapt to the objects size and shape allowing for greater part variation and reduce manufacturing line change-over times. Other applications would include snap fit connections, spherical articulating joints, spinning cutting tools, speed limiting using friction and centrifugal force, braking rotational forces or transmitting it, automatic centering, expanding elastic bands in an assembly process, and stretching an opening for fitment. The design of this device is material friendly and can be made of plastic, composite and metals. It may be of a single monoform construction (created by molding, machining, or additive manufacturing) or made of multiple parts including pivots and different materials to achieve the desired articulation.

An apparatus including a plurality of robot arm links movably connected to one another, where a first one of the robot arm links includes a frame, where the frame has a first end movably connected onto a second one of the robot arm links; and at least one vibration damper arrangement on the frame of the first robot arm link, where the at least one vibration damper arrangement includes at least one viscoelastic element connected to the frame of the first robot arm link by a connection such that, as the frame of the first robot arm link experiences vibrations, the at least one viscoelastic element dampens the vibrations in the frame of the first robot arm link based upon viscoelasticity and the connection of the at least one viscoelastic element to the frame of the first robot arm link.

A coupling-damping thin layer of gap-filling material to be used at interfaces under compression and the thickness control techniques. The thickness of the layer is proposed to be controlled by an insertion of an elastic material into the gap-filling material. By selection of appropriate stiffness of the elastic material and the viscosity of the gap-filling material, the dynamic properties of the layer can be controlled to optimise vibration dissipation through hysteresis loop damping.

A conjugate damper for a structural panel includes a constraining sheet extending between a first edge and a second edge. Each of the first edge and the second edge is at least partially coupled to a first surface of the structural panel. The conjugate damper also includes a damping layer coupled between the constraining sheet and the first surface such that, when the structural panel is in a compressively deformed state, a thickness of the damping layer in a direction generally normal to the first surface is decreased relative to a baseline state. The damping layer includes a viscoelastic material.

Methods, systems, and devices are described for isolating a crystal oscillator assembly from shock and/or vibration inputs. A system may include one or more vibration isolators coupled between the crystal oscillator assembly and the base structure, and each of the vibration isolators may include a spring material layer and a damping material layer. The spring material layer may provide a spring force between the crystal oscillator assembly and the base structure. The damping material layer may be adhered to at least one side of the spring material layer, and may provide a damping force between the crystal oscillator assembly and the base structure. Some vibration isolators may further include a constraint layer adhered to the damping material layer, such that the damping material layer is coupled between the constraint layer and the spring material layer.