HORIZONTAL-MOTION VIBRATION ISOLATOR

Abstract

A horizontal-motion vibration isolator utilizes a plurality of bent flexures to support an object to be isolated from horizontal motion. Each bent flexure includes a fixed end coupled to a base and a floating end which is cantilevered and coupled to the object being isolated. The arrangement of bent flexures allows the vertical height of the isolator to be reduced without compromising vibration isolation performance. Compressed springs or spring-like elements can be added to bear some of the weight of the object being isolated thus increasing the payload capacity of the isolator.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A support structure for use in a horizontal motion isolator, comprising: a plurality of bent flexures, each bent flexure having a fixed end coupled to a base platform and a floating end coupled to a top mounting plate so that each bent flexure is cantilevered and loaded in shear by the object being supported by the mounting plate and each bent flexure being constrained to bend only in a horizontal direction.

22. The support structure of claim 21, wherein each bent flexure has low horizontal stiffness, a high vertical stiffness, and a high buckling load.

23. The support structure of claim 22, wherein at least one of the bent flexures have a first face, a second face and a bend disposed between the first face and second face.

24. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the first face and second face of each bent flexure are disposed relative to each other so as to form a right angle.

25. The support structure of claim 24, wherein the bend defines a bend axis which is parallel to the direction of a payload.

26. The support structure of claim 24, wherein the first face and second face of each bent flexure are disposed relatively perpendicular to each other.

27. The support structure of claim 21, wherein the plurality of bent flexures are suspended between the top mounting plate and the base platform.

28. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the bend of the bent flexures has a minimal radius forming a sharp bend.

29. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the bend of the bent flexures has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the direction of the payload.

30. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the first face has a horizontal length equal to a horizontal length of the second face.

31. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the first face has a horizontal length that is different than a horizontal length of the second face.

32. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the bend is positioned midway between the first face and the second face.

33. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the first face and the second face are formed at an acute angle to each other.

34. The support structure of claim 23, wherein the first face and the second face are formed at an obtuse angle to each other.

35. The support structure of claim 21, wherein all of the bent flexures have the same size and shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a vibration isolating system utilizing four compact horizontal-motion vibration isolators made in accordance with the present invention supporting a mounting plate (shown in dashed lines to better show the underlying components) upon which the object to the isolated may be placed;

[0032] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the vibration isolation system of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the vibration isolator system of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 4 is another side elevational view showing the vibration isolator system of FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the bent flexure made in accordance with the present invention and depicted in FIGS. 1-4;

[0036] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a bent flexure made in accordance with the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of a bent flexure made in accordance with the present invention;

[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a vibration isolating system similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1-4 which includes pre-compressed springs or spring-like elements added between the mounting plate (shown in dashed lines to better show the underlying components) upon which the object to the isolated is placed and a foundation (a base platform);

[0039] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the vibration isolation system of FIG. 8;

[0040] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view showing the vibration isolator system of FIG. 8; and

[0041] FIG. 11 is another side elevational view showing the vibration isolator system of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIGS. 1-5 show one embodiment of a compact horizontal-motion isolator 10 made in accordance with the present invention. The embodiment of the horizontal-motion isolator 10 of FIGS. 1-5 is designed to support a payload (not shown) relative to a foundation (base) to reduce the transmission of horizontal vibrations (motion) between the payload and foundation.

[0043] The compact horizontal-motion isolator 10 of the present invention includes four support members in the form of bent flexures 12 that cooperatively support the object to be isolated from horizontal vibrations. Each of the bent flexures 12 have a first fixed or stationary end 14 coupled to a base platform 16 and a free or floating end 18 coupled to a top mounting plate 20 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1) that can be used in this particular embodiment for supporting the object to be isolated. The base platform 16 can sit on a foundation and may include leveling screws (not shown) used for leveling the base platform 16 relative to the foundation. The geometry of the bent flexure 12 allows the flexure to have high vertical stiffness for supporting the payload, while still possessing low horizontal stiffness for providing vibration isolation. It should be appreciated that while the four bent flexures 12 are shown attached to a base platform in this particular embodiment, it would be possible to attach the bent flexures 12 directly to a particular structure (for example, a vertical isolator) for vibration isolation purposes.

[0044] Each of the bent flexures 12 has a first face 22 and a second face 24 which are joined at a bend 26 that extends along a vertical length of the faces 22, 24. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the first face 22 and second face 24 are substantial perpendicular (at a right angle) to each other. The bend 26 of the bent flexure 12 is shown having a minimal radius forming a sharp bend, as opposed to the larger bend radius of the bent flexure depicted in FIG. 6. Each bent flexure 12 includes one or more mounting openings 28 (see FIGS. 5-7) formed near the stationary end 14 and floating end 18 for mounting purposes. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each floating end 18 of the bent flexures 12 is attached to a mounting block 30 which utilizes fasteners, such as screws 32, which extend through the mounting openings 28 formed on the floating end 18. A clamping plate 34 can be placed between the screws 32 and the mounting block 30 to provide additional strength and stability to the assembly. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, each mounting block 30 includes threaded openings 36 which allow screws 32 to be placed in openings 38 formed on the top mounting plate 18 to securely fasten the mounting plate 20 to each of the mounting blocks 30.

[0045] Likewise, each stationary end 14 of the bent flexures 12 is attached to a mounting block 30 which is, in turn, securely fastened to the base platform 16. Screws 32 can be used to secure the stationary end 14 to the mounting block 30 and may include a clamping plate 34 which provides stability to the assembly. Screws or other fasteners can be used to securely fasten the mounting blocks 30 to the base platform 16.

[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the positioning of the bent flexures relative to the base platform 16 is shown. Initially referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen how the bent flexure 12 is mounted above the base platform 16 in a cantilever-style relationship allowing the floating end 18 to support the top mounting plate 20. Each floating end 18 of the bent flexures 12 is cantilevered in this fashion away from the base platform 16. As can be seen in FIG. 4, which shows another end view of the isolator 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the floating ends 18 of the bent flexures 12 are connected to the top mounting plate 20 and the stationary ends 14 are mounted to the base platform 16. In FIG. 4, the floating ends 18 extend towards the viewer.

[0047] It should be appreciated that the clamping/mounting components disclosed herein are just one of the many ways in which the ends 14, 18 of the bent flexure 12 could be secured to the base platform 16 and top mounting plate 20. Also, while mounting openings 28 are used to clamp the bent flexures 12 to the mounting blocks, such openings may not necessarily be required if an alternative mounting/clamping assembly is utilized.

[0048] The bent flexures 12 depicted in FIGS. 1-5 are shown having two faces 22, 24 which are substantially perpendicular with respect to each other. Referring particularly to FIG. 5, the two faces 22, 24 are shown meeting at the bend 26 which extends vertically (oriented such that the bend 26 is vertical with respect to the earth or the direction of the payload) along the vertical height or length (VL) of the two faces 22, 24. Each bent flexure has a horizontal length (HL). While each face 22, 24 is shown having a horizontal length (HL) which is substantially the same at the other, it should be appreciated that one of the faces could have a longer or shorter horizontal length (HL) than the other.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of a bent flexure 12 made in accordance with the present invention is shown. As can be seen in this Figure, the bent flexure 12 has a much larger, curved radius at bend 26 than the bent flexure depicted in FIGS. 1-5. In another aspect of the invention, the faces 22, 24 of the bent flexure can be formed at an acute angle (not shown), i.e., the two faces of the bent flexure are positioned to form an acute angle. Alternatively, the faces 22, 24 of the bent flexure 12 can form an obtuse angle (not shown).

[0050] Referring now to FIG. 7, yet another embodiment of a bent flexure 12 is shown. In this particular embodiment, the bent flexure 12 does not have two distinct faces 22, 24, but rather, has a continuous face which forms an S-shaped configuration having a pair of curved bends extending along the horizontal length of the flexure. It should be appreciated that this is just one particular curved configuration that could be used to create a particular bent flexure made in accordance with the present invention. It also should be appreciated that these different variations of the bent flexures may be used simultaneously in creating the composite isolator, i.e., different configurations of the bent flexures could be used together to form the isolator. For example, the embodiment of the bent flexure shown in FIG. 6 could be used with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-5. However, generally, it may be easier to manufacture an isolator using bent flexures having the same size and shape.

[0051] In the embodiment of the isolator disclosed in FIGS. 1-5, four individual bent flexures 12 are utilized to cooperatively support the payload. However, as few as three bent flexures aligned in parallel may be used to create the horizontal-motion isolator. However, there is no upper limit on the number of bent flexures that may be used in parallel to create the composite isolator.

[0052] FIGS. 8-11 show another embodiment of a compact horizontal-motion isolator 10 made in accordance with the present invention. The embodiment of the horizontal-motion isolator 10 of FIGS. 8-11 is similar to the one depicted in FIGS. 1-5 except for the addition of a pair of pre-compressed springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 which are attached to the top mounting plate 20 and the base platform 16. Without the payload weight, or with a payload weight smaller than the spring load, the bent flexures are loaded upward in shear. The upward load applied to the bent flexures is limited by the buckling strength of the bent flexures, which is the same for upward load on the flexures or downward load on the flexures. The maximum upward load on the flexures occurs when there is no payload weight.

[0053] The springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 are designed and loaded so that they are near being unstable, right at their instability load, or are unstable so that their horizontal stiffness is small, essentially zero, or is negative, respectively. Also, since the vertical stiffness of the springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 is much lower than that of the bent flexures 12, the horizontal stiffness of the springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 is not changed by changing the downward load on the system from the payload since any change in load on the system is essentially transmitted to the bent flexures 12. In other words, the compressed length of the springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 is essentially fixed by the vertical height (i.e., the vertical length VL) of the vertically stiff bent flexures 12 so the compression load on the springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 does not change by adding or changing payload weight. It should be appreciated that the ends of the springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 could be coupled to the top mounting plate 20 and base platform 16 utilizing standard fastening components (not shown in FIGS. 8-11).

[0054] This addition of the compressed springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 to an existing bent-flexure isolation system enables an increased payload by essentially a factor of two and a reduction in the natural frequency of the system. The compression of the springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 and the upward load on the bent flexures 12 without a payload can be essentially that of the payload weight limit of the existing isolation system without the springs or spring-like elements. With the compressed springs or spring-like elements 40, 42, the original payload limit can be doubled since application of the original payload reduces the upward load on the bent flexures to essentially zero and doubling the original payload loads the flexures downward to the load caused by the original payload without the compressed springs or spring-like elements. With essentially the same horizontal stiffness of the system from the bent flexures and double the payload weight, the natural frequency of the system is now reduced by approximately a factor of 0.7 or one over the square root of two. With the compressed springs or spring-like elements designed to produce negative stiffness, the natural frequency of the system is further reduced.

[0055] Alternatively, for a given payload, this embodiment enables a lower height bent-flexure isolation system or a lower natural frequency system of the same height. By using a pre-compression spring or spring-like element load of half the payload weight, the bent flexures 12 can be designed for a lower height (VL) to handle the reduced buckling load or a lower stiffness for the same height to reduce the natural frequency. With the compressed springs or spring-like elements 40, 42 designed for negative stiffness, the height (VL) or natural frequency can be further reduced.

[0056] In this embodiment of the invention, conventional coil springs or various spring-like elements can be utilized. Some examples include: rigid post with small springs at the ends; machined springs with rigid post and springs at ends; rigid post with neoprene bearings at ends which could provide added damping.

[0057] The bent flexures making up the present structure can be made from common structural materials such as steel and aluminum alloys, and other structural materials having suitable strength and elastic properties. For example, the bent flexures may be made from suitable structural materials, e.g., plastic, metal, composites, etc. which provide the necessary strength for vertically supporting the payload while still being flexible enough to be loaded to approach the flexures' point of elastic instability. In some aspects of the invention, they can be made of a sheet of material or can be machine out of a solid block of parent material. The horizontal length (HL) and vertical length (VL) can be varied as needed to attain the force supporting capability to support the payload while providing low horizontal frequency. Again, the vertical height or length (VL) of the bent flexure will dictate the overall vertical height of the horizontal-motion isolator that can be created.

[0058] While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except by the attached claims.