Patent Application
20150292589
The field to which the disclosure generally relates to includes vibration isolation and shape memory materials.
Isolators may be used to isolate an object or objects from a source of vibration, noise, or harshness.
A number of variations may include a product that may include a variable rate vibration isolator including a shape memory material that may have at least two physical states, wherein each physical state has a corresponding vibration isolation rate, disposed within an assembly including at least a first part and a voltage source in electrical communication with the shape memory material. The product may further include a controller constructed and arranged to pass at least one predetermined current from the voltage source to the shape memory material such that the shape memory material may enter a physical state thereby damping vibration of the first part.
Another variation may include a method that may include the steps of providing a variable rate vibration isolator that may include a shape memory material that may have at least two physical states, wherein each physical state may have a corresponding vibration isolation rate, a component assembly, a stimulus source, and a controller. The method may further include disposing the vibration isolator within the component assembly at a passive vibration isolation state having a passive vibration isolation rate. The method may further include monitoring the vibrations of the component assembly via the controller and providing a stimulus to the vibration isolator via the stimulus source when the component assembly undergoes undesirable vibration. The method may further include altering the shape memory material via the stimulus such that the shape memory material may enter a first active vibration isolation state having a first vibration isolation rate such that the vibration of the component is damped.
Another variation may include a method that may include the steps of providing a shape memory alloy having a passive base line vibration isolation state and at least one active vibration isolation state. The method may further include disposing the vibration isolator within a component assembly including at least a first part, monitoring the vibrations of the component assembly via the controller, providing a stimulus to the vibration isolator via the stimulus source when the component assembly undergoes undesirable vibration, altering the shape memory alloy via the stimulus such that the vibration of the component assembly is damped, and varying a vibration isolation rate of the first part, wherein stimulation of the shape memory alloy changes the isolation rate from the passive base line vibration isolation state to the at least one active vibration isolation state.
Other illustrative variations of the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and enumerated variations, while disclosing optional variations, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Select examples of variations of the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses.
The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
Referring to
Referring to
The vibration isolator may be constructed and arranged to fit within an assembly of parts or within an individual part and may have at least a passive base line vibration isolation state having a passive base line vibration isolation rate and at least one active vibration isolation state having at least one active vibration isolation rate. The vibration isolator may be of any shape or size as suitable for the application. The vibration isolator may be in communication with a stimulus source and a controller and may be constructed and arranged to change from at least a first passive base line vibration isolation state to any number of active vibration isolation states each having a corresponding active vibration isolation rate. When a stimulus is applied to the vibration isolator the shape memory material making up the vibration isolator may change its physical state, thereby also changing its vibration isolation rate. In this way, through the use of stimuli applied to the vibration isolator, the damping properties of the vibration isolator may be varied during use.
The stimulus source may be any number of devices suitable for providing a stimulus to the vibration isolator. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the stimulus source may be constructed and arranged to apply an electrical current, a variation in temperature, a magnetic field, visible or non-visible light, a change in pH, or other external stimuli as appropriate to the shape memory material. The stimuli provided by the stimulus source may cause the shape memory material of the vibration isolator to change from a passive base line vibration isolation state to any number of active vibration isolation states or vice versa.
The controller 16 may be capable of processing sequential logic as well as combinational logic, may be included with the vibration isolator. Additionally, a device capable of reading data from memory and/or external storage devices may be in electrical communication with vibration isolator components including but not limited to the controller as well as additional controllers in communication with the vibration isolator. The controller may have onboard memory and may be in electrical communication with an external data storage device as well as external memory devices. The controller may be in electrical communication with any number of sensors, controllers, batteries, renewable energy sources or other electrical devices and may have the ability to store and timestamp data indicative of readings and/or signals from any number of sensors.
The assembly may include a first part, a second part, and may include any number of additional parts. The assembly may be any device or assembly of components that typically undergoes vibrational input during use. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the assembly may include, but is not limited to, automotive steering systems, pulse-width modulation controlled pumps and motors, electrically powered cooling fans and/or fan assemblies vibration absorption components, body mounts, and powertrain mounts. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the assembly may be any single part or combination of parts that undergoes noise, vibration, and harshness during use.
According to Variation 1, a product may include a variable rate vibration isolator that may include a shape memory material that may have at least two physical states, wherein each physical state may have a corresponding vibration isolation rate. The vibration isolator may be disposed within an assembly that may include at least a first part. The vibration isolator may further include a stimulus source in communication with the shape memory material. The vibration isolator may further include a controller constructed and arranged to pass at least one predetermined stimulus from the stimulus source to the shape memory material such that the shape memory material may change from a first physical state having a corresponding first vibration isolation rate to a second physical state having a corresponding second vibration isolation rate thereby damping vibration of the assembly.
Variation 2 may include a product as set forth in variation 1, wherein the controller may be constructed and arranged to monitor vibration, noise, and harshness of the assembly and may pass the at least one predetermined stimulus from the stimulus source to the shape memory material when vibration, noise, and harshness of the assembly has reached at least a predetermined value.
Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in variations 1 or 2, wherein the shape memory material may have at least three physical states, each physical state having a corresponding vibration isolation rate.
Variation 4 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1-3, wherein the assembly is a steering system of an automobile.
Variation 5 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1-3, wherein the assembly is a body mount on an automobile.
Variation 6 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1-3, wherein the assembly may be a powertrain mount on an automobile.
Variation 7 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1-6, wherein the shape memory material may be a shape memory alloy.
Variation 8 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1-6, wherein the shape memory material may be a shape memory polymer.
Variation 9 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 1-8, wherein the stimulus source may be a voltage source and the stimulus may be current.
According to variation 10, a method may include providing a variable rate vibration isolator that may include a shape memory material having at least two physical states, wherein each physical state may have a corresponding vibration isolation rate, a component assembly, a stimulus source, and a controller. The method may further include disposing the vibration isolator within the component assembly, the vibration isolator being in a passive vibration isolation state having a corresponding passive vibration isolation rate. The method may further include monitoring vibrations of the component assembly via the controller, providing a stimulus to the vibration isolator via the stimulus source when the component assembly undergoes vibration, and altering the shape memory material via the stimulus such that shape memory material may enter a first active vibration isolation state having a first vibration isolation rate such that the vibration of the component assembly is damped.
Variation 11 may include a method as set forth in variation 10 further comprising the step of providing a second stimulus to the vibration isolator via the stimulus source when the component assembly undergoes vibration and altering the shape memory material via the stimulus such that the shape memory material may enter a second active vibration isolation state having a second vibration isolation rate such that the vibration of the component assembly is damped.
Variation 12 may include a method as set forth in any of variations 10-11 wherein the component assembly is a steering system of an automobile.
Variation 13 may include a product as set forth in any of variations 10-11 wherein the component assembly is a body mount of an automobile.
Variation 14 may include a method as set forth in any of variations 10-11 wherein the component assembly may be a powertrain mount on the automobile.
Variation 15 may include a method as set forth in any of variations 10-14 wherein the shape memory material is a shape memory alloy.
Variation 16 may include a method as set forth in any of variations 10-14 wherein the shape memory material may be a shape memory polymer.
According to variation 17, a method may include providing a shape memory alloy that may have a passive base line vibration isolation state and at least one active vibration isolation state; disposing the vibration isolator within a component assembly including at least a first part; monitoring the vibrations of the component assembly via the controller; providing a stimulus to the vibration isolator via a stimulus source when the component assembly undergoes vibration; altering the shape memory alloy via the stimulus such that the vibration of the component assembly is damped; and varying an isolation rate of vibrations of the first part, wherein the stimulation of the shape memory alloy changes the isolation rate from the passive base line vibration isolation state to the at least one active vibration isolation state.
Variation 18 may include a method as set forth in variation 17 wherein the passive base line vibration isolation state may include a passive base line vibration rate and the at least one active vibration isolation state may include at least one active base line vibration rate.
Variation 19 may include a method as set forth in variation 18, wherein the shape memory alloy may change the isolation rate between the passive base line vibration isolation rate and at least two or more active vibration isolation rates.
Variation 20 may include a method as set forth in variation 19 that may further include altering the shape memory alloy a second time via the stimulus wherein stimulation of the shape memory alloy returns the isolation rate from the at least one active vibration isolation rate to the passive base line vibration isolation rate.
Variation 21 may include a method as set forth in variation 20 that may further include altering the shape memory alloy via the stimulus wherein stimulation of the shape memory alloy changes the isolation rate to a second active vibration isolation rate.
The above description of select variations within the scope of the invention is merely illustrative in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
