Abstract:
A two-part system wherein the first part includes (i) at least one curable component; (ii) at least one reducing agent; and (iii) at least one initially colorless color change additive and the second part includes a peroxide oxidizing agent. When the first and second parts are mixed, the resulting curing material turns a color that is different than the initial color of the first and second parts individually. This color change can be used to indicate working time for the material.
Abstract:
A free radical curable composition that includes a free radical curable component and a vinyl aromatic compound that is chemically different than the free radical curable component, wherein the vinyl aromatic compound is present in an amount sufficient to decelerate the cure rate of the free radical composition without advesely effecting completion of cure and the properties of the curable composition after it has cured. The composition is particularly useful as a two part adhesive that includes a free radical catalyst system and a diene elastomer.
Abstract:
A prosthetic insert unit for cushioning shocks in prosthetics is provided. The unit includes attachment member (150 etc.), a lower sleeve (124' etc.), a slide bearing (152' etc.) to allow free reciprocal motion therebetween, an elastomeric energy storage member (124' etc.) received in the interior of the sleeve (124' etc.), a piston (134' etc.) cooperative with said elastomer member to compress same, and an anti-rotation mechanism. Preferably, the anti-rotation mechanism is integral with the slide bearing (152' etc.). The elastomer member provides controlled deflection as well as damping for the insert. Preferably, an anti-click element (269 etc.) is provided to minimize rebound clicking. Acoustical elements (268 etc.) may also be included to minimize noise transmission into other areas of the insert.
Abstract:
A hybrid active-passive system (20) for reducing noise within a passenger compartment and vibration of a fuselage of a vehicle, such as an aircraft (turboprop, turbofan, or helicopter). The hybrid active-passive system (20) includes, in combination: an active acoustic producer such as a loudspeaker (35), Active Vibration Absorber (AVA) (34), or active absorber assembly (39) for producing antinoise within the compartment (42), and a passive resonant device, such as a passive Tuned Vibration Absorber (TVA) (36), or passive TVA assembly (37) for controlling vibration of the fuselage or structural supports interconnecting the disturbance source (e.g. power plants (26), propellers (28a), gearbox (57), main rotor (28m), tail rotor (28t)) and the fuselage wall (25).
Abstract:
The inner periphery of the elastomer portion (22') of a safetied elastomeric sandwich mount assembly (22) is provided with a protrusion (48') that engages the outer periphery of the rigid spacer (42') to hold the three elements (22', 32', 42') of the mount assembly (22) together on either side of the support (15) until the supported member (19) such as an engine or cab of an off-highway vehicle, for example, can be bolted thereto. The protrusion also provides a centering feature that facilitates insertion of the retaining bolt (11).
Abstract:
An insert (20) used to connect aircraft floor panels (11), and the like, to supporting structure (13) includes features which function to isolate the supported panel (11) from vibrations in the supporting structure (13). The isolation of the panels (11) leads to reductions in SIL (Speech Interference Level) noise within aircraft cabins. The insert (20) consists of internal and external rigid components separated by a contoured elastomeric component (32). The elastomeric component (32) is preloaded when installed via a fastener (15) extending through the inner rigid component (42, 42') and attaching to the supporting structure (13). The outer (22, 22') and inner (42, 42') rigid components are sized such that the inner rigid component (42, 42') will not pass through the outer rigid component (22, 22'), thus providing a safetied installation of the panel (11). The elastomeric component (32) extends below the bottom of the outer rigid component (22, 22') and provides soft snubbing against the supporting structure during loading of the panels (11). This allows some level of isolation while restricting motion of the panels (11).
Abstract:
A Multi-Directional Tuned Vibration Absorber (MDTVA) (23) including a first tuning mass (32) vibrating at a first resonant frequency fn1 along a first axis, a second tuning mass (34) vibrating at the first resonant frequency along said first axis and also at a second resonant frequency fn2 along a second axis, a base member (21), a first spring (35) flexibly interconnected between the base member (21) and the first tuning mass (32), the first spring (35) substantially restricting motion of the first tuning mass (32) to motion along a first axis only, and a second spring (36) flexibly interconnected between the first tuning mass (32) and the second tuning mass (34), the second spring (36) substantially restricting relative motion between the first tuning mass (32) and second tuning mass (34), such that the relative motion of said second tuning mass (34) at said second frequency fn2 is along the second axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. In another aspect, the first and second resonant frequencies fn1 and fn2 may be tuned independently by addition of wafer-like masses and/or adjustment of the position of the second tuning mass (34) and the MDTVA (23) can be used in a vehicle's isolation system.
Abstract:
A controllable vibration apparatus such as a linear fluid damper in which an electrical connection to a controllable valve, preferably located in the piston assembly, is made through a single-strand electrical conductor. In one embodiment, the piston and piston rod (24a) are preferably used as the source of low potential (ground or retun electrical path). An accumulator assembly (44a) preferably including a flexible diaphragm (76a) thereon can be used to provide separation of the fluid-containing chambers from a pressurized accumulator chamber. In magnetorheological (MR) fluid dampers, a special sealing system including a defined relationship between surface finish on the piston rod and magnetically soft particle size is described which enhances life of the seal system. A metal bushing (36a) with a friction-reducing surface treatment is used in combination with an energized lip seal (38a) to prevent escape of the magnetic particles from the damper and support side loads. The magnetically controlled valve can be formed from separate top (80a) and bottom (85a) pole pieces that are spaced from an outer annular ring (82a) to define a fluid passageway. The top pole piece and the annular ring can be secured together by bridging elements such as non-magnetic welds, spot welded plates, or alternatively, formed as a single unit using powdered metal processes such as PIM or MIM. The coil assembly (88a) can be configured with axially-extending pins (94a, 96a) to easily connect with a conductor. An elastomeric element (98a) provides electrical and fluid sealing engagement against the single-strand conductor. Push-on connectors (83a) preferably make the connection between the single-strand conductor and the axially extending pins. In a two single-strand conductor version, one single-strand carries the incoming current and the other the outgoing current.
Abstract:
A controllable brake, such as a magnetorheological (MR) fluid brake (20) including a rotor (28) which is preferably disc-like and rotatably supported by a shaft (30) which is rotatably supported by bushings (42) received within a housing (22). A coil assembly (48) is electrically energized to create a changeable magnetic field within a pole piece (32), which is preferably manufactured from a powdered metal material, which most preferably has a density of between about 6.8 and about 7.0 gm/cm . A magnetically-soft medium, such as an MR fluid (23) which preferably includes magnetically-soft particles disbursed in a carrier liquid is contained within first and second gaps (86 and 88) located between the pole piece (32) and rotor (28). The MR fluid's (23) rheology is controlled by the generated magnetic field to vary the operating torque of the MR brake (20). In one aspect, the brake (20) includes a magnetic saturation zone (25) to reduce the propensity of magnetizing the shaft (30). In another aspect, the pole piece halves (24 and 26) are received in radially spaced pole pockets (37) formed in the housing (22) and preferably include an axial bias spring (70) to ensure intimate contact therebetween. In another aspect, a lip projection (76) traps MR fluid (23) between the lip projection (76) and shaft (30) and minimizes fluid exposure to the shaft seal (44). In another aspect, cooling fins (55) or a projection (53) restrains rotation of the housing (22). In yet another aspect, a spring (46) centers the rotor (28) relative to the housing (22).
Abstract:
A semi-active control method for a controllable fluid damper (22) used in seat support (11). The present method filters a relative displacement signal (44) phase shifting the relative displacement sine wave by an angle from greater than 0 DEG through an angle less than 90 DEG to get a relative rate. The sign of the relative rate is compared to that of an absolute velocity curve obtained by integrating the absolute acceleration value obtained by an accelerometer (40) attached to the controlled seat (11). If the signs are the same, the output to the damper (22) is set to a minimum; if the signs are different, the value is set at the absolute velocity multiplied by an input gain. Endstop limits can be implemented with this control method.