Patent ID: 7931258
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: B64C,F16F

Abstract:
1. A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping a relative motion between a first structure and a second structure, said fluid-elastomeric damper assembly comprising: at least a first non-variable volume chamber non-pumping elastomer seal bonded to a housing, said first non-variable volume chamber non-pumping elastomer seal and said housing providing a non-variable volume external fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a non-variable volume of a damper fluid, an internal variable volume chambered pumping mechanism, said internal variable volume chambered pumping mechanism including a first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, a second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, at least one internal pumping restriction between said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, and at least one fluid-moving internal pumping piston defining a portion of said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and a portion of said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, said at least one fluid-moving internal pumping piston between said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, with a relative movement of said at least one fluid-moving internal pumping piston varying the volume of said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and forcing said fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction between said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, said internal variable volume chambered pumping mechanism disposed within said external fluid-elastomeric chamber with said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber distal from said first non-variable volume chamber non-pumping elastomer seal with said internal variable volume chambered pumping mechanism including a piston structure housing separating said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber from said external fluid-elastomeric chamber, said piston structure housing including a plurality of walls with a plurality of holes allowing said damper fluid to flow from said non-variable volume external fluid-elastomeric chamber into said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber, wherein said internal pumping mechanism is driven by said second structure, and said at least one fluid-moving internal pumping piston forces said fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction between said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber wherein said internal pumping mechanism does not rely on said first elastomer seal to pump said damper fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction with said first elastomer seal not forcing said fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction with said at least one internal pumping restriction providing a path of least resistance for said pumped damper fluid flowing between said first substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled internal pumping variable volume chamber.