Patent ID: 9175467
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: E04H,F16F

Abstract:
1. A damper for a structure, comprising: a pendulous mass configured for coupling to a base structure; a rotary magnetic damper having a fixed element and rotating element mechanically coupled to the pendulous mass such that relative motion between the pendulous mass and the base structure to which the pendulous mass is coupled imparts rotation of the rotating element of the rotary magnetic damper relative to the fixed element of the rotary magnetic damper to thereby damp the relative motion between the pendulous mass and the base structure to which the pendulous mass is coupled and thereby to damp the motion of the base structure; a coupling element for coupling the pendulous mass to the structure, the coupling element including a first hinge for rigid engagement with the structure, a second hinge oriented at ninety degrees to the first hinge, the second hinge for rigid engagement with the pendulous mass, and a cross shaft connecting the first and second hinges, the cross shaft including four shaft ends; and the damper including four rotary magnetic dampers, each rotary magnetic damper including a rotor and a stator, the rotor of each of the rotary magnetic dampers being coupled to a different one of the four shaft ends to move in cooperation with the shaft ends, the stators of two of the rotary magnetic dampers coupled to the first hinge to thereby allow relative rotation between the corresponding rotary magnetic damper rotors and stators in response to relative movement between the structure and the cross shaft around a first axis, the stators of the other two of the rotary magnetic dampers coupled to the second hinge to thereby allow relative rotation between the corresponding rotary magnetic damper rotors and stators in response to relative movement between the cross shaft and the pendulous mass around a second axis.