Abstract:
An adjustable vibration reduction device is provided to dampen and reduce vibration in order to maintain performance of equipment attached to a system. The vibration reduction device includes at least one resilient vibration dampener coupling an upper assembly to a lower assembly. The upper assembly is attached to an equipment mount frame via a pair of stop members extending through a pair of stop apertures in the lower assembly to control movement of the lower assembly relative to the upper assembly. The lower assembly is attached to a structure frame via a pair of fastening devices. The vibration reduction device may be adjusted by selectively including at least one resilient vibration dampener, such as an o-ring, having predetermined characteristics to maximize vibration reduction or isolation. A plurality of vibration reduction devices are provided in a system that causes or transfers vibration, such as a vehicle, having electronic equipment attached thereto.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/574,971 filed Aug. 12, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    This disclosure is generally related to vibration dampeners, and more particularly, to adjustable vibration reduction devices that reduce or isolate vibration to maintain performance of electronic equipment attached to structures. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Numerous systems having electrical and optical components require minimal vibration in order to maximize operability and performance. Such systems include, for example, audio equipment, medical devices, and vehicles such as airplanes, automobiles, helicopters, boats and the like. Vibration caused by internal or external forces can affect the performance of these systems, thereby reducing the quality of images and video. Premature equipment failure may also result if vibration is not reduced or isolated. Many devices and systems exist that incorporate features to counteract the effect of vibration on such equipment. There are faults, however, with many of such devices and systems, such as the lack of adjustability and the lack of control over displacement when the system experiences unusual forces and vibration. Furthermore, many systems merely control displacement of the components of the system in one or two axes when fully constrained control is required to reduce or isolate vibration and prevent chatter. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a device and system that assist with damping or absorbing vibration experienced by a system. More particularly, a vibration reduction device is provided to maintain performance of electronic equipment attached to a particular structure or system, such as a vehicle that causes or transfers vibration to electronic equipment when in operation. A plurality of vibration reduction devices may be installed in such structure or system. Each vibration reduction device includes at least one resilient vibration dampener, such as an o-ring or plurality of o-rings, which provides the ability to “tune” the device to a desired stabilization by selectively including the number and type of o-rings in the device. Such feature provides the ability to tune the plurality of devices attached to the structure or system to reduce or isolate vibration caused by motors, for example, while the structure or system is in use. Each vibration reduction device further includes stop and travel limit features that limit and control the displacement of each device to improve functionality of the vibration reduction device and components of the system. It will be appreciated that the vibration reduction devices and systems described herein may be used in conjunction with filming equipment, vehicles, optical devices, imaging devices, and electrical equipment applications. In particular, the vibration reduction devices may be used in motorized or remote control vehicles, such as helicopters, airplanes, cars, trucks, and the like. Moreover, the vibration reduction devices may be used in non-motorized vehicles and other applications, such as on bicycles, sporting and recreational equipment, helmets, and the like. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a vibration reduction device includes at least one resilient vibration dampener, an upper assembly, and a lower assembly. The lower assembly and the upper assembly are removably coupled to one another by the at least one resilient vibration dampener, which is at least partially positioned between the upper assembly and lower assembly. The upper assembly is adapted to fixedly attach to a structure and the lower assembly configured to fixedly attach to a mount frame when the vibration reduction device is installed for use on a vehicle, for example. The mount frame includes at least one electronic equipment mounted thereto, which may include at least one of a camera, a global positioning satellite device, a computing system, or an electrical system which may operate remotely or locally to the vehicle. The structure of the vehicle may include at least one mechanical assembly that causes vibration when the vehicle is in use, such as at least one of an electric motor having a rotor attached thereto, a combustion engine, or mechanical device configured to fly or move the vehicle. The mount frame and the structure, therefore, are elastically coupled to one another by the at least one resilient vibration dampener. For purposes of the embodiments described herein, an elastic o-ring is provided as the at least one resilient vibration dampener. It will be appreciated, however, that many other suitable resilient vibration damping devices may be incorporated into the embodiments discussed herein, whether presently known or hereafter. 
         [0008]    Turning now to the upper assembly, the upper assembly includes an upper retainer member and an upper spacer member attached to one another with an upper fastening device. An upper portion of the o-ring is coupled and closely held between portions of the upper retainer member and the upper spacer member. Similarly, the lower assembly includes a lower retainer member and a lower spacer member attached to one another with a lower fastening device. A lower, opposing portion of the o-ring is coupled and closely held between portions of the lower retainer member and the lower spacer member. The upper fastening device is removably attached to the mount frame and the lower fastening device is removably attached to the structure. Thus, a portion of the upper spacer member is disposed through an upper area of an aperture in the o-ring and a portion of the lower spacer member is similarly disposed through a lower area of the aperture of the o-ring. It will be appreciated that the upper assembly and the lower assembly may be constructed of any rigid material, such as metal, polymer, fiberglass, carbon, or other suitable materials presently known or later developed. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the vibration reduction device includes at least one stop member fastened to the upper assembly. The at least one stop member is adapted to act as a stop (or travel limit) when the vibration reduction device is installed for use to control relative movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly and to control displacement of the at least one resilient vibration dampener. In a further embodiment, the at least one stop member comprises a pair of stop members that each comprise a portion of the upper fastening device. The lower assembly includes a pair of stop portions through which the pair of stop members are spatially positioned adjacent to and through respective stop portions of the lower assembly. In this example, the stop portions are corresponding apertures in the lower retainer member and lower spacer member that act as a travel limit when one of the upper assembly or lower assembly is displaced relative to the other one of the upper assembly or lower assembly. The size and shape of the stop members and corresponding apertures are determined by a desired displacement distance of the vibration reduction device. For example, the corresponding apertures may vary in shape and size to accommodate a desired displacement distance. 
         [0010]    This system of stop members and corresponding apertures control the amount of movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly (or vice versa) in order to prevent over displacement, while experiencing axial forces, of one of the upper or lower assemblies when the vehicle is in use. In one embodiment, the pair of stop members are each a mounting device that is adapted to removably attach the upper assembly to the mount frame. The mounting device may be a hex nut with a threaded bore for receiving a bolt attached to the mount frame. It will be appreciated that the stop members may be included on the lower assembly and the corresponding apertures may be formed on the upper assembly while still achieving the desired result. 
         [0011]    In a further embodiment, the vibration reduction device is tunable. The operator may selectively include or exclude a plurality of o-rings into the vibration reduction device, or may include or exclude a variety of differing o-rings in a plurality of vibration reduction devices within an entire system. Depending upon the particular application (e.g., overall mass of the vehicle, number of motors, type of electronic equipment, external environment factors), the operator may include one or more o-rings (or other resilient dampeners) having at least one or more of predetermined characteristics. These characteristics may include a deflection rate, size, shape, thickness, color, elasticity, resilience, permeability, material, tensile strength, or compression strength. Many such o-rings are available for purchase; however, custom o-rings may be created to suit particular needs of vibration isolation of a system or vehicle. 
         [0012]    The o-ring of the vibration reduction device includes, as with many available o-rings, an aperture, an outer area, an inner area, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The upper portion of the o-ring may be coupled between the upper retainer member and the upper spacer member such that a portion of the inner area of the upper portion of the o-ring is biased between portions of the upper spacer member and the upper retainer member. The upper retainer member may include at least one slot in which to receive said upper portion of the o-ring, and, therefore, a portion of the upper spacer member is positioned through the upper area of the aperture of the o-ring. Similarly, the lower portion of the o-ring is coupled between the lower retainer member and the lower spacer member such that a portion of the inner area of the lower portion of the o-ring is biased between the lower spacer member and the lower retainer member. Additionally, the lower retainer member may include at least one slot in which to receive said lower portion of the o-ring, and, therefore a portion of the upper spacer member is positioned through the lower area of the aperture of the o-ring. In this embodiment, the slots of the upper and lower retainer members are adapted to at least partially expose the upper and lower portions of the o-ring and hold it closely between the upper assembly and the lower assembly ( FIGS. 1A ,  3 A, and  3 B). Thus, at least one o-ring is positioned vertically relative to a horizontal surface of the upper assembly and a horizontal surface of the lower assembly. 
         [0013]    In the embodiments described above, the plurality of o-rings may include six o-rings annularly aligned in a row and positioned vertically and perpendicularly relative to the horizontal surfaces of the upper and lower assemblies. It will be appreciated that the o-rings may be positioned in a variety of differing configurations while providing the desired functionality of the vibration reduction device to the vehicle or system. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the vibration reduction device includes at least one stop member comprising a pair of stop members attached to the upper assembly. The pair of stop members are adapted to each extend through corresponding apertures in the lower assembly. Similar to the discussion above, the corresponding apertures of the lower assembly act as a travel limit when one of the upper assembly or lower assembly is displaced relative to the other one of the upper assembly or lower assembly. In this embodiment, the plurality of o-rings are positioned between the upper and lower assemblies in a non-annular configuration. Four pairs of o-rings are each positioned between the upper assembly and the lower assembly at a  90  degree angle relative to adjacent pairs of o-rings ( FIG. 4 ). Inverse to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1A-3B , the upper assembly is secured to the structure above the device via fasteners attached to the structure and threaded holes in the upper assembly. Similarly, the lower assembly is secured to the mount frame below the device via fasteners attached to the mount frame and threaded holes in the lower assembly. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment, a plurality of pairs of o-rings are positioned in a circular shape and evenly distributed throughout the vibration reduction device and at an acute angle relative to adjacent pairs of o-rings ( FIG. 5 ). In this example, a plurality of stop members and corresponding apertures are provided in the vibration reduction device, similar to the description above regarding  FIG. 1A-3B . In this example, the plurality of stop members (hex nuts) comprise a first and second set of stop members wherein the first set of stop members extend from the upper assembly through corresponding apertures in the lower assembly to fixedly attach to the mount frame. The second set of stop members extend from the lower assembly through corresponding apertures in the upper assembly to fixedly attach to the structure. 
         [0016]    In yet another embodiment, a vibration reduction device is provided for reducing the amount of vibration transferred from a carrier (such as the structure) to an electronic device to be carried to the carrier. The vibration reduction device includes a lower assembly adapted to be fixedly coupled to the carrier, such that the lower assembly has an upper surface oriented to be facing upward during use of the vibration reduction device. The vibration reduction device may include an upper assembly adapted to be fixedly coupled to the electronic device, such that the upper assembly having a lower surface oriented to be facing downward during use of the vibration reduction device. In this example, at least a portion of the upper assembly may be positioned directly above at least a portion of the lower assembly such that the upper surface and lower surface are facing each other during use. At least one compressible, resilient body is therefore positioned between the upper surface of the lower assembly and the lower surface of the upper assembly, such that the weight of the electronic device is borne by the at least one compressible, resilient body when the vibration reduction device is used to carry the electronic device from the carrier. In this example, at least some the vibration of the carrier may be absorbed by the at least one compressible, resilient body instead of being transferred to the electronic device. 
         [0017]    It will be appreciated that any particular system may include a combination of a plurality of the vibration reduction devices described above, including varying types of o-rings and configurations to provide a desired vibration damping effect while vibration is experienced by the system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of a vibration reduction device according to one embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  is another isometric view of the vibration reduction device of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is an isometric exploded view of the vibration reduction device of  FIG. 1A , showing the o-rings encircling the spacer members. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is an isometric exploded view of the vibration reduction device of  FIG. 1A , showing the o-rings exploded from the spacer members. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration reduction device of  FIG. 1A , viewed along section  3 A- 3 A. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the vibration reduction device of  FIG. 1A , viewed along section  3 A- 3 A. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a vibration reduction device, according to another embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a vibration reduction device, according to yet another embodiment. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a device incorporating a plurality of the vibration reduction devices of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a vibration reduction device installed in a remote controlled vehicle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  show one example embodiment of a vibration reduction device  10  having six o-rings  20 , an upper assembly  22 , and a lower assembly  24 . The upper assembly  22  is configured to attach to a mount frame via hex nuts  70 , and the lower assembly  24  is configured to attach to a structure via bolts  78   a  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). The upper assembly  22  includes an upper retainer member  26  and an upper spacer member  28  attached to one another between the hex nuts  70  and bolts  78   b.  The lower assembly  24  includes a lower retainer member  32  and a lower spacer member  34  attached to one another between the bolt  78   a  and another hex nut (not shown) of the structure  14 . Hex nuts  70  include threaded bores  39  for receiving bolts  78   c  from the mount frame to firmly secure thereto ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). 
         [0029]    Slots  50  in the lower retainer member  32  closely receive lower portions of the o-rings  20 . Similarly, slots  48  of the upper retainer member  26  closely receive upper portions of the o-rings  20 . It will be appreciated that slots  48  and slots  50  may instead be biased against recessed portions in the upper and lower retainer members, thereby hiding the upper and lower portions of the o-rings  20  from view. Corresponding stop apertures  56  are provided through the lower assembly  24  to allow passage of hex nuts  70  and to act as a transverse travel limit. This is one of the “stop” configurations discussed above. In this embodiment, the o-rings  20  are annularly aligned in a row and positioned vertically and perpendicularly relative to horizontal surface  74  of the upper assembly  22  and horizontal surface  76  of the lower assembly  24  (see  FIG. 3A ). 
         [0030]      FIG. 2A  shows the vibration reduction device  10  having o-rings  20  encircling central portions of the upper spacer member  28  and the lower spacer member  34 . The upper spacer member  28  and the lower spacer member  34 , therefore, can be “dog-bone” shaped to allow passage through the o-ring apertures. Holes  66   a  and  66   b  receive bolts  78   a , which can be threaded into holes in the structure frame  14  to firmly attach thereto ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). Likewise, holes  64   a  and  64   b  can receive bolts  78   b , which are received by hex nuts  70 , at one end, and bolts  78   c  at the opposing end, through holes in the mount frame  12  ( FIGS. 3A and 3B ). Slots  48  and  50  can be formed in an oval-shape to closely hold a pair of o-rings  20  pressed thereto. As shown in  FIG. 2B , a number of o-rings  20  may be included into the vibration reduction device  10  before installation to provide desired damping properties to the vehicle or system. Lower retainer member apertures  40  and lower spacer member apertures  42  comprise the corresponding apertures  56 , as discussed above, through which to spatially receive the hex nuts  70 . When the vibration reduction device  10  is constructed ( FIG. 1A ), the holes  64   a ,  64   b , bolts  78   b , hex nuts  70 , and stop transverse apertures  56  are aligned about their respective, common axes, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The same alignment is true at the opposing side of the illustrated embodiment. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3A  shows the vibration reduction device  10 , cut along its central longitudinal and vertical axes. This view shows o-rings  20  closely held in the upper assembly  22  between the upper spacer member  28  and the upper retainer member  26  at the upper portion  44   c  of the o-rings  20 . Similarly, the lower portion  44   d  of the o-rings  20  are closely held in the lower assembly  24  between the lower spacer member  34  and the lower retainer member  32  ( FIG. 3B ). The upper assembly  22  is attached to the mount frame  12  via bolts  78   b , threaded into hex nuts  70  on one end, and via bolts  78   c  received through mount frame  12  and into threaded bore  39  of the other end of hex nuts  70 . The lower assembly  24  is attached to the structure frame  14  via bolts  78   a , through holes  66   a  and  66   b  of the upper spacer member  28  and the upper retainer member  26 , respectively, and threaded into holes in the structure frame  14 . It will be appreciated that various types of fasteners and connections may be used to couple the upper and lower assemblies to the mount and structure frames while maintaining the elastically coupled configuration between the upper and lower assemblies. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3B  shows the o-rings  20  as closely held to the upper assembly  22  at the upper portion  44   c  of the o-ring and to the lower assembly  24 . This view shows o-rings  20  having an inner area  44   b  and an outer area  44   a . The inner area  44   b  of the upper portion  44   c  rests against an upper surface  82  of the upper spacer member  28 , while the outer area  44   a  of the upper portion  44   c  rests against a lower surface  84  of the upper retainer member  26 . The inner area  44   b  of the lower portion  44   d  rests against a lower surface  86  of the lower spacer member  34 , while the outer area  44   a  of the lower portion  44   d  rests against a lower surface  88  of the lower retainer member  32 . It is shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  that, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper assembly  22  and the lower assembly  24  are only attached to one another by respective portions of the o-rings  20 . Thus, the mount frame  12  and structure frame  14  are elastically coupled and “float” relative to one another about the o-rings  20  while a plurality of vibration reduction devices are installed, for example. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of a vibration reduction device  10 ′ having a pair of hex nuts  70 ′ that extend through corresponding apertures  56   a  of the lower retainer member  32 ′. Corresponding apertures  56   a , therefore, act as a transverse travel limit, similar to the descriptions above. A pair of resisters  90  can be attached to hex nuts  70 ′ by bolts  78   a  to act as a longitudinal stop to prevent the hex nuts from over extending through the corresponding stop apertures  56   a  during extraordinary displacement. Four pairs of o-rings  20 ′ are positioned between the upper assembly  22 ′ and the lower assembly  24 ′. The four pairs of o-rings  20 ′ are each positioned at a 90 degree angle relative to the adjacent pairs of o-rings. The lower retainer member  32 ′ and lower spacer member  34 ′ are attached to a mount frame (not shown) via bolts  78   a . The upper assembly  22 ′ is attached to a structure frame via fasteners into threaded holes (not shown) in the upper retainer member  32 ′. Upper spacer member  28 ′ and lower spacer member  34 ′ are formed in a particular configuration having a variety of apertures and cross members (hidden) to closely receive the four pairs of o-rings  20 , similar to the manner described above related to  FIGS. 1A-3B . Slots  50  are also provided in the lower retainer member  32 ′, as with slots  48  (hidden) in the upper retainer member  26 ′, to closely hold the o-rings in place. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a vibration reduction device  10 ″ having six pairs of o-rings  20 ″ arranged radially in a circular configuration and having a plurality of hex nuts  71   a′  and  71   b′  disposed through corresponding stop apertures  56   b′  and  56   a′ , respectively. Similar to the description of  FIG. 4 , the vibration reduction device  10 ″ includes a set of three hex nuts  71   a′  secured to the upper assembly  22 ″ via bolts (not shown) and extending through corresponding apertures  56   b′ . A supplemental set of three hex nuts  71   b′  are provided, as secured to the lower assembly  24 ″ via bolts  78   d , and extending through stop apertures  56   a′ . Upper spacer member  28 ″ and lower spacer member  34 ″ are formed having a particular configuration having a variety of apertures and cross members (not shown) to closely receive the six pairs of o-rings  20 ″, in a similar to manner as described above related to  FIGS. 1A-3B . Slots  50  are also provided in the lower retainer member  32 ″, as with slots  48  in the upper retainer member  26 ″, to closely hold o-rings  20 ″ in place. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  shows a plurality of the vibration reduction devices  110 , similar to those shown in  FIGS. 1A-3B , secured to mount frame  112  and structure frame  114 . In this example, eight vibration reduction devices  110  are included into vibration isolation system  111 . As previously discussed, the upper assembly  122  is attached to the mount frame  112  via hex nuts  171  and bolts  178   b  and bolts (not shown) through the backside of mount frame  112 . The lower assembly  124  is attached to the structure frame  114  via hex nuts  173  and bolts  178   e.  In this embodiment, the vibration reduction devices  110  are arranged at slight angles relative to one another, thereby providing multiple o-rings  120  in varying angular configurations relative to one another. This configuration, as with the configurations of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , provide vibration reduction devices and systems having multi-axial control means for optimal vibrational and directional control while the system is in use. It will be appreciated that any particular system may include a combination of a plurality vibration reduction devices described above, including varying types of o-rings and configurations to provide a desired vibration damping effect when operating the system while it experiences vibration. 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  shows the vibration reduction device  210  installed on a remote controlled vehicle  218 . The vehicle  218  includes a mount frame  212  (mostly hidden) having a camera  216   a  attached thereto, and a structure frame  214 . Attached to the structure frame  214  is a global positioning satellite device  216   b , six booms  213 , and landing gear  219 . Attached to the booms  213  are motors  215  having propellers  217  for flying the vehicle  218 . In this vehicle, three vibration reduction devices  210  are provided and positioned equidistant from one another, resulting in approximately 110 degree angles between each vibration reduction device  210 . As described above, each vibration reduction device  210  is attached to the structure frame  214  via bolts  78   a  coupled to the lower assembly  24 , and attached to the mount frame  212  via hex nuts  70  and bolts  78   b  coupled to the upper assembly  22  ( FIGS. 1A-3B ). 
         [0037]    A method of reducing vibration between two or more structures of a vehicle may also be provided in which any of the above embodiments of the vibration reduction devices may be installed. A method of tuning such vibration reduction devices may also be provided by selectively including particular o-rings, as discussed above. A further method of limiting travel between the upper and lower assembly may also be provided by incorporating the stop features discussed above. 
         [0038]    These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.