Source: {"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"}

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The invention relates to an apparatus for vibration-isolating bearing of loads including at least one first vibration-isolating device, arranged between a load and a standing surface, for at least partially decoupling the static and dynamic forces acting between the load and the standing surface, the first vibration-isolating device comprising a passively isolating coupling element for mechanically decoupling the static and dynamic forces including a natural frequency, at least one second vibration-isolating device, assigned to the load, for imparting control forces to the load for actively damping the substantially decoupled dynamic forces, said second vibration-isolating device comprising a coupling element for dynamically coupling the second vibration-isolating device to the load and the first isolating device, said coupling element including a natural frequency; means for tuning the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies, wherein the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies are determined by means of characteristic curves describing the functional dependency of the control forces to the natural frequencies of the passively isolating coupling element and the ratio of the natural frequencies. The invention also relates to a method for isolating vibrations of loads, comprising the following steps:
providing at least one first vibration-isolating device for at least partial decoupling of the static and dynamic forces acting between the load and a standing surface with a passively isolating coupling element including a natural frequency,
providing a second vibration-isolating device for imparting control forces to the load, comprising a coupling element for coupling the second vibration-isolating device to the load, the coupling element including a natural frequency,
tuning the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies, wherein the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies are determined by means of characteristic curves describing the functional dependency of the control forces to the natural frequencies of the passively isolating coupling element and the ratio of the natural frequencies,
providing the control force of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies of the coupling elements
imparting the tuned control force to the load for actively damping the at least partially decoupled dynamic forces.
Undesired vibrations and shocks are to be found in a multiplicity of technical applications. Such disturbing vibrations have a negative effect, in particular, in the case of highly sensitive, or else very heavy technical units. A computer tomograph weighing several tons may be named by example. An attempt is made to prevent the transmission of vibrations to such machines by what is termed isolation of vibrations. In this case, a purely passive isolation, for example, by the use of a spring, is frequently employed. However, such systems are no longer adequate for particularly heavy loads and for sensitive units, in particular. Consequently, there is an increased shift to the use of what are termed as active systems. The use of active systems for isolating vibrations is highly limited according to the prior art by the very restricted availability of suitable actuators. Specifically, the prior concepts have proceeded from the fact that the actuator or actuators used would have to act directly on the loads for the purpose of isolating vibrations, and so, as a result, they must always bear the entire weight of the installation in order to obtain an adequate isolation of vibrations. As a consequence of this prevailing view, it has been impossible to date to use a multiplicity of actuators that would be suitable in principle for isolating vibrations because of their technical and physical properties within the scope of the prior vibration isolating systems. In particular, these are here what are termed piezoelectric translators or ceramic solid-state actuators that can convert electric energy directly into mechanical energy and vice versa. Piezoelectric actuators can be used only in a very restrictive fashion, if at all, in the existing systems. The reason for this is that piezoelectric actuators for large static loads are, on the one hand, virtually unavailable industrially and, on the other hand, provide only a slight stroke and static loadability.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for active isolation of vibrations that can be used flexibly for isolating vibrations of loads of different weight and, in particular, permits the use of actuators for isolating vibrations that it has not yet so far been possible to use under the conditions of the prior art.
This object is achieved in the most surprising way by an active system for isolating vibrations having at least one first vibration-isolating device, arranged between a load and a standing surface, for at least partially decoupling the static and dynamic forces acting between the load and the standing surface, the first vibration-isolating device comprising a passively isolating coupling element for mechanically decoupling the static and dynamic forces including a natural frequency, at least one second vibration-isolating device, assigned to the load, for imparting control forces to the load for actively damping the substantially decoupled dynamic forces, the second vibration-isolating device comprising a coupling element for dynamically coupling the second vibration-isolating device to the load and the first isolating device, the coupling element including a natural frequency, means for tuning the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies, wherein the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies are determined by means of characteristic curves describing the functional dependency of the control forces to the natural frequencies of the passively isolating coupling element and the ratio of the natural frequencies.
The method is carried out according to the invention, which includes
providing at least one first vibration-isolating device for at least partial decoupling of the static and dynamic forces acting between the load and a standing surface with a passively isolating coupling element including a natural frequency;
providing a second vibration-isolating device for imparting control forces to the load, comprising a coupling element for coupling the second vibration-isolating device to the load, the coupling element including a natural frequency;
tuning the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies, wherein the control forces of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies are determined by means of characteristic curves describing the functional dependency of the control forces to the natural frequencies of the passively isolating coupling element and the ratio of the natural frequencies;
providing the control force of the second vibration-isolating device and the natural frequencies of the coupling elements;
imparting the tuned control force to the load for actively damping the at least partially decoupled dynamic forces.
By virtue of the fact that the invention provides an apparatus that comprises at least one first vibration-isolating device, arranged between a load and a standing surface, for at least partially decoupling the static and dynamic forces acting between the load and the standing surface, and includes at least one second vibration-isolating device assigned to the first one and/or the load, for absorbing the substantially decoupled dynamic forces, the possibility arises for the first time that the dynamic forces acting on the apparatus and/or originating from the apparatus can be decoupled substantially from the static forces in a fashion actively isolating vibrations.
In this context, the apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one dynamic coupling element for the purpose of mechanical decoupling of the vibration-isolating devices. Within the purpose of the invention, the coupling element has a property that it can vibrate both in the vertical and horizontal directions, and thereby ensures, inter alia, passive isolation of vibrations.
In a development of the invention, this can be implemented, in particular, by a rubber spring. In a particularly advantageous development of the subject matter of the invention, the rubber spring can comprise a rubber combination or a plurality of interconnected rubber springs.
In a further development of the subject matter of the invention, the vibration-isolating devices according to the invention are arranged and/or tuned with reference to one another and with reference to the load such that the coupling elements assigned to the vibration-isolating devices alternately effect a dynamic coupling between the vibration-isolating devices and the load.
If, to this extent, a passive isolation of vibrations is set up for the first vibration-isolating device, the first device advantageously substantially bears the complete static load. Furthermore, through its physical properties, the passive isolation substantially defines the vibrational dynamics of the apparatus according to the invention. In this case, it is particularly the degree of damping of the coupling element, or in the case of the use of rubber, the stiffness thereof that are to be considered as parameters. Also important, in addition, are, of course, the weight bearing on the passive isolation and, in some circumstances, also the bearing surface of a coupling element on the floor.
It also holds in this context that, according to the invention, the second vibration-isolating device likewise very advantageously comprises a coupling element in such a way that, with reference to the load, stresses that can occur in particular between the second vibration-isolating device and the load can be reduced or even eliminated.
In a positive development of the subject matter of the invention, the coupling element according to the invention can, of course, be fitted not only with rubber springs. In this connection, of course, it would also be possible to use coupling elements in the form, for example, of metal springs, air cushions and/or magnetic levitation devices.
It has proved to be particularly advantageous within the scope of the invention that the dynamic coupling can very positively be set via the physical and/or technical parameters of the coupling elements, and that, in particular, dynamic transmission of force can very advantageously be set, in particular, to the second vibration-isolating device via the setability of the coupling. There is the particularly positive possibility in this way, above all, of setting the force that can be transmitted by the second vibration-isolating device, in particular to the load. In this case, it is possible, above all, in this way also to