Patent · US Active

Tunable mass damper for use with a reaction wheel assembly

US8726762B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
16References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 28, 2010
Grant dateMay 20, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 19, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/2131
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A tunable mass damper (TMD) is provided that can be coupled to a rotating inertia apparatus such as a reaction wheel assembly (RWA). The TMD includes a housing that contains a flexure, a mass, and damping fluid within the housing. The housing is coupled to the flexure, and the flexure is coupled to the mass. The mass is free to sway in the damping fluid. The damping fluid envelops the mass and provides damping between the mass and the housing. At least one of the mass, flexure and the damping fluid can be adjusted to tune the TMD to produce a resonance at or near a mode that is to be mitigated by the TMD such that it operates at a desired or optimal operating frequency.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.