Damper having modular flexible ligaments and variable gaps

摘要

A module flexible ligament damper includes an cylindrical inner structure with a central axis and an outer cylindrical surface. An outer casing with an inner cylindrical surface is positioned around the inner structure. A modular ligament with an inner flange and an outer flange connected by a web is positioned between the inner structure and the casing. The inner flange is connected to the inner structure and the outer flange is connected to the casing to support the inner structure within the casing, and to permit free orbital movement of the inner structure on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the inner structure. In one embodiment, the web is straight but does not intersect the axis of the inner structure for flexing in a radial direction. In other embodiments, the web is curved for radial flexing.

主权项

1. A modular flexible ligament damper comprising:
a. an inner structure with a central axis and an outer cylindrical surface, wherein an inner surface of said inner structure is configured to engage a bearing such that said bearing may move relative to said damper, and wherein said bearing is configured to engage a rotatable shaft; b. a casing with an inner cylindrical surface, wherein the casing is positioned around the inner structure; and c. a modular ligament comprised of an inner flange and an outer flange connected by a web, wherein the inner flange is selectively engageable with the inner structure and the outer flange is selectively engageable with the casing to support the inner structure within the casing and to permit substantially free orbital movement of the inner structure on a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the inner structure, wherein the modular ligament extends only around a portion of periphery of the inner structure.