PASSIVE THERMAL CONTROL OF NEGATIVE-STIFFNESS VIBRATION ISOLATORS

摘要

A passive thermally responsive element (TRE) is used to eliminate or substantially reduce the sensitivity of the axial (vertical) position and axial (vertical) natural frequency of a negative-stiffness vibration isolator to changes in temperature. The TRE will compensate for the inherent thermal sensitivity of the isolator without this added element. The TRE can be a thermally responsive spring that produces forces in response to temperature changes to keep the isolator at or near its ideal equilibrium operating position in order to control the equilibrium position and also to maintain the low natural frequency characteristic of the negative-stiffness vibration isolator.