Importance

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Abstract

A rotary viscous damper, comprising a stator and a rotor defining between them a main chamber filled with a visco-elastic fluid, which can be of a thixotropic, dilatant, or Bingham, etc, or Magneto-Rheological nature, substantially radial paddles being disposed on each of said stator and rotor, said paddles dividing said main chamber into a plurality of chambers, and presenting means to create a fluid communication between the chambers through specifically shaped conduits that may be located at either the exterior, interior, upper or lower section of the damping chambers. Said damper further comprises at least one conical elastomeric bearing between the stator and the rotor to serve as dynamic sealing, as well as a guide between the stator and the rotor. A volume compensation device is also comprised in the said damper to accommodate fluid temperature changes. Self-lubricated bearings are also comprised in the said damper to guide the main shaft of the stator. Such bearings can be replaced with metal-bearings as the envelope permits. The stator paddles may each have two pressure-relief valves installed, one for each of tandem damping chambers, to limit the load born by the rotary damper structure. Said damper's rotor is also specially coated on the interior to minimize wearing and augment the life of the part. Said damper's housing exterior has heat-dissipative fins to cool the damper especially during extended periods of operation as fluid temperature increases. In low temperature environments, said damper operates with heating elements installed at the exterior or interior of the damping chamber to pre-heat the fluid, reducing start-up time for said damper on a helicopter. Said damper also comprised of a pressure-monitoring system to monitor damping characteristics of the damping throughout the life of the damper as a pre-emptive effort against failure of the damper out in the field.

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First Claim