Importance

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Abstract

A damper is provided which includes a first cylinder containing a viscous fluid. The first cylinder is sealed at both ends by end plates. The first cylinder is adapted for connection to a structure such as a building or a bridge. A piston head within the first cylinder is adapted for reciprocation with respect to the first cylinder. A piston rod is connected to the piston head. The other end of the piston rod extends through the end plate and is adapted for connection to the structure. A second piston rod extends from the piston head through the second end plate. A first ring surrounds the piston head and is constructed from a material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion such as plastic. A second ring surrounds the first ring and is constructed from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion such as metal. The first and second rings are sized such that an annular orifice is present between the second ring and the first cylinder such that the viscous fluid can flow through the annular orifice when the piston ring reciprocates with respect to the first cylinder. The relative thickness of the high coefficient of thermal expansion ring and the low coefficient of thermal expansion ring can be varied to provide near constant energy disipation over a large change in temperature. Because the plastic ring is surrounded by a metal ring, the damper has both excellent thermal compensation properties and excellent durability.

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First Claim