Fluid-elastomeric damper assembly including internal pumping mechanism

Abstract

A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first substantially fluid-filled chamber and a second substantially-fluid-filled chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber. The housing structure is operable for pumping the fluid through the orifice.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping a relative motion between a first structure and a second structure, said fluid-elastomeric damper assembly including: at least a first elastomer seal fixedly attached to a housing, said at least first elastomer seal and said housing providing an external fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a damper fluid, an internal pumping mechanism, said internal pumping mechanism including a first substantially fluid-filled pumping chamber, a second substantially fluid-filled pumping chamber, at least one internal pumping restriction between said first substantially fluid-filled pumping chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled pumping chamber and at least one fluid moving internal pumping piston pumping said fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction with a linear motion, said internal pumping mechanism disposed within said external fluid-elastomeric chamber with said first internal pumping mechanism in fluid communication with said external fluid-elastomeric chamber, wherein said internal pumping mechanism is driven by said relative motion between said first structure and said second structure and said at least one fluid moving internal pumping piston forces said fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction between said first substantially fluid-filled pumping chamber and said second substantially fluid-filled pumping chamber wherein said internal pumping mechanism does not rely on said first elastomer seal to pump said damper fluid through said at least one internal pumping restriction. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one fluid moving piston is a linearly reciprocating piston structure. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said housing includes a substantially cup-shaped member. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said housing includes a substantially disc-shaped member. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly of  claim 8 , including a substantially cylindrical elastomer seal. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly of  claim 8 , having a plurality of circular diameters. 
     
     
         14 - 32 . (canceled)