Temperature-independent vibration damper

Abstract

A temperature-compensating damping element, which is suitable for the temperature-independent reduction of vibrations, which has a fixed, non-elastic outer part and a fixed, non-elastic inner part, which is either fully or partly inserted into a mating cut-out or opening of the outer part. The outer and inner parts have contact surfaces which are connected to one another by an elastic layer which comprises an elastomer material and which is, or can be, pre-tensioned with respect to a desired frequency by a tensioning element. The elastic layer which is responsible for the vibration damping is directly connected at one or more points to an additional elastic volume. The additional elastic volume is a multiple of the volume of the elastic layer, and has the effect that the excitation frequency of the damping element changes in the case of a temperature change within a temperature range.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A machine structure subjected to different temperatures, the machine structure comprising:
 a temperature-independent vibration damper in combination with a damper mass ( 3 ), a first functional damper element ( 1 ) and a second functional damper element ( 2 ) which are suitable for temperature-independent reduction of vibrations occurring in said machine structure,   each of the first ( 1 ) and the second ( 2 ) damping elements comprising a rigid, non-elastic outer element ( 1 . 4 )( 2 . 3 ) of conical shape and a rigid non-elastic inner element ( 1 . 3 )( 2 . 2 ) of conical shape which is, either fully or partly, inserted with a narrow cone opening into a wide cone opening of the outer element,   the outer and the inner elements of said first and second damper elements having contact surfaces of conical shape which face each other and are connected to one another by an elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ) of corresponding shape comprising an elastomer material which is pre-tensionable with respect to a desired inherent frequency of the damping elements by a tensioning means,   the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ) being responsible for vibration damping and for reduction of push deformation, in case of vibration forces caused by operating, the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ) being delimited between the contact surfaces of the outer and the inner elements, and the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ) being directly connected at at least one point to an amount of an additional elastic ( 1 . 1 ),   the additional elastic ( 1 . 1 ):
 (I) being located in the non-elastic outer element ( 1 . 4 )( 2 . 3 ) and/or in the non-elastic inner element ( 1 . 3 )( 2 . 2 ), 
 (ii) not participating in said push deformation, 
 (iii) having a volume that is 5 to 20 times a volume of the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ), 
 (iv) causing an effect that the inherent frequency of the damping elements ( 1 )( 2 ) changes by a maximum of 10%, in case of a temperature change in a temperature range between about −20° C. and +50° C., 
 (v) being additionally compressed or decompressed by a pressure means ( 8 ) for fine adjustment of the damper frequency, and 
 (vi) exhibiting a temperature-dependent coefficient of expansion which is equal to or greater than the coefficient of expansion of the elastic material of the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ), and 
   said first element ( 1 ) being tensioned by tensioning means ( 7 ) against said second element ( 2 ) through the wide cone opening (O form) or the narrow cone opening (X form) of the cones composed by particular non-elastic outer elements ( 1 . 4 )( 2 . 3 ) and the non-elastic inner elements ( 1 . 3 )( 2 . 2 ).   
     
     
         20 . The machine structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the additional elastic ( 1 . 1 ) has a volume that is 10 to 20 times a volume of the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ). 
     
     
         21 . The machine structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the additional elastic ( 1 . 1 ) is one of an elastic material, a gas, a liquid or a viscous material. 
     
     
         22 . The machine structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ) has a layer thicknesses between 2 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The machine structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the elastic layer ( 1 . 2 )( 2 . 1 ) is directly connected, or through the additional elastic ( 1 ), to a disc ( 29 ) having at least one bevel for increasing the progressive characteristic line of the functional damper elements ( 1 )( 2 ). 
     
     
         24 . The machine structure according to  claim 19 , wherein the structure is a wind turbine.