Method and apparatus for improved vibration isolation

1. A vibration isolator, comprising:

a housing defining a fluid chamber having opposing ends;

a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber;

a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the housing longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston assembly comprising a piston bracket that extends laterally through an opening of the housing, and the piston assembly comprising an elastomer member disposed between the piston and the housing;

an unobstructed tuning passage extending centrally through the piston, for providing continuous fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber;

a switchable fluid path assembly in fluid communication with the fluid chamber for selectively changing a range of isolation frequencies by selectively allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber; and

at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for providing at least one additional isolation frequency to the range of isolation frequencies by allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber, both switchable fluid path assemblies functioning independent of each other between an open position and a closed position;

wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency;

wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and

wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends.

2. The vibration isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the switchable fluid path assembly comprises:

a fluid path providing fluid communication between each end of the fluid chamber; and

a valve for selectively controlling fluid flow in the fluid path.

3. The vibration isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the piston is resiliently coupled to the housing with at least one elastomer member.

4. The vibration isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid has a low viscosity and a high density.

5. The vibration isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the additional switchable fluid path assembly comprises:

an additional valve for selectively controlling fluid flow in the additional fluid path.

6. The vibration isolator according to claim 2 , wherein the switchable fluid path assembly further comprises:

a valve actuator operably associated with the valve for selectively adjusting fluid flow in the fluid path.

7. The vibration isolator according to claim 6 , wherein the valve actuator is an actuation device selected from the group consisting of:

an electric actuator;

a hydraulic actuator;

a pneumatic actuator;

an electromagnetic actuator; and

a shape memory alloy.

8. The vibration isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured for coupling to a roof beam of an aircraft.

9. The vibration isolator according to claim 1 , wherein the piston assembly is configured for coupling to a pylon assembly of an aircraft.

10. A vibration isolator, comprising:

a housing defining a fluid chamber having opposing ends;

a fluid disposed within the isolator;

a piston assembly resiliently disposed within the isolator longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston assembly comprising a piston bracket that extends laterally through an opening of the housing, and the piston assembly comprising an elastomer member disposed between the piston and the housing;

an unobstructed tuning passage extending centrally through the piston, for providing continuous fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber; and

a switchable fluid path assembly in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and configured to selectively change a volume of the fluid that is able to travel to and from opposing ends of the fluid chamber for selectively changing a range of isolation frequencies; and

at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for providing at least one additional isolation frequency to the range of isolation frequencies by allowing bidirectional supplemental fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber, both switchable fluid path assemblies functioning independent of each other between an open position and a closed position;

at least one tuning element operably associated with at least one of an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber; and

an actuating piston coupled to each tuning element for amplifying the displacement of the fluid in the corresponding fluid chamber;

wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency;

wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and

wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends.

11. The vibration isolator according to claim 10 , wherein the tuning element comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

piezoceramic;

magnetostrictive; and

electromagnetic.

12. The vibration isolator according to claim 10 , wherein the switchable fluid path assembly comprises:

a fluid path providing fluid communication between each end of the fluid chamber; and

a valve for selectively controlling fluid flow in the fluid path.

13. The vibration isolator according to claim 10 , wherein each tuning element is electrically coupled via electrical leads to control circuitry for controlling the actuation of actuating pistons.

14. The vibration isolator according to claim 10 , wherein the tuning fluid has a low viscosity and a high density.

15. A method of changing an isolation frequency in a vibration isolator, comprising:

providing a housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber having opposing ends that are in fluid communication by an unobstructed tuning passage;

resiliently disposing a piston within the housing longitudinally between the opposing ends of the fluid chamber, the piston forming the unobstructed tuning passage within the fluid chamber, the tuning passage extending centrally through the piston and located within the piston, wherein a piston bracket extends laterally through an opening of the housing and an elastomer member is disposed between the piston and the housing;

providing a fluid disposed within the fluid chamber;

operably associating a switchable fluid path assembly for changing the isolation frequency of the vibration isolator;

operably associating at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly for changing the isolation frequency of the vibration isolator, each switchable fluid path assembly independently alternating between an open position and a closed position, the switchable fluid path assemblies providing bidirectional fluid communication between the ends of the fluid chamber which is supplemental to the tuning passage; and

selectively actuating a valve in the switchable fluid path assembly, thereby changing a selected range of isolation frequencies of the vibration isolator;

wherein introduction of a force to the piston causes the piston to move, thereby causing a movement of the fluid through the tuning passage, the movement of the fluid through the tuning passage producing an inertial force that cancels the force from the piston at the isolation frequency;

wherein the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional switchable fluid path assembly are at least partial coextensive; and

wherein the at least partially coextensive portion of the switchable fluid path assembly and the at least one additional fluid path assembly is disposed so that a longitudinal distance between the coextensive portion and at least one of the opposing ends is shorter than a longitudinal distance between the elastomer member and the at least one of the opposing ends.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

providing at least one tuning element operably associated with at least one tuning chamber; and

selectively actuating a piston coupled to each tuning element for amplifying the displacement of a fluid in the fluid chamber.