Shock isolator assembly for a vehicle mounted payload

1. A shock isolator assembly, comprising:

a base;

a platform;

a plurality of self-resetting buckling isolators providing a three-stage response to an applied dynamic load acting between the base and the platform, wherein the three-stage response comprises:

a tension stage when the dynamic load exceeds a threshold tension load;

a compression stage when the dynamic load exceeds a threshold compression load; and

a rigid stage when the dynamic load is below the threshold tension load and the threshold compression load; and

an elastomeric pad supported by the platform and situated between the platform and a payload mount system supported by the platform, wherein the elastomeric pad operates to dampen vibrations of the payload mount system

wherein each of the self-resetting buckling isolators comprises:

a first end coupled to one of the base or the platform;

a second end opposing the first end and coupled to the other of the base or the platform; and

a preloaded coupler coupling the first end to the second end, the preloaded coupler facilitating relative axial movement between the first end and the second end, wherein the preloaded coupler has a preload in a first axial direction and a preload in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction so as to inhibit relative movement in the first axial direction at loads less than the preload in the first axial direction, and to inhibit relative movement in the second axial direction at loads less than the preload in the second axial direction, and wherein the preloaded coupler comprises:

a single preloaded bias spring;

a floating socket having an internal cavity, a first end of the floating socket having a first aperture and a second end of the floating socket having a second aperture;

a fixed socket coupled to the first end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and extending through the first aperture, the fixed socket comprising a longitudinal slot and a first pin extending radially outward away from the fixed socket;

a shaft coupled to the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and extending through the second aperture, the shaft comprising a second pin extending radially outward from the shaft and extending through the longitudinal slot; and

a floating sleeve located within the internal cavity and located about the fixed socket, the floating sleeve slidable relative to the fixed socket and the floating socket;

wherein the single preloaded bias spring biases the floating sleeve away from the first end of the floating socket; and

wherein the first pin is located between the floating sleeve and the second end of the floating socket and is configured to cause the floating socket to move towards the first end of the floating socket in response to compression of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator, and the second pin is located between the floating sleeve and the second end of the floating socket and is configured to cause the floating socket to move towards the first end of the floating socket in response to elongation of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator.

2. The shock isolator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the platform is moveable relative to the base in six degrees of freedom during the tension stage and the compression stage.

3. A three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator comprising:

a first end having an interface operable to couple to one of a platform or a base;

a second end opposing the first end and having an interface operable to couple to the other of the platform or the base; and

a preloaded coupler coupling the first end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator to the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and facilitating relative axial movement between the first end and the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator, the preloaded coupler comprising:

a single preloaded bias spring;

a floating socket having an internal cavity, a first end of the floating socket having a first aperture and a second end of the floating socket having a second aperture;

a fixed socket coupled to the first end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and extending through the first aperture, the fixed socket comprising a longitudinal slot and a first pin extending radially outward away from the fixed socket;

a shaft coupled to the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and extending through the second aperture, the shaft comprising a second pin extending radially outward from the shaft and extending through the longitudinal slot; and

a floating sleeve located within the internal cavity and located about the fixed socket, the floating sleeve slidable relative to the fixed socket and the floating socket;

wherein the single preloaded bias spring biases the floating sleeve away from the first end of the floating socket; and

wherein the first pin is located between the floating sleeve and the second end of the floating socket and is configured to cause the floating socket to move towards the first end of the floating socket in response to compression of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator, and the second pin is located between the floating sleeve and the second end of the floating socket and is configured to cause the floating socket to move towards the first end of the floating socket in response to elongation of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator;

wherein the buckling isolator comprises a rigid stage that inhibits relative movement in the axial direction when a dynamic load is less than a threshold compression load and less than a threshold tension load of the buckling isolator, a compression stage that facilitates axial compression of the buckling isolator when the dynamic load is greater than the threshold compression load of the buckling isolator, and a tension stage that facilitates axial elongation of the buckling isolator when the dynamic load is greater than the threshold tension load of the buckling isolator,

wherein the preloaded coupler biases the first and second ends away from each other in an axial direction in the compression stage and the first and second ends towards each other in an axial direction opposite the first axial direction in the tension stage, and

wherein the threshold tension load is provided by the single preloaded bias spring and the threshold compression load is provided by the single preloaded bias spring.

4. The three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator of claim 3 , wherein the floating socket comprises cap at the first end.

5. The three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator of claim 3 , wherein the interface for coupling the first end to one of a platform or a base comprises a universal joint, and the interface for coupling the second end to the other of a platform or a base comprises a universal joint.

6. A method for mounting a sensor assembly to a vehicle for reduce shock loads of the sensor assembly, the method comprising:

securing a first end of each of a plurality of three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators to a vehicle; and

securing a second end of each of the plurality of three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator to a platform, the platform being connected to payload mount system in support of a payload, wherein an elastomeric pad is supported by the platform and is situated between the platform and the payload mount system, the elastomeric pad being operable to dampen vibrations of the payload mount system,

wherein each of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators are operable in a rigid stage, a compression stage, and a tension stage,

wherein the plurality of three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators operate to inhibit movement of the payload relative to the vehicle when in the rigid stage, and

wherein each of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators comprise a preloaded coupler coupling the first end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator to the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and facilitating relative axial movement between the first end and the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator, the preloaded coupler comprising:

a single preloaded bias spring;

a floating socket having an internal cavity, a first end of the floating socket having a first aperture and a second end of the floating socket having a second aperture;

a fixed socket coupled to the first end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and extending through the first aperture, the fixed socket comprising a longitudinal slot and a first pin extending radially outward away from the fixed socket;

a shaft coupled to the second end of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator and extending through the second aperture, the shaft comprising a second pin extending radially outward from the shaft and extending through the longitudinal slot; and

a floating sleeve located within the internal cavity and located about the fixed socket, the floating sleeve slidable relative to the fixed socket and the floating socket;

wherein the single preloaded bias spring biases the floating sleeve away from the first end of the floating socket; and

wherein the first pin is located between the floating sleeve and the second end of the floating socket and is configured to cause the floating socket to move towards the first end of the floating socket in response to compression of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator, and the second pin is located between the floating sleeve and the second end of the floating socket and is configured to cause the floating socket to move towards the first end of the floating socket in response to elongation of the three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators comprises six three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first end of each three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator is secured to the vehicle by a universal joint and the second end of each three-stage self-resetting buckling isolator is secured to the payload mount system by a universal joint.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the payload mount system is supported in a position below the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators operate in the tension stage when a dynamic load exceeds a threshold tension load.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of three-stage self-resetting buckling isolators operate in the compression stage when a dynamic load exceeds a threshold compression load.