William E Braun

US Patent:

6736423, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Jul 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/195799

Inventors:

Stepan S. Simonian - Torrance CA
William P. Braun - Romeo MI
A. Dale Parker - Rancho Palos Verdes CA

Assignee:

TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. - Lyndhurst OH
TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

F16F 1510

US Classification:

280731, 74574, 310 51, 464180

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for damping vibration of a vehicle part, such as a steering wheel or an electric motor. According to one embodiment, an apparatus ( ) for damping vibration of a vehicle part ( ) includes at least one container ( ) having a chamber ( ) defined by at least one interior wall ( ). The container ( ) is associated with the vehicle part ( ). A plurality of particles ( ) is disposed in the chamber ( ). The particles ( ), when at rest, occupy a first portion ( ) of the chamber ( ) and define an unoccupied second portion ( ) of the chamber. The particles ( ) move back and forth between the first and second portions ( and ) of the chamber ( ) in response to vibration of the vehicle part ( ) and collide with each other and with the interior wall ( ) defining the chamber to damp the vibration of the vehicle part.