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Taylor Devices has created a damper that has absolute zero leakage due to hermetically sealed construction making it ideal for both structural and space applications.
Metal bellows dampers were developed during the 1980’s for NASA and used on platforms based in outer space. Conventional sliding surfaces that were sealed acceptably on earth proved unacceptable for spacecraft use.
Metal bellows dampers are unique hermetically sealed dampers that were originally developed for use on platforms that were critical during space missions. The reason was simply that even the tiniest amount fluid leakage past conventional seal turns into a dense fog in a vacuum, contaminating optics and electronic systems.
Today, these same dampers have been successfully adapted for use in structures for protection against wind and seismic events. Additionally, metal bellows dampers are ideal for applications requiring damping at very low displacements, including human-induced vibration for bridges and buildings.
Metal bellows dampers continue to be ideal for space applications because of the fact that even the tiniest amount of fluid leakage past conventional seals turns into a dense fog in a vacuum. Our metal bellows dampers provide absolute zero leakage, infinite life, and no maintenance.
Learn more about our metal bellows dampers by downloading our brochure.
The Millennium Bridge or “Wobbly Bridge” is an interesting story on how human induced motion caused the bridge to sway causing unsafe conditions for pedestrians. The bridge opened to the public on June 10, 2000 and measures 320 meters long and crosses the River Thames. On opening day, pedestrians walked across the bridge and, to their surprise, it began to sway. While some bridge sway is normal, the swaying got larger and larger until it was deemed unsafe. Luckily there were no serious injuries, but the bridge was immediately closed.
Although the bridge was designed to withstand wind and weight, the engineering design did not factor in human behavior.
Learn more about this bridge and how Taylor Devices solved the issue by installing our metal bellows dampers.
Metal bellows dampers can be used in tall buildings that experience continuous swaying due to wind activity. Unlike dampers that are used for seismic activity, metal bellows dampers can provide damping at very small displacements, have near-frictionless performance, and can withstand the nearly constant cycling, from high winds. One example application of this incredible product is located at the top of the 250 West 55th Street building in Manhattan.
Another example of our metal bellow dampers in building applications is located in mega-bracing in the 181 Freemont building in San Francisco, CA. Similar to the building in Manhattan, our dampers not only needed to reduce wind oscillations but also absorb vibrations from major seismic activity. Instead of stiffening the building, the building’s engineering team decided on the opposite approach, which was to reduce stiffness to allow flexibility, and then add dampers to reduce the seismic demands.