Decouplers

Decouplers are devices or arrangements that separate two subsystems to prevent or reduce the transfer of energy, signals, or forces, thereby preserving performance and safety. They are employed across mechanical, electrical, and aerospace contexts to limit coupling that can degrade function or cause damage.

Mechanical decouplers such as vibration isolators, mounts, and anti-vibration pads reduce the transmission of vibrations, shocks, or noise between machines and their supports. They use springs, elastomeric compounds, or dampers to set a natural frequency and provide attenuation over a defined bandwidth. Selection depends on load, displacement, temperature, and environmental exposure.

Electrical and signal decouplers provide galvanic, thermal, or electrical isolation. Examples include optocouplers, isolation transformers, and galvanic barriers. In power electronics, decoupling strategies also include placing decoupling capacitors near high-draw devices to stabilize supply voltages and suppress noise.

Aerospace and other high-precision fields use decouplers for stage separation and subsystem isolation. In rocketry, interstage decouplers enable controlled separation of stages, often employing separation motors, frangible joints, or similar mechanisms. In spacecraft and satellites, decouplers can also separate payload adapters and fairings during ascent or deployment.

Design considerations include the required isolation level, reliability and fail-safety, weight, space, operating environment, and the frequency range of disturbances.