Abstract:
Improvements to slip rings and methods for the operation thereof include an improved slip ring assembly that has a stationary element, a rotating element rotatable with respect to the stationary element, a bearing assembly coupled between the stationary element and the rotating element, and one or more contact brushes on one of the stationary element or the rotating element. In some embodiments, the bearing assembly includes a primary bearing, a secondary bearing, a shear pin coupling the secondary bearing to the primary bearing, and an electrical monitoring circuit in communication with the shear pin. In some embodiments, the one or more contact brushes includes one or more metal fiber brushes constructed of a plurality of metal fibers that are configured to transmit one or more of electrical power or data between the stationary element and the rotating element.
Abstract:
A rotary blade rotating hub mounted rotating assembly vibration control system (20) including a first imbalance mass concentration rotor (28), a second imbalance mass concentration rotor (44), a third imbalance mass concentration rotor (38'), and a fourth imbalance mass concentration rotor (44'). The first imbalance mass concentration rotor has a first imbalance mass concentration rotor center axis of rotation (136) centered on the rotating assembly center rotation axis (28). The second imbalance mass concentration rotor has a second imbalance mass concentration rotor center axis of rotation (142) centered on the rotating assembly center rotation axis. The third imbalance mass concentration rotor has a third imbalance mass concentration rotor center axis of rotation (136') centered on the rotating assembly center rotation axis. The fourth imbalance mass concentration rotor has a fourth imbalance mass concentration rotor center axis of rotation (142') centered on the rotating assembly center rotation axis. The first and second imbalance mass concentration rotors are driven at a first rotation speed greater than the rotating assembly operational rotation frequency while controlling the rotational position of the first imbalance mass concentration and the second imbalance mass concentration to produce a first rotating net force vector to inhibit a first vibration frequency. The third and fourth imbalance mass concentration rotors are driven at a second rotation speed greater than the rotating assembly operational rotation frequency while controlling the rotational position of the third imbalance mass concentration and the fourth imbalance mass concentration to produce a second rotating net force vector to inhibit a second vibration frequency.
Abstract:
Helicopter reduced vibration axial support struts and aircraft suspension system are disclosed with at least one vibration controlling fluid containing strut. The powered struts include an outer rigid housing (28) containing an inner rigid member (32) and first (62) and second (64) variable volume fluid chambers. Fluid pressure differentials are created between the first and second variable volume fluid chambers to control motion between the strut ends. The powered fluid containing struts, support isolators, suspension systems, and methods of operation provide reduced helicopter aircraft vibrations.
Abstract:
Active noise and vibration control (ANVC) systems and methods are provided. The systems and methods include providing sensors configured to detect vibration of a structure and a controller in electrical communication with the sensors. The controller includes a hardware processor and a memory element configured to process the vibration detected by the sensors, generate a force control command signal, and output the force control command signal via an interface. The systems and methods include provisions for at least one circular force generator (CFG) in electrical communication with the controller, the CFG is configured to execute the force control command signal output from the controller and produce a force that substantially cancels the vibration force. In some aspects, one or more CFGs control different vibration frequencies causing unwanted vibrations or acoustical tones. In some aspects, one or more CFG's control unwanted vibrations during some conditions and noise during other conditions.
Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer program products for directional force weighting of an active vibration control system involve arranging a plurality of force generators in an array, identifying individual component forces corresponding to force outputs of each of the plurality of force generators, determining a combination of the individual component forces that will produce a desired total force vector, and adjusting the outputs of each of the plurality of force generators such that the combination of the individual component forces are at least substantially similar to the desired force vector.
Abstract:
Improvements to slip rings (200) and methods for the operation thereof include an improved slip ring assembly (200) that has a stationary element (202), a rotating element (210) rotatable with respect to the stationary (202) element, a bearing assembly coupled between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210), and one or more contact brushes (213) on one of the stationary element (202) or the rotating element (210). In some embodiments, the bearing assembly includes a primary bearing, a secondary bearing, a shear pin coupling the secondary bearing to the primary bearing, and an electrical monitoring circuit (206) in communication with the shear pin. In some embodiments, the one or more contact brushes (213) includes one or more metal fiber brushes constructed of a plurality of metal fibers that are configured to transmit one or more of electrical power or data between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210).
Abstract:
The land vehicle includes a body, a power plant and a plurality of land engagers, the land engagers for engaging land and propelling the land vehicle across land. The land vehicle includes a controllable suspension system, the controllable suspension system for controlling suspension movements between the body and the land engagers. The land vehicle includes a computer system and suspension sensors located proximate the land engagers for measuring suspension parameters representative of suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and outputting a plurality of suspension sensor measurement outputs. The land vehicle includes controllable force suspension members located proximate the land engagers and the suspension sensors, the controllable force suspension members applying suspension travel forces between the body and the land engagers to control the suspension movements. The land vehicle computer system includes a controllable suspension system algorithm for controlling the controllable force suspension members to control vehicle body motion and the suspension movements between the body and the land engagers, and a health usage monitoring algorithm for monitoring sensors and assessing a health and a usage of the vehicle and its suspension components.
Abstract:
A rotary wing aircraft (520) including a vehicle vibration control system (409). The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotating hub mounted vibration control system (HMVS) (20) rotating with the rotating rotary wing hub (522). The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotary wing aircraft member sensor (552) for outputting rotary wing aircraft member data correlating to the relative rotation of the rotating rotary wing hub member rotating relative to the nonrotating body, at least a first nonrotating body vibration sensor (554), outputting at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor data correlating to vibrations, at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator (CFG) (530), fixedly coupled with the nonrotating body (524), a distributed force generation data communications network link (150), linking together at least the first CFG and the HMVS wherein HMVS and the CFG communicate force generation vibration control data through said link (150), the at least first CFG controlled to produce a rotating force with a controllable rotating force magnitude and a controllable rotating force phase, wherein the vibration sensed by the at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor is reduced.
Abstract:
A rotary wing aircraft including a vehicle vibration control system. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotating hub mounted vibration control system, the rotating hub mounted vibration control system mounted to the rotating rotary wing hub with the rotating hub mounted vibration control system rotating with the rotating rotary wing hub. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotary wing aircraft member sensor for outputting rotary wing aircraft member data correlating to the relative rotation of the rotating rotary wing hub member rotating relative to the nonrotating body, at least a first nonrotating body vibration sensor, the at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor outputting at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor data correlating to vibrations, at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator, the at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator fixedly coupled with the nonrotating body, a distributed force generation data communications network link, the distributed force generation data communications system network link linking together at least the first nonrotating body circular force generator and the rotating hub mounted vibration control system wherein the rotating hub mounted vibration control system and the first nonrotating body circular force generator communicate force generation vibration control data through the distributed force generation data communications network, the at least first nonrotating body circular force generator controlled to produce a rotating force with a controllable rotating force magnitude and a controllable rotating force phase, the controllable rotating force magnitude controlled from a minimal force magnitude up to a maximum force magnitude, and with the controllable rotating force phase controlled in reference to the rotary wing aircraft member sensor data correlating to the relative rotation of the rotating rotary wing hubrotating relative to the nonrotating body wherein the vibration sensed by the at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor is reduced.
Abstract:
Helicopters and rotary wing aircraft (20) vibration control system (30) for controlling rotating machinery vibrations are provided for rotating machinery vibrations correlating with operational rotating frequencies. The vibration control system includes a first imbalance rotor with a first mass concentration (61), the first imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a first controllable phase, a second imbalance rotor (62) with a second mass concentration (63), the second imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a second controllable phase, a third imbalance rotor (64) with a third mass concentration, the third imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a third controllable phase, a fourth imbalance rotor (66) with a fourth mass concentration (67), the fourth imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a fourth controllable phase. The vibration control system includes vibration sensors for monitoring the vibration and outputting vibration signals. The vibration control system includes a controller, the controller receiving an operational rotating frequency reference signal, the controller also receiving the vibration sensor signals with the controller controlling the first imbalance rotor first controllable phase, the second imbalance rotor second controllable phase, the third imbalance rotor third controllable phase, and the fourth. imbalance rotor fourth controllable phase relative to the rotating frequency reference -signal to produce a biaxial force which reduces the vibration signals outputted from the vibration sensors.