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 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:
A vehicle a nonrotating vehicle body, a rotating machine member, and including a vehicle vibration control system, the vehicle vibration control system including a vehicle vibration control system controller, a vehicle rotating machine member sensor for inputting vehicle rotating machine member data correlating to the relative rotation of the vehicle rotating machine member rotating relative to the nonrotating vehicle body into the vehicle vibration control system controller, at least a first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor, the at least first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor inputting at least first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor data correlating to vehicle vibrations into the vehicle vibration control system controller, at least a first nonrotating vehicle body circular force generator, the at least a first nonrotating vehicle body circular force generator fixedly coupled with the nonrotating vehicle body, the at least first nonrotating vehicle 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 vehicle rotating machine member sensor data correlating to the relative rotation of the vehicle rotating machine member rotating relative to the nonrotating vehicle body wherein the vehicle vibration sensed by the at least first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor is reduced.
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:
Helicopters and rotary wing aircraft vibration control system 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, the first imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a first controllable phase, a second imbalance rotor with a second mass concentration, the second imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a second controllable phase, a third imbalance rotor with a third mass concentration, the third imbalance rotor driven to rotate with a third controllable phase, a fourth imbalance rotor with a fourth mass concentration, 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.
Abstract:
A magnetostrictive sensor system and a method of measuring a magnetostrictive sensor pulse is provided. The measurement system and method includes providing a digital buffer circuit connected with an analog to digital converter to a an analog waveform detector for receiving a magnetostrictive pulse waveform from a magnetostrictive waveguide. A template waveform is provided, and a returned magnetostrictive pulse waveform is received into the digital buffer circuit. The received pulse waveform is compared with the template waveform to determine an arrival time of the returned magnetostrictive pulse waveform. Providing the template waveform includes providing a synthesized return waveform generated to simulate a characteristic magnetostrictive return pulse waveform of the magnetostrictive system. The magnetostrictive sensor system includes a magnetostrictive waveguide, an analog waveform detector for receiving a magnetostrictive pulse waveform from the magnetostrictive waveguide, a comparing correlating processor with a template waveform for comparing the received magnetostrictive pulse waveform with the template waveform to determine an arrival time of the returned magnetostrictive pulse waveform.
Abstract:
A torsional isolator (200, 300, 400) designed to reduce vibrations and shock experienced by electronics used during directional drilling is disclosed. The torsional isolator allows the drillstring electronics to oscillate at a slower rotational velocity than the data acquisition rate of associated sensors, such that the sensors record an average value of the azimuth heading thereby allowing for a higher accuracy measurement of the azimuth heading. The sample rate of the sensors is such that the sensors maximum error is reduced by the torsional isolator, as the output angular displacements are lower than the input angular displacements.
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 magneto-rheological fluid valve includes a magnetic field generator having at least one electromagnetic coil (204) and at least one magnetic pole having a pole length L m .The magneto-rheological fluid valve further includes at least one flow channel (118) adjacent to the electromagnetic coil. The at least one flow channel has a gap width g, wherein the ratio L m /g is greater than or equal to 15.
Abstract:
Structural health monitoring and protection systems and methods are provided. System and methods utilize structural information and/or enhanced built in testing capabilities for detecting failure modes that may cause damage to a structure. Systems and methods herein may protect a structure by mitigating one or more incorrect forces. The structure may be an aircraft, a rotary wing aircraft, or any other physical structure subject to vibrations and receptive to canceling of those vibrations.