Auto-Tunable Mass Damper Using Rotary Counter-Torque Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vibration dampers require significant operational space and complex mechanical linkages for tuning, limiting their effectiveness and ease of use in reducing structural vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A compact, remotely-tunable mass damper with a frame movable along a base, featuring a flywheel in geared engagement with a track gear and an electrical generator-driven rotation damper, allowing for automatic adjustment of counter-torque through varying electrical load, enabling tuning without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a linear damper is used to damp structural vibrations, then vibration damping is achieved, but the device requires significant operational space and complex tuning procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical linear damper system with a rotary damper system. The linear motion of the mass is converted to rotary motion through a converter mechanism, allowing the use of a compact rotary damper instead of a space-intensive linear damper. This substitution resolves the contradiction by achieving the same vibration damping function in a much smaller volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the linear motion problem into a rotary motion problem by introducing a converter that changes the dimension of motion from linear to rotational. This dimensional transformation allows the damper to operate in a different spatial configuration, reducing the required operational space while maintaining damping effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional dampers are tuned by replacing fluid or elastomeric material, then damping characteristics are adjusted, but the process requires disassembly and removal from the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a controller that automatically adjusts the damping characteristics of the rotary damper without requiring manual intervention or disassembly. The system self-regulates by monitoring vibration parameters and adjusting the damper accordingly, eliminating the need for complex tuning procedures and making the damper easily adaptable to different conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tuning procedures with an automated electronic control system. Instead of physically replacing fluids or elastomeric materials through disassembly, the system uses electronic controllers to adjust damping parameters, significantly simplifying the tuning operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanical linkages are used for tuning mass inertia, then remote tuning capability is achieved, but the device structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical linkages with an electronic control system that directly adjusts the rotary damper characteristics. Instead of using mechanical actuators and linkages to change mass inertia, the system uses electronic controllers to modify damping parameters, achieving remote tuning capability with minimal mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the tuning function from complex mechanical adjustments and implements it through a simplified electronic control system. By separating the control function from the mechanical structure, the system achieves remote tuning capability without requiring complicated mechanical linkages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides effective and simple vibration reduction in structures or machines by automatically tuning the damper to counteract induced vibrations, enhancing damping capability without the need for complex mechanical adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The rotation damper includes an electrical generator driven by the flywheel, wherein an electrical output of the generator is directly proportional to the rotational velocity of the flywheel and produces the counter-torque
Implementation Method 2
an effective electrical load placed on the generator, wherein the electrical output of the generator is varied by automatically adjusting the effective electrical load responsive to movement of the mass damper to tune the vibration mass damper
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A system and method include with a mass damper for reducing vibrations in a structure or machine. The mass damper includes a frame that is movable linearly along a base, which includes a track gear. A flywheel is in geared engagement with the track gear so as to be rotationally driven as the frame moves linearly relative to the base. A rotation damper is mounted on the frame and is geared engagement with the flywheel, the rotation damper producing a counter-torque against rotation of the flywheel that is proportional to a rotational velocity of the flywheel. The rotation damper has an electrical characteristic that is automatically adjusted to change the counter-torque and tune the mass damper.