Circular Force Generator With Counterbalancing Rotors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circular force generators (CFGs) face issues with rotor inertia, power consumption, and bearing drag, especially when operating at high frequencies or tracking rapidly varying frequencies, which can lead to undesirable power regeneration and rotating moments, making it challenging to effectively reduce vibrations in mechanical structures.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a first and second rotor assembly with spinning bearings and eccentric masses that are rotatable about a common shaft, with adjustable relative angular positions to control the magnitude and phase of the combined rotating force, minimizing rotor inertia and bearing drag by using precision bearings and frameless annular motors, and phase-shifting bearings to eliminate radial torque and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If rotor inertia is increased to generate sufficient vibratory force, then force generation capability is improved, but power consumption during rotor acceleration and deceleration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs counterbalancing mechanisms where additional masses are strategically positioned to offset the inertial effects of the primary rotor masses. This allows the system to generate the required vibratory forces while the counterweights neutralize the unwanted inertial forces during acceleration and deceleration, thereby reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-plane rotor configuration to a multi-plane or three-dimensional arrangement of masses and counterweights. By distributing masses across multiple planes perpendicular to the rotation axis, the system achieves force generation in one dimension while counterbalancing inertial effects in other dimensions, resolving the contradiction between force generation and power consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rotor speed is increased to track rapidly varying frequencies, then frequency tracking capability is improved, but bearing drag and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor system is segmented into multiple independent rotating masses, each capable of operating at optimized speeds for specific frequency ranges. This segmentation allows the system to track rapidly varying frequencies by selectively activating or adjusting individual segments rather than requiring the entire rotor to operate at high speeds, thereby reducing bearing drag and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements dynamically adjustable rotor configurations where masses can be repositioned or their rotational speeds independently controlled. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to optimize bearing loads and minimize drag across different operating conditions while maintaining frequency tracking capability.
3Reliability
If CFG operates at high frequencies to reduce vibration effectively, then vibration reduction performance is improved, but bearing drag leads to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes counterweight mechanisms specifically designed to balance the high-frequency rotational masses. These counterweights rotate in opposition to the primary masses, neutralizing the inertial forces generated during high-frequency operation. This allows the CFG to maintain effective vibration reduction performance while significantly reducing the bearing drag and associated power consumption that would otherwise result from high-speed rotation.
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
This configuration significantly reduces rotor inertia and bearing drag, achieving a safer and gentler ride by effectively damping vibrations across various applications, including vehicles and machinery, while minimizing power consumption and eliminating rotating moments.
Implementation Method 1
spinning bearing mounted about a shaft
Implementation Method 2
spinning bearing mounted about a shaft
Implementation Method 3
first eccentric mass extending in a first axial direction away from the first position
Implementation Method 4
first eccentric mass and the second eccentric mass are each rotatable about the shaft to generate a combined rotating force
Implementation Method 5
phase-shifting bearing connected to the first eccentric mass
Implementation Method 6
phase-shifting bearing allow for selective adjustment of a relative angular position
Data Source
AI summary
Circular force generator devices (100), systems, and methods for damping vibrations which include two complementary rotor assemblies (110, 120) that are rotatable together about a common shaft (102) but that have an adjustable rotational position (P1, P2) with respect to one another such that a significant reduction in rotor inertia and bearing drag relative to conventional CFG configurations is provided. The present architecture creates virtually zero rotating moment.