Composite Baseplate for Seismic Vibrator Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seismic vibrators face challenges in accurately and efficiently imparting desired force into the ground due to vibration and flexure issues with conventional baseplates, which distort and interfere with the ideal operation of seismic energy transmission.

Innovation Solution

A seismic vibrator with a baseplate composed of a composite material core and metallic top and bottom plates, featuring a lattice structure and journals for stabilizing the reaction mass, which reduces vibration transmission and enhances force distribution, resulting in improved stiffness and energy transmission efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional baseplate is used, then the vibrator can transmit force into the ground, but the baseplate experiences vibration and flexure that distort and interfere with ideal operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseismic energy transmission accuracyVSAvoidbaseplate vibration and flexure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The baseplate is constructed using composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced polymer) instead of conventional solid metal. This composite structure provides high stiffness and strength while reducing vibration and flexure during operation, thereby improving seismic energy transmission accuracy without compromising structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a heavier baseplate is used to increase stiffness, then vibration resistance improves, but weight increases which reduces mobility and increases cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebaseplate stiffnessVSAvoidbaseplate weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material construction achieves four times the stiffness of conventional baseplates while reducing weight by 38%. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, eliminating the need to increase weight to achieve higher stiffness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The baseplate design changes material parameters by transitioning from solid metal to composite materials with optimized fiber orientation and density. This parameter change enables achieving higher stiffness at lower weight through material property optimization rather than increasing mass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Weight of moving object

If the baseplate weight is reduced, then mobility and bandwidth improve, but stiffness and force transmission may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebaseplate weightVSAvoidbaseplate stiffness
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material construction achieves four times the stiffness of conventional baseplates while reducing weight by 38%. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, eliminating the need to increase weight to achieve higher stiffness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Strength

If a solid metal baseplate is used, then structural strength is ensured, but vibration attenuation increases and resonant frequency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidvibration attenuation
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material construction provides high structural strength while reducing vibration attenuation. The carbon fiber reinforced polymer structure maintains structural integrity through fiber reinforcement while the composite nature reduces energy loss to vibration, achieving higher resonant frequency and better energy transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2628024B1Seismic vibrator having composite baseplate
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 INOVA LTD(GB)
  • EP2628024B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2628024B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2628024B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C

AI summary

A seismic vibrator has a baseplate composed at least partially of a composite material. The baseplate has a body composed of the composite material and has top and bottom plates composed of a metallic material. The top plate supports isolators for isolating the vibrator's mass and frame from the baseplate. Internally, the composite body has a central structure to which couple stilts for supporting the mass and a piston for the vibrator's actuator. A lattice structure surrounds the central structure. This lattice structure has radial ribs extending from the central structure and has radial ribs interconnecting the radial ribs.