Haul Cable Support Roller Radial Movement Vibration Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cable transportation systems experience significant vibration and noise due to the haul cable's ridged surface, which is transmitted to the supporting structure, making operation in urban areas challenging.
Innovation Solution
A haul cable support roller design featuring a hub, an outer ring with elastomer guidance, and an intermediate ring that allows radial movement and is connected via bearings, with an elastic device between the hub and intermediate ring to dissipate energy and reduce shock and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed support roller is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but vibration and noise are transmitted to the supporting structure
Solution Approach 1:
The support roller is transformed from a fixed structure to a dynamic one by allowing the outer ring to move radially relative to the hub. This radial movement capability enables the roller to adapt to cable profile variations and reduce vibration transmission, directly addressing the harmful factors while maintaining structural simplicity through controlled degrees of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate ring is introduced as a mediator between the hub and outer ring. This intermediate element facilitates radial movement of the outer ring while maintaining connection to the hub, serving as a mechanical intermediary that decouples the vibration transmission path and reduces noise to the supporting structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer ring is rigidly connected to the hub, then the roller structure is simple, but shock and vibration are transmitted to the supporting structure
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid connection between outer ring and hub is replaced with a dynamic connection that permits radial movement. The outer ring can now move radially to follow cable profile variations, converting rigid shock transmission into flexible adaptation, thereby reducing vibration and shock transmission to the supporting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection characteristics between outer ring and hub are changed from rigid (zero degrees of freedom) to flexible (one radial degree of freedom). This parameter change in the connection stiffness allows the system to absorb shocks and vibrations through radial displacement, reducing harmful transmissions while maintaining structural integrity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an elastic device is added to reduce vibration, then vibration and noise are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic device is introduced as a mediator between the outer ring and hub to reduce vibration and noise transmission. This elastic element serves as a vibration isolator, absorbing harmful vibrations while permitting the necessary radial movement, thereby reducing noise without significantly complicating the overall roller structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic device changes the dynamic parameters of the connection between outer ring and hub, introducing damping and compliance. This parameter modification allows the system to filter out high-frequency vibrations and reduce noise transmission while maintaining the essential radial movement capability with minimal added complexity.
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 support roller effectively reduces vibration and noise by allowing the outer ring to follow the haul cable's uneven profile and dissipating energy through the elastic device, providing balanced support and operation in various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic device located between the hub and the intermediate ring to oppose movement of the outer ring, induced by the haul cable, in the radial direction. In fact, part of the energy transmitted from the haul cable to the roller is dissipated and/or isolated by the elastic device to reduce shock.
Implementation Method 2
the outer ring can rotate about the hub and the axis of rotation, and to allow the outer ring to move radially with respect to the hub in at least one radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A support roller (1) for a cable transportation system haul cable (2) has a hub (4) extending about an axis of rotation (A); an outer ring (5) extending about the hub (4) and having a race (6) for guiding the haul cable (2); and an intermediate ring (7) connected to the outer ring (5) and the hub (4) to allow the outer ring (5) to rotate about the hub (4) and the axis of rotation (A), and to allow the outer ring (5) to slide with respect to the hub (4) in at least one radial direction (D).