Micro Dampers for Actuator Feedback Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical feedback actuators face issues with resonance due to strong vibrations, causing springs to vibrate at a resonant frequency and lose contact with the actuator, leading to erroneous actuator position feedback in high vibration environments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a combination of springs and dampers in the scissor linkage to exert biasing and damping forces, respectively, ensuring consistent contact between the mechanical feedback linkage and the cam surface, thereby preventing resonance-induced loss of contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If springs are used to provide biasing force to maintain contact between the mechanical feedback linkage and the cam surface, then the mechanical linkage maintains contact with the actuator, but the springs are susceptible to resonance and can lose contact under strong vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines springs and dampers into a single mechanical feedback assembly. The spring provides the necessary biasing force to maintain contact between the mechanical feedback linkage and the cam surface, while the damper simultaneously suppresses resonant vibrations. This merging of two functional elements (spring for contact maintenance, damper for vibration suppression) into one integrated component resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to benefit from both the contact-maintaining force of the spring and the resonance-damping effect of the damper without requiring separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical feedback assembly uses a composite structure combining elastic elements (springs) and damping materials (viscous dampers). The spring portion provides elastic restoring force to maintain contact, while the damper portion uses viscous damping characteristics to dissipate vibrational energy. This composite approach allows the single assembly to exhibit both contact-maintaining and vibration-suppressing properties simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between reliability under vibration and resonance susceptibility.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If dampers are added to suppress resonance, then resonance-induced loss of contact is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spring and damper into a single integrated mechanical feedback assembly rather than using separate components. This consolidation reduces the number of discrete parts, simplifies the overall structure, and decreases the complexity of assembly and maintenance. The combined assembly functions as one unit where the spring and damper work together within a single housing or mounting structure, thereby achieving resonance suppression without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical feedback assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides biasing force through the spring, suppresses resonance through the damper, maintains contact between the linkage and cam surface, and transmits positional feedback. By designing this multi-functional component that integrates force generation, vibration suppression, and feedback transmission in a single assembly, the patent avoids the complexity that would arise from adding separate dampers as standalone components.
3Measurement precision
If the mechanical linkage loses contact with the actuator due to spring resonance, then erroneous actuator position feedback is transmitted to the controller
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of vibrations into a beneficial outcome by using the damper to dissipate vibrational energy. The damper transforms the mechanical vibration energy that would cause resonance and contact loss into thermal energy through viscous damping. This conversion of harmful vibrational energy into harmless heat prevents the resonance-induced contact loss, thereby maintaining reliable mechanical feedback and accurate position information transmission to the controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper provides preliminary anti-action by suppressing vibrations before they can grow into resonant oscillations that would cause contact loss. The damping force acts continuously to counteract vibrational tendencies, preventing the amplitude of oscillation from reaching levels that would separate the mechanical linkage from the cam surface. This preliminary suppression ensures that contact is maintained and accurate position feedback is continuously provided to the controller.
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 combination of springs and dampers effectively maintains contact between the mechanical feedback linkage and the actuator, ensuring accurate position feedback even in high vibration environments, preventing control excursions and maintaining actuator stability.
Implementation Method 1
A scissor linkage can include at least one spring that is arranged between the first elongate member and the second elongate member... wherein the at least one spring exerts a force to push the first end and the third end away from each other
Implementation Method 2
A scissor linkage can include at least one damper arranged between the first elongate member and the second elongate member... wherein the at least one damper is arranged between the first end and the first pivot of the first elongate member and between the third end and the second pivot of the second elongate member
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for providing mechanical feedback of a position of an actuator to a controller in a high vibration environment. The apparatus includes a member that contacts a cam surface of the actuator such that movement of the actuator and cam surface causes the member to move. The apparatus also includes a spring that exerts a force on the member toward the cam surface to maintain contact between the member and the cam surface. The apparatus also includes a damper that dampens motion of the member, thereby eliminating resonant movement of the spring and member caused by vibrations.