Piezoelectric Vibration Decoupling Device with Orthogonal Spring Beams

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mechanical vibration decoupling devices, such as passive bearings, suffer from increased vibration amplitudes and noise pollution at resonant frequencies due to fixed stiffness, while active mounts can adjust rigidity but require complex control systems, lacking a compact and scalable solution for three-dimensional vibration decoupling.

Innovation Solution

A device with three orthogonally arranged cantilever spring beam elements, each with adjustable stiffness, using piezoelectric actuators and sensors to dynamically control vibration transmission, allowing for compact and modular three-dimensional vibration decoupling between bodies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If passive bearings with fixed stiffness are used, then the structure is simple, but vibration amplitudes increase at resonant frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing structureVSAvoidvibration amplitude
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies piezoelectric actuators to dynamically adjust the stiffness of the coupling structure in real-time, transforming the static passive bearing into a dynamic system that can adapt to varying vibration conditions and suppress resonant amplification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameter of stiffness from fixed to variable by using piezoelectric actuators that can continuously adjust the rigidity of the coupling structure, enabling the system to avoid resonant frequency amplification by dynamically modifying stiffness parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If damping is increased to counteract resonance, then vibration at resonant frequency is reduced, but vibration decoupling effect deteriorates at higher frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration amplitude at resonanceVSAvoidvibration decoupling effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses dynamic stiffness adjustment via piezoelectric actuators to selectively suppress resonant vibrations while maintaining high-frequency isolation performance, avoiding the trade-off inherent in passive damping approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the stiffness parameter of the coupling structure to match the specific vibration frequency being targeted, allowing resonance suppression without compromising high-frequency decoupling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If active mounts with sensors and actuators are used, then vibration decoupling performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration decoupling performanceVSAvoidcontrol system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical control systems with piezoelectric actuators that directly modify the structural stiffness through electrical signals, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining high vibration decoupling performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses electrical control to change the physical stiffness parameter of the coupling structure, replacing mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a more compact and controllable electro-active material approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables effective vibration decoupling in three spatial axes with minimal constructive and control engineering effort, reducing vibration amplitudes and noise pollution across a wide frequency range without compromising high-frequency isolation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one piezoelectric actuator (P) which acts on the at least one spring beam element (1, 2, 3) in a force-generating manner in response to an applied voltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

three spring beam elements (1, 2, 3), which are arranged orthogonally to one another in terms of their longitudinal extension and are elastically effective

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2694838B1Device for decoupling mechanical vibrations
Publication Date: 2014.12.03 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP2694838B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2d
  • EP2694838B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

What is described is a device for mechanical vibration decoupling, having two bearing ends onto each of which bodies which are to be uncoupled from one another in terms of vibration can be joined or are joined and which are interconnected via a coupling structure having a variably adjustable stiffness. The invention is distinguished in that the coupling structure comprises at least three spring beam elements of which the spring beam surface which can be assigned in each case is characterized by a normal vector and which are each dimensionally stable longitudinally and elastically orthogonally to the spring beam surface, in that the at least three spring beam elements are arranged spatially with respect to one another in such a way that their normal vectors are each oriented at an angle a to one another, where a =90° ± 30°, in that the spring beam elements each have two mutually opposite spring beam ends which are each fixedly clamped in a clamping means, in that a first and a last clamping means are each connected to a different bearing end, in that the remaining clamping means each fixedly interconnect two spring beam elements, and in that the remaining clamping means are carried exclusively by the spring beam elements and are otherwise mounted in a freely oscillating manner.