Sealed Reciprocating Damper for Wind-Induced Pole Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cantilevered traffic signal support structures are highly susceptible to wind-induced vibrations, leading to fatigue failure due to lack of effective damping, and existing vibration mitigation systems either require additional structural mass or expose components to the elements, necessitating regular maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A vibration mitigation device utilizing a reciprocating assembly with a biasing member, such as a tension or compression spring, for viscous damping, either through eddy current or pneumatic processes, to dissipate energy and reduce vibrations without relying on the mass of the traffic signal and with all components protected from the elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If friction-based or impact-based dampers are used to reduce vibrations, then vibration amplitude is reduced, but the device requires larger diameter poles and becomes amplitude-dependent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces friction-based and impact-based mechanical damping systems with a viscous fluid damping system. The piston moves through a viscous fluid in a sealed cylinder, creating velocity-proportional damping forces through fluid resistance rather than mechanical friction or impact. This substitution eliminates the need for larger pole diameters and removes amplitude dependency, as viscous damping forces are directly proportional to velocity regardless of amplitude.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic damping mechanism where a piston moves through a viscous fluid contained in a sealed cylinder. The fluid resistance generated during piston movement provides the damping force, utilizing hydraulic principles to achieve vibration reduction without mechanical contact or impact, thereby avoiding the drawbacks of friction-based systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the SHVA system is used to increase damping ratio, then vibration is virtually eliminated, but the system utilizes traffic signal mass and exposes components to elements requiring maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is nested within the existing traffic signal structure, with the sealed cylinder and piston assembly integrated into the pole or mounting structure. The reciprocating mass is contained within the sealed housing, protecting all components from environmental exposure. This nested configuration eliminates the need for separate external components that would require maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a sealed, protected environment for the damping components by enclosing the piston and viscous fluid in a sealed cylinder. This sealed enclosure acts as an inert environment that protects the components from exposure to weather elements, eliminating corrosion and degradation issues that would require maintenance in exposed systems.
3Weight of stationary object
If viscous damping with reciprocating assembly is used, then energy dissipation is achieved without additional structural mass, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damping device is segmented into distinct functional components: a sealed cylinder containing viscous fluid, a reciprocating piston, and a spring-loaded mass assembly. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall design manageable. The piston handles fluid interaction, the spring handles mass reciprocation, and the sealed cylinder provides containment, distributing complexity across modular segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The reciprocating mass assembly serves multiple functions: it provides the inertial force necessary for vibration generation, acts as a mechanical spring through the spring element, and couples the viscous damping mechanism to the structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite the advanced damping mechanism.
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 device effectively reduces vibration amplitudes and extends the service life of traffic signal support structures by utilizing viscous damping, eliminating the need for additional structural mass and maintaining all components in a protected environment, thereby enhancing durability and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of opposing conducting rods disposed along a longitudinal path with respect to the generally vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly configured to generate an eddy current in the pair of opposing conducting rods
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member configured to couple the reciprocating assembly with the generally vertically extending housing and configured to support the plurality of magnets and the mass in a neutral position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.