Servo-Hydraulic Vibrator Mass Transfer for Low-Frequency Output
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic vibrators face challenges in producing sufficient energy at very low frequencies without increasing the carrier vehicle's size or weight, and without degrading high-frequency performance, as adding inertial mass or increasing stroke length leads to logistical and cost issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of non-rigid coupling using hydraulic dampers connected between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle's frame, which captures mass from the vehicle and adjusts damping in real-time to enhance low-frequency output, while maintaining minimal weight and avoiding increased stroke length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If inertial mass is added to the reaction mass to improve low-frequency output, then low-frequency energy production is improved, but the carrier vehicle's weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Hydraulic dampers are introduced as intermediary elements between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle frame. These dampers enable controlled mass transfer by allowing the vehicle frame to contribute inertial mass to the reaction mass during low-frequency operation, improving low-frequency output without permanently increasing vehicle weight
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling between the reaction mass and carrier vehicle is made dynamic rather than static. The hydraulic dampers allow the system to adaptively transfer mass based on operating conditions, enabling the vehicle to access additional inertial mass when needed for low-frequency operation while maintaining its original weight characteristics when not in use
2Power
If the reaction mass is increased to produce more low-frequency energy, then low-frequency output is improved, but harmonic distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
Hydraulic dampers serve as intermediary elements that smooth the interaction between the reaction mass and vehicle frame. This mediation allows for controlled mass transfer while filtering out harmful harmonic distortions, enabling improved low-frequency output without the negative side effects of simply adding fixed mass
3Reliability
If the carrier vehicle's weight is increased to provide more hold-down force, then low-frequency coupling is improved, but vehicle stability and mobility are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically accesses additional mass from the vehicle frame only when needed for low-frequency operation, rather than permanently increasing vehicle weight. This allows the vehicle to maintain good earth coupling during vibration operations while preserving mobility and stability during transport
Solution Approach 2:
Hydraulic dampers act as intermediaries that enable controlled interaction between the reaction mass and vehicle frame, allowing the system to benefit from increased hold-down force during operation without the permanent penalties of increased vehicle weight for mobility and stability
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
This approach allows seismic vibrators to produce several multiples of their previous output force capability at low frequencies with reduced harmonic distortion and minimal weight increase, maintaining high-frequency performance and reducing the need for larger hydraulic pumps or engines.
Implementation Method 1
System and Method to Transfer Inertial Mass... adding inertial mass to the reaction mass using non-rigid coupling with hydraulic dampers connected between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle's frame
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic dampers connected between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle's frame, which are controlled by a microprocessor
Data Source
AI summary
Earth vibrators, such as servo-hydraulic vibrators, are improved to produce more output force and less distortion at very low frequencies by capturing mass from the vehicles which carry them, adding sufficient inertial mass to the reaction mass without adding much vehicle and equipment weight while also avoiding increases to the servo-hydraulic vibrator's stroke length. In particular, improvements to servo-hydraulic vibrators, at low frequencies, will couple some mass from the carrier vehicle frame and its load using non-rigid coupling only when additional mass is needed using dampers connected between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle's frame, with the added damping being applied by a control system at very low frequencies of output where the vibrator is otherwise unable to produce force equal to its hold-weight.