Vibration energy harvesting damper
First Claim
1. A vibration energy harvesting damper (VEHD) comprising:
- a support structure that is securable to a vibrating object;
a tuned mass retained by the support structure and movable in a rectilinear direction;
a magnet vibrationally coupled to and spaced apart from the tuned mass;
a coil surrounding the magnet; and
at least one biasing assembly connecting two or more of the support structure, the tuned mass and the magnet, the at least one biasing assembly comprising a fixed biasing member and an adjustable biasing member arranged in parallel, wherein the adjustable biasing member is configured to adjust a combined stiffness coefficient of the biasing assembly.
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Abstract
A vibration energy harvesting damper (VEHD) that is adjustable to a broad range of frequencies of vibration is provided. The VEHD includes a support structure that is securable to a vibrating object, a tuned mass retained by the support structure and movable in a rectilinear direction, a magnet vibrationally coupled to and spaced apart from the tuned mass, a coil surrounding the magnet, and at least one biasing assembly connecting two or more of the support structure, the tuned mass and the magnet. The at least one biasing assembly includes a fixed biasing member and an adjustable biasing member arranged in parallel. The adjustable biasing member is configured to adjust the combined stiffness coefficient of the biasing assembly.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A vibration energy harvesting damper (VEHD) comprising:
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a support structure that is securable to a vibrating object; a tuned mass retained by the support structure and movable in a rectilinear direction; a magnet vibrationally coupled to and spaced apart from the tuned mass; a coil surrounding the magnet; and at least one biasing assembly connecting two or more of the support structure, the tuned mass and the magnet, the at least one biasing assembly comprising a fixed biasing member and an adjustable biasing member arranged in parallel, wherein the adjustable biasing member is configured to adjust a combined stiffness coefficient of the biasing assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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21. A method for adjusting a vibration energy harvesting damper (VEHD) having a support structure, a tuned mass, a magnet and at least one biasing assembly that includes a fixed biasing member and an adjustable biasing member arranged in parallel, the method comprising:
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measuring the vibration of at least one of the support structure, the tuned mass and the magnet; comparing at least one of a frequency, an amplitude and a phase of the measured vibration to at least one of a previously measured frequency, a previously measured amplitude and a previously measured phase to determine a change in at least one of the frequency, the amplitude and the phase of the vibration; analyzing the change in the at least one of the frequency, the amplitude and the phase of the vibration to generate a tuning signal for adjusting an electromagnetic stiffness coefficient of the adjustable biasing member; and actuating the adjustable biasing member based on the tuning signal to adjust the electromagnetic stiffness coefficient of the adjustable biasing member and thereby adjust a combined stiffness coefficient of the biasing assembly.
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Specification