Method and system for controlling helicopter vibrations

• US 20060054738A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Badre-Alam, Askari, Cranmer, Jeffrey, Swansor, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 7,370,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.270
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/005 using suspended masses
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/001 Vibration damping devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/1011 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A method/system for controlling helicopter vibrations is provided that includes a vibration canceling force generator for actively generating a vibration canceling force. The system includes a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency and a resonant actuator electronic control system. The resonant actuator electronic control system provides an electrical drive current to the resonant actuator to drive the resonant actuator about the resonant frequency when commanded by a received command signal. The resonant actuator has a feedback output with the feedback output fed back into the resonant actuator electronic control system wherein the resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts the electrical drive current based on the resonant actuator feedback output to generate the vibration canceling force.

Claims

1. A vibration canceling force generator for actively generating a vibration canceling force, said vibration canceling force generator comprising:

a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency, and a resonant actuator electronic control system having a command input for receiving a command signal, said resonant actuator electronic control system providing an electrical drive current to said resonant actuator to drive said resonant actuator about said resonant frequency when commanded by a received command signal, said resonant actuator having a feedback output, said feedback output fed back into said resonant actuator electronic control system wherein said resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts said electrical drive current based on said resonant actuator feedback output to generate said vibration canceling force.

2. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resonant actuator natural resonant frequency is in a range of 15 to 40 Hz.

3. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resonant actuator natural resonant frequency is in a range of 18 to 26 Hz.

4. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resonant actuator has a damping level less than four percent of critical damping.

5. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resonant actuator is a lightly damped resonant actuator.

6. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said command signal is an analog input voltage.

7. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1 including an electrical connector interface for disengagably connecting said resonant actuator to said resonant actuator electronic control system.

8. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical output.

9. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

10. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator.

11. A vibration canceling force generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator and an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

12. A method of making a vibration canceling force generator, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency, providing a resonant actuator electronic control system having a command input for receiving a command signal and a power amplifier for providing an electrical drive current to drive said resonant actuator, connecting said resonant actuator with said resonant actuator electronic control system wherein said resonant actuator electronic control system electrical drive current drives said resonant actuator about said natural resonant frequency when commanded by a received command signal, with said resonant actuator feeding an electrical output back into said resonant actuator electronic control system wherein said resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts said electrical drive current based on said resonant actuator electrical output.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein providing a resonant actuator includes providing a resonant actuator with a natural resonant frequency in a range of 15 to 40 Hz.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said resonant actuator has a damping level less than four percent of critical damping.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said method includes providing an electrical connector interface for disengagably connecting said resonant actuator to said resonant actuator electronic control system.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

17. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator and an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

19. A method of controlling vibrations, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency, providing a resonant actuator electronic control system for providing an electrical drive current to drive said resonant actuator, connecting said resonant actuator with said resonant actuator electronic control system, driving said resonant actuator about said natural resonant frequency with said resonant actuator feeding an electrical output back into said resonant actuator electronic control system and adjusting said electrical drive current based on said resonant actuator electrical output.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein providing a resonant actuator includes providing a resonant actuator with a natural resonant frequency in a range of 15 to 40 Hz.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said resonant actuator has a damping level less than four percent of critical damping.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said method includes providing an electrical connector interface for disengagably connecting said resonant actuator to said resonant actuator electronic control system.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

24. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator.

25. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator and an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

26. A method as claimed in claim 20,wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an actuator sensor electrical output.

27. A vehicle vibration canceling system, said vehicle vibration canceling system comprising:

a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency, and a resonant actuator electronic controller, said resonant actuator electronic controller providing an electrical drive current to said resonant actuator to drive said resonant actuator about said resonant frequency, said resonant actuator having a feedback electrical output, said feedback electrical output fed back into said resonant actuator electronic controller wherein said resonant actuator electronic controller adjusts said electrical drive current based on said resonant actuator feedback electrical output.

28. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator natural resonant frequency is in a range of 15 to 40 Hz.

29. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator has a damping level less than four percent of critical damping.

30. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator is a lightly damped resonant actuator.

31. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 including an electrical connector interface for disengagably connecting said resonant actuator to said resonant actuator electronic controller.

32. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

33. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator.

34. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator feedback output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator and an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

35. A vehicle vibration canceling system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an actuator sensor electrical output.

36. A method of making a helicopter vibration canceling system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency, providing a resonant actuator electronic control system for providing an electrical drive current to drive said resonant actuator, connecting said resonant actuator with said resonant actuator electronic control system wherein said resonant actuator electronic control system electrical drive current drives said resonant actuator about said natural resonant frequency, with said resonant actuator feeding an electrical output back into said resonant actuator electronic control system wherein said resonant actuator electronic control system adjusts said electrical drive current based on said resonant actuator electrical output.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36 wherein providing a resonant actuator includes providing a resonant actuator with a natural resonant frequency in a range of 15 to 40 Hz.

38. A method as claimed in claim 36 wherein said resonant actuator has a damping level less than four percent of critical damping.

39. A method as claimed in claim 36 wherein said method includes providing an electrical connector interface for disengagably connecting said resonant actuator to said resonant actuator electronic control system.

40. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

41. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator.

42. A method as claimed in claim 36, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator and an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

43. A method of controlling helicopter vibrations, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a resonant actuator having a natural resonant frequency, mounting said resonant actuator in a helicopter, providing a resonant actuator electronic control system for providing an electrical drive current to drive said resonant actuator, connecting said resonant actuator with said resonant actuator electronic control system, driving said resonant actuator about said natural resonant frequency with said resonant actuator feeding an electrical output back into said resonant actuator electronic control system and adjusting said electrical drive current based on said resonant actuator electrical output.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein providing a resonant actuator includes providing a resonant actuator with a natural resonant frequency in a range of 15 to 40 Hz

45. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein said resonant actuator has a damping level less than four percent of critical damping.

46. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein said method includes providing an electrical connector interface for disengagably connecting said resonant actuator to said resonant actuator electronic control system.

47. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

48. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator.

49. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an electrical charge flow rate through said resonant actuator and an electrical potential difference through said resonant actuator.

50. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein said resonant actuator electrical output is an actuator sensor electrical output.