Distributed active vibration control systems and rotary wing aircraft with suppressed vibrations

• US 20090254230A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: Jolly, Mark R., Altieri, Russell E., Badre-Alam, Askari, Meyers, Andrew D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/004 using actuators, e.g. active systems
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/005 using suspended masses
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/001 Vibration damping devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/002 characterised by the control method or circuitry control of mechanical oscillations per se G05D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/223 Use of systems involving rotary unbalanced masses where the phase-angle of masses mounted on counter-rotating shafts can be varied generation of mechanical vibrations per se with such systems B06B1/166
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 Dynamoelectric machine

Abstract

An aircraft with at least one rotating machine creating troublesome vibrations, the aircraft comprised of an aerostructure, the aircraft including:

• • a power source, the power source outputting a plurality of electromagnetic force generator power outputs,
  • the aerostructure including a plurality of distributed active vibration control system sites,
  • at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, the first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass, the first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to the aerostructure at a first distributed active vibration control system site,
  • at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, the second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass, the second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to the aerostructure at a second distributed active vibration control system site,
  • a plurality of electrical power distribution lines, the electrical power distribution lines connecting the electromagnetic force generators with the power source with the electromagnetic force generator power outputs outputted to the electromagnetic force generators,
  • a distributed force generator data communications network, the distributed force generator data communications system network linking together the at least first and second distributed electronic control systems wherein the distributed electronic control systems communicate force generator vibration control data through the distributed force generator data communications network independently of the electrical power distribution lines to minimize the troublesome vibrations.

Claims

1. An aircraft with at least one rotating machine creating troublesome vibrations, said aircraft comprised of an aerostructure, said aircraft including:

a power source, said power source outputting a plurality of electromagnetic force generator power outputs,

said aerostructure including a plurality of distributed active vibration control system sites,

at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to said aerostructure at a first distributed active vibration control system site,

at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to said aerostructure at a second distributed active vibration control system site,

a plurality of electrical power distribution lines, said electrical power distribution lines connecting said electromagnetic force generators with said power source with said electromagnetic force generator power outputs outputted to said electromagnetic force generators,

a distributed force generator data communications network, said distributed force generator data communications system network linking together said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems wherein said distributed electronic control systems communicate force generator vibration control data through said distributed force generator data communications network independently of said electrical power distribution lines to minimize said troublesome vibrations.

2. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, including a master system controller, said master system controller connected to said distributed force generator data communications network wherein said master system controller provides a plurality of authority commands to said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems, with said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems executing a plurality of subordinate local force generator operation commands.

3. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, including a migrating master system control authority, said migrating master system control authority movable between said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems, with the migrating master system control authority providing a plurality of authority commands to said distributed electronic control systems to execute a plurality of subordinate local force generator operation commands.

4. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, including a distributed master system control authority, said distributed master system control authority distributed among the at least first and second distributed electronic control systems with the distributed master system control authority providing a plurality of authority commands to said distributed electronic control systems to execute a plurality of subordinate local force generator operation commands.

5. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, including at least a first distributed networked accelerometer, said at least first distributed networked accelerometer having an accelerometer network link with said distributed force generator data communications network.

6. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said first distributed electronic control system executes a plurality of local force generator operation rotating motor commands, and

said second distributed electronic control system executes a plurality of local force generator operation rotating motor commands.

7. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said at least first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator inputs a first circular force into said aerostructure at said first distributed active vibration control system site,

and said at least second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator inputs a second circular force into said aerostructure at said second distributed active vibration control system site.

8. An aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said first distributed electronic control system executes a plurality of local force generator operation linear motor commands, and

said second distributed electronic control system executes a plurality of local force generator operation linear motor commands.

9. A method of making an aircraft with suppressed inflight troublesome vibrations, said method comprising:

providing an aircraft comprised of an aerostructure and at least one rotating machine creating troublesome vibrations,

providing at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass,

fixing said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator to said aerostructure at a first distributed active vibration control system site,

providing at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass,

fixing said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator to said aerostructure at a second distributed active vibration control system site,

connecting said at least first and second electromagnetic force generators with a plurality of electrical power distribution lines to a power source,

providing a distributed force generator data communications network, said distributed force generator data communications network linking together said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems,

communicating force generator vibration control data through said distributed force generator data communications network independently of said electrical power distribution lines to minimize said troublesome vibrations.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first distributed electronic control system is contained proximate said first electromagnetically driven mass.

11. A method of making a vibration control system for suppressing troublesome vibrations, said method comprising:

providing a structure including at least one rotating machine creating troublesome vibrations,

providing at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass,

fixing said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator to said structure at a first distributed active vibration control system site,

providing at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass,

fixing said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator to said structure at a second distributed active vibration control system site,

connecting said at least first and second electromagnetic force generators with a plurality of electrical power distribution lines to a power source,

providing a distributed force generator data communications network, said distributed force generator data communications network linking together said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems,

communicating force generator vibration control data through said distributed force generator data communications network independently of said electrical power distribution lines to minimize said troublesome vibrations.

12. A vehicle vibration control system for suppressing troublesome vehicle vibrations in a vehicle structure connected with at least one rotating machine creating troublesome vibrations, said vehicle vibration control system including:

at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to said vehicle structure at a first distributed active vibration control system site,

at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to said vehicle structure at a second distributed active vibration control system site,

a plurality of electrical power distribution lines, said electrical power distribution lines connecting said electromagnetic force generators with a power source and providing said electromagnetic force generators with a plurality of electromagnetic force generator power outputs,

a distributed force generator data communications network, said distributed force generator data communications network linking together said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems wherein said distributed electronic control systems communicate force generator vibration control data through said distributed force generator data communications network independently of said electrical power distribution lines to minimize said troublesome vibrations.

13. A method of suppressing troublesome vibrations, said method comprising:

providing a structure with troublesome vibrations,

providing at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass,

fixing said first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator to said structure at a first distributed active vibration control system site,

providing at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass,

fixing said second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator to said structure at a second distributed active vibration control system site,

connecting said at least first and second electromagnetic force generators with a plurality of electrical power distribution lines to a power source,

providing a distributed force generator data communications network, said distributed force generator data communications network linking together said at least first and second distributed electronic control systems and a plurality of distributed networked accelerometers sensing said troublesome vibrations,

communicating force generator vibration control data through said distributed force generator data communications network independently of said electrical power distribution lines to minimize said troublesome vibrations.