Active vibration damper with electrodynamic sensor and drive units

• US 4,083,433 A
• Filed: 11/16/1976
• Issued: 04/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Brookfield Asset Management Incorporated)
• Inventors: Geohegan, Kenneth P. Jr., Steiner, George H., Collins, Christopher R., Bawroski, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US05/742,473
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1 B, 188/1 BX, 188/266, 248/20, 248/19, 248/358 R, 74/574, 310/51, 73/67, 73/70, 73/71, 73/71.2, 244/17.27, 335/219
• US Class Current: 188/382
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/1011 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

An electrodynamic sensor unit and a drive unit are attached to a member subject to vibration. The sensor unit provides a signal proportional to the vibration velocity, and this signal is utilized to govern the operation of the drive unit, which acts to reduce the vibration amplitude.

Claims

1. An active vibration damper system for a body subject to vibration, comprising:

A. sensor means for operative connection with said body and being of the type to provide an output signal proportional to the vibration velocity of said body relative to the surrounding ambient medium;

B. a signal processing network responsive to said output signal for providing a resultant control signal;

C. driver means responsive to said control signal for applying to said body a counteracting force proportional to said body velocity;

D. said sensor means including

i. a case member;

ii. a permanent magnet connected to, and contained within said case;

iii. an inertial element suspended within said case and around said magnet;

iv. a coil wound about said inertial element; and

v. terminal means in electrical connection with said coil.

2. An active vibration damper system for a body subject to vibration, comprising:

A. sensor means for operative connection with said body and being of the type to provide an output signal porportional to the vibration velocity of said body relative to the surrounding ambient medium;

B. a signal processing network responsive to said output signal for providing a resultant control signal;

C. driver means responsive to said control signal for applying to said body a counteracting force porportional to said body velocity;

D. said driver means including

i. a case member;

ii. a permanent magnet connected to, and contained within, said case;

iii. an inertial element suspended within said case and around said magnet;

iv. a coil wound about said inertial element; and

v. terminal means in electrical connection with said coil.

3. An active vibration damper system for a body subject to vibration, comprising:

A. sensor means for operative connection with said body and being of the type to provide an output signal proportional to the vibration velocity of said body relative to the surrounding ambient medium;

B. a signal processing network responsive to said output signal for providing a resultant control signal;

C. driver means responsive to said control signal for applying to said body a counteracting force porportional to said body velocity;

D. said signal processing network including

i. an input preamplifier section, and

ii. an output power amplifier section including a feedback loop; and

E. said driver means being electrically connected in said feedback loop.