Vibration absorbing apparatus

• US 4,940,914 A
• Filed: 05/16/1988
• Issued: 07/10/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Iida, Kazuyoshi, Mizuno, Keiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US07/194,371
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/321, 310/323, 310/325, 310/328, 310/51, 310/326, 310/327, 310/316, 310/317, 310/319, 248/636, 248/638
• US Class Current: 310/326
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 3/08 Damping of movements, e.g. to promote rapid non-oscillatory movement to a final reading

Abstract

A vibration absorbing apparatus for reducing vibrations of a vibration damping objective comprises a vibration member excited by a piezo-ceramic element. The voltage applied to the piezo-ceramic element is controlled in accordance with the vibration state of the objective.

Claims

1. A vibration absorbing apparatus for absorbing vibrations of a vibration damping objective, comprising:

a support member attached to said vibration damping objective and having a plurality of notches formed therein;

a plurality of vibration members fitted in said notches of said support member, said vibration members being of different lengths;

a plurality of piezo-ceramic elements each attached to a base of a respective one of said vibration members;

detecting means for detecting movement of said vibration damping objective; and

voltage applying means, responsive to said detecting means, for applying a voltage to the piezo-ceramic elements in accordance with the vibration state of the objective so as to induce vibrations in said vibration members and reduce an amplitude of vibrations of the objective.

2. The vibration absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration member includes an additional mass.

3. The vibration absorbing apparatus according claim 1, wherein said vibration member is composed of a band-like spring material made from a metal or a plastic.

4. The vibration absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piezo-ceramic element is made from barium titanate, lead titanium zirconate or Rochelle salt.

5. The vibration absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage applying means comprises a signal amplifier circuit, a waveform processor, and waveform generator, a phase control circuit and a power amplifier circuit.

6. The vibration absorbing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltage applying means comprises a signal amplifier circuit, a phase control circuit and a power amplifier circuit.