Tuned dynamic vibration absorber

• US 5,637,938 A
• Filed: 08/16/1994
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation), Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Dohogne, L. Ranney, Debrecht, Douglas C., Vukorpa, Victor M., Newberg, Barry M., Wells, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US08/291,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 310/51, 248/559, 188/378-380, 318/649
• US Class Current: 310/51
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/104 the inertia member being resiliently mounted F16F7/1022 takes precedence

Abstract

A vibration absorber is provided for reducing noise and vibration emanating from an electric motor, or another vibrating object, and the surrounding structure to which it is mounted. The vibration absorber has a beam with a mass secured thereto. The vibration absorber is mounted externally to the motor, in a direction perpendicular to an axis of torsional vibration of the motor. The absorber is tuned to have a resonant frequency corresponding to the torsional vibrational frequency of the motor.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a motor having a housing and a central axis; and

a vibration absorber reducing torsional vibration of said housing around said axis at a vibrational frequency, the vibration absorber including;

a beam having a first end and a second end, said first end being secured to said motor housing perpendicularly to said axis; and

a mass secured to said second end;

wherein said vibration absorber has an inertia about said axis for which side resonances of the absorber result in minimal amplification of resonance at said vibrational frequency.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam has a circular cross-section.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vibrational frequency is 120 Hz.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said vibrational frequency is 100 Hz.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam is threaded to said housing.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said device has a resonant frequency equal to said vibrational frequency and said device resonates out of phase with said housing to counteract vibration of said housing.

7. A low-vibration motor comprising:

a motor housing;

rotational shaft aligned on a central axis; and

a single vibration absorber consisting of;

a single beam having a first end secured to said motor housing generally perpendicularly to said central axis; and

a mass secured to a second end of said beam;

wherein said absorber has a resonant frequency corresponding to a vibrational frequency of torsional vibrational motion of said motor housing and said absorber resonates out of phase with said motor housing to counteract said torsional vibrational motion.

8. A low-vibration motor according to claim 7 wherein said vibrational frequency is about 120 Hz.

9. A low-vibration motor according to claim 7 wherein said vibrational frequency is about 100 Hz.

10. A low-vibration motor according to claim 7 wherein said vibration absorber has an inertia about said axis for which side resonances of the absorber result in minimal amplification of resonance at said resonant frequency.

11. A low-vibration motor according to claim 7 wherein said beam has a circular cross-section.

12. An appliance comprising:

a motor having a central axis; and

an absorber for reducing torsional vibration of said motor around said axis at a vibrational frequency, the absorber consisting of;

a beam secured to said motor and aligned perpendicularly to said axis; and

a mass secured to said beam;

wherein said absorber has a natural frequency about equal to said vibrational frequency and said absorber resonates out of phase with said motor to counteract vibrational motion of said motor.

13. An appliance according to claim 12 wherein said absorber has an inertia about said axis for which side resonances of the absorber result in minimal amplification of resonance at said natural frequency.

14. An appliance according to claim 12 wherein said absorber has a first natural resonant frequency of about 120 Hz.

15. An appliance according to claim 12 wherein said absorber has a first natural resonant frequency of about 100 Hz.

16. An appliance according to claim 12 wherein said beam is rod-shaped.

17. An appliance according to claim 12 wherein said beam is threaded to said motor.