REDUNDANT ACTIVE VIBRATION AND NOISE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20170067530A1
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lord Corporation (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Inventors: SWANSON, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,393,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/16 operating with systems involving rotary unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2027/004 using actuators, e.g. active systems
• 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: G05B 15/02 electric

Abstract

Redundant active vibration and noise control systems and methods are provided, which include safety-critical systems and methods. In one embodiment, a safety-critical active vibration control system (SCAVCS) is provided, which includes a plurality of digital buses, a force generator, at least one sensor and at least one system parameter. The at least one force generator is in electronic communication with at least two digital buses. The force generator includes a pair of unbalanced masses, at least one motor, at least one microprocessor, at least one speed sensor, at least one accelerometer, and at least one power input. The at least one sensor is in electronic communication with each of the digital buses and with each of the microprocessors. The at least one system parameter is in electronic communication with each of the digital buses and each of the microprocessors.

Claims

1. An active vibration control system (AVCS), the system comprising:

a plurality of digital bus communication lines;

at least one circular force generator (CFG) in electrical communication with each of the plurality of digital bus communication lines;

wherein each of the plurality of digital bus communication lines is configured to electrically communicate redundant information simultaneously to the at least one CFG; and

wherein the CFG is configured process the redundant information and produce a force that substantially cancels an unwanted vibration force.

2. The AVCS of claim 1, wherein the redundant information includes a force control command signal generated by a plurality of controllers.

3. The AVCS of claim 1, wherein the redundant information includes electrical signals indicative of vibration information, system parameters, or additional inputs, and wherein the vibration information is obtained using one or more sensors.

4. The AVCS of claim 3, wherein the sensors include accelerometers, microphones, strain gauges, inertial motion systems, temperature sensors, force sensors, or motion detectors.

5. The AVCS of claim 3, wherein the system parameters include any one of a true airspeed, an altitude, an angle of attack, an engine speed, a rotor azimuth, a rotor speed, weather conditions, or landing conditions.

6. The AVCS of claim 3, wherein the additional inputs include information regarding a type of cargo, a center of gravity, or a responsiveness of an unwanted vibration force.

7. The AVCS of claim 1, wherein the at least one CFG is configured to process the redundant information via a plurality of microprocessors.

8. The AVCS of claim 7, wherein at least one microprocessor is configured to generate force command control signals to control the at least one CFG, and wherein the system is devoid of a centralized controller.

9. The AVCS of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of CFGs, and wherein at least one microprocessor residing at any one of the plurality of CFGs is configured to monitor the system for errors, faults, or failures of the system or components thereof.

10. The AVCS of claim 1, wherein the system includes a plurality of controllers adapted to communicate force command control signals to the at least one CFG via the plurality of digital bus communication lines.

11. The AVCS of claim 1, wherein the at least one CFG comprises at least two motors, where each motor is controllable by either a first microprocessor or a second microprocessor.

12. An active vibration control system (AVCS), the system comprising:

a plurality of digital bus communication lines;

a plurality of circular force generators (CFG) in electrical communication with each of the plurality of digital bus communication lines; and

a plurality of microprocessors disposed within each CFG, wherein at least a first microprocessor is configured to process the redundant information and monitor each of the other microprocessors for errors, faults, or failures in vibration control.

13. The AVCS of claim 12, wherein the redundant information includes electrical signals indicative of vibration information, system parameters, additional inputs, information regarding the rotation of imbalance masses, or forces generated by each of the plurality of CFGs.

14. The AVCS of claim 13, wherein the vibration information is obtained using one or more sensors and wherein the information regarding the rotation of imbalance masses is obtained using an accelerometer.

15. The AVCS of claim 14, wherein the sensors include accelerometers, microphones, strain gauges, inertial motion systems, temperature sensors, force sensors, or motion detectors.

16. The AVCS of claim 13, wherein the system parameters include any one of a true airspeed, an altitude, an angle of attack, an engine speed, a rotor azimuth, a rotor speed, weather conditions, or landing conditions.

17. The AVCS of claim 12, wherein the system is devoid of a centralized controller disposed outside of each of the plurality of CFGs.

18. The AVCS of claim 12, wherein the system includes a plurality of controllers in electrical communication with at least some of the CFGs using at least one of the digital bus communication lines.

19. The AVCS of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of motors disposed within each CFG, wherein each of the plurality of microprocessors is configured to drive a respective motor.

20. A method of providing a redundant active vibration control system (AVCS), the method comprising:

providing a plurality of digital bus communication lines;

electrically connecting at least one circular force generator (CFG) to each of the digital bus communication lines for facilitating electrical communication therewith;

electrically communicating redundant information simultaneously to the at least one CFG using the plurality of digital bus communication lines; and

at the at least one CFG, processing the redundant information and generating a force that substantially cancels an unwanted noise or vibration force.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein electrically communicating redundant information includes sending electrical signals indicative of vibration information, system parameters, additional inputs, or information regarding the rotation of imbalance masses.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a plurality of microprocessors at the at least one CFG.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising electrically connecting at least one controller to each of the plurality of digital bus communication lines for instructing the at least one CFG.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one CFG comprises at least two motors, and where each motor is controllable by either a first microprocessor or a second microprocessor.