LOW MOMENT FORCE GENERATOR DEVICES AND METHODS

摘要

Improved force generator (FG) devices and methods are provided herein. A FG device (10) includes a housing (16, 18), a shaft (S) centrally disposed within the housing, and multiple imbalance rotors (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) disposed within the housing and provided along the shaft. At least two pairs (PA, PB) of imbalance rotors are provided in a nested configuration with respect to each other along the shaft. The at least two pairs (PA, PB) of imbalance rotors are supported in the nested configuration by large and small bearings (BA, BB). Any two imbalance rotors are paired to rotate together in a same direction according to a desired vibration canceling force. A method of controlling vibration within a structure is provided. The method includes detecting vibration, receiving a force command at a FG device, and pairing any two imbalance masses together and rotating a pair of imbalance masses via the rotors together in a same direction to cancel the detected vibration.

主权项

1. A force generator (FG) device, the device comprising:
a housing; a shaft centrally disposed within the housing; at least two inner imbalance masses provided in a side-by-side configuration within the housing along the center shaft, the inner imbalance masses each supported by a large bearing movably coupled with the center shaft; at least two outer imbalance masses oppositely positioned from each along the center shaft with one outer imbalance mass positioned outwardly from one of the inner imbalance masses and the other outer imbalance mass positioned outwardly from the other inner imbalance mass such that each inner imbalance mass is paired with the outer imbalance mass thereby forming a pair, wherein the outer imbalance masses each have a small bearing movably disposed about the center shaft; and wherein the pairs of imbalance masses rotate about the center shaft to minimize moments imparted to a vibrating structure.