Abstract:
An aircraft with at least one rotating machine creating troublesome vibrations, the aircraft comprised of an aerostructure, the aircraft including: a power source, the power source outputting a plurality of electromagnetic force generator power outputs, the aerostructure including a plurality of distributed actiye vibration control system sites, at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, the first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a first distributed electronic control system and a first electromagnetically driven mass, the first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to the aerostructure at a first distributed active vibration control system site, at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator, the second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass, the second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator fixed to the aerostructure at a second distributed active vibration control system site, a plurality of electrical power distribution lines, the electrical power distribution lines connecting the electromagnetic force generators with the power source with the electromagnetic force generator power outputs outputted to the electromagnetic force generators, a distributed force generator data communications network, the distributed force generator data communications system network linking together the at least first and second distributed electronic control systems wherein the distributed electronic control systems communicate force generator vibration control data through the distributed force generator data communications network independently of the electrical power distribution lines to minimize the troublesome vibrations.
Abstract:
An aircraft system and method with a first counterweight rotating balancing rotor including holding stepping inboard magnets and outboard mass concentration, and a second counterweight rotating balancing rotor including holding stepping inboard magnets and outboard mass concentration. The system includes an.inboard electromagnetic coil driver with a first inboard electromagnetic coil, and a second inboard electromagnetic coil, the inboard electromagnetic coil driver and the first counterweight balancing rotor and the second counterweight balancing rotor centered around the aircraft propeller shaft rotating machine member with the first inboard electromagnetic coil proximate the first inboard magnets of the first counterweight balancing rotor, with the inboard electromagnetic coil driver proximate the rotation axis of the aircraft propeller shaft rotating machine member and the first counterweight balancing rotor outboard of the inboard electromagnetic coil driver with the first inboard electromagnetic coil generating a electromagnetic field to electromagnetically step the first inboard magnets of the at least first counterweight balancing rotor to electromagnetically actuate rotational movement of the first counterweight balancing rotor around the rotating machine member and relative to the inboard electromagnetic coil driver to a first rotor held balancing position. The second inboard electromagnetic coil is proximate the second counterweight balancing rotor, with the second inboard electromagnetic coil proximate the second inboard magnets of the second counterweight balancing rotor, wherein the second inboard electromagnetic coil generates an electromagnetic field to electromagnetically step the second inboard magnets of the second counterweight balancing rotor to electromagnetically actuate rotational movement of the second counterweight balancing rotor around the rotation axis and relative to the inboard electromagnetic coil driver and to a second rotor held position.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for monitoring rotating shafts (28) and couplings (30) in an aircraft vehicle propulsion system (22) is described. The measurement system/method provides for accurate and precise monitoring of a rotating shaft flexible coupling in a fixed wing aircraft vehicle propulsion system (22). The measurement system/method provides for a high reliability short take off vertical landing fixed wing aircraft in which the vehicle's dynamically rotating drive shaft system (28) and couplings (30) are monitored in real time. The vehicular shaft coupling misalignment measuring system utilizes multiple positional sensors (40) to provide highly reliable and precise determination of the dynamic characteristics of the rotating sensor target components of the propulsion system drive shaft (28). The relative position of the sensors (40) is rigidly fixed externally from the rotating targets with a structural frame. The misalignment measuring system provides a misalignment measurement of the propulsion system drive shaft flexible coupling which relates to a critical performance of rotating shaft (28) coupling in the operating of an aircraft vehicle (20). The method/system provides for monitoring a rotating drive shaft system and dynamically measuring a rotating drive shaft coupling in a fixed wing aircraft propulsion system (22).
Abstract:
A rotary wing aircraft including a vehicle vibration control system. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotating hub mounted vibration control system, the rotating hub mounted vibration control system mounted to the rotating rotary wing hub with the rotating hub mounted vibration control system rotating with the rotating rotary wing hub. The vehicle vibration control system includes a rotary wing aircraft member sensor for outputting rotary wing aircraft member data correlating to the relative rotation of the rotating rotary wing hub member rotating relative to the nonrotating body, at least a first nonrotating body vibration sensor, the at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor outputting at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor data correlating to vibrations, at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator, the at least a first nonrotating body circular force generator fixedly coupled with the nonrotating body, a distributed force generation data communications network link, the distributed force generation data communications system network link linking together at least the first nonrotating body circular force generator and the rotating hub mounted vibration control system wherein the rotating hub mounted vibration control system and the first nonrotating body circular force generator communicate force generation vibration control data through the distributed force generation data communications network, the at least first nonrotating body circular force generator controlled to produce a rotating force with a controllable rotating force magnitude and a controllable rotating force phase, the controllable rotating force magnitude controlled from a minimal force magnitude up to a maximum force magnitude, and with the controllable rotating force phase controlled in reference to the rotary wing aircraft member sensor data correlating to the relative rotation of the rotating rotary wing hubrotating relative to the nonrotating body wherein the vibration sensed by the at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor is reduced.
Abstract:
An aircraft (20) with at least one rotating machine (22) including: a power source (26), outputting a plurality of electromagnetic force generator power outputs, an aerostructure (24) including a plurality of distributed actiye vibration control system sites, at least a first distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator (30), including a first distributed electronic control system (32) and a first electromagnetically driven mass (34), the first force generator fixed to the aerostructure at a first site (28), at least a second distributed active vibration electromagnetic force generator including a second distributed electronic control system and a second electromagnetically driven mass, the second force generator fixed to the aerostructure at a second site, a plurality of electrical power distribution lines (40), connecting the electromagnetic force generators with the power source-with the power outputs outputted to the electromagnetic force generators, a distributed force generator data communications network (50) linking together the at least first. and second distributed electronic control systems wherein the control systems communicate force generator vibration control data through the distributed force generator data communications network independently of the electrical power distribution lines to minimize the troublesome vibrations.
Abstract:
A pumping system includes an output conduit associated with an output of a positive displacement pump, a first sensor configured to measure a fluid flow characteristic (FFC) within the output conduit, a second sensor configured to measure a phase of the positive displacement pump, a feedforward active controller configured to receive information related to the FFC, receive information related to the phase of the positive displacement pump, and determine an FFC variability value, and a first fluid flow normalizer (FFN) configured to at least one of add fluid to the output of the positive displacement pump and remove fluid from the output of the positive displacement pump in response to a signal from the feedforward active controller.
Abstract:
Rotary wing aircraft electronic control system including a tachometer (552) and a plurality of nonrotating body vibration control sensors (554) outputting at least first nonrotating body vibration sensor data correlating to vibrations. The system includes a plurality of nonrotating body force generators (530) to input a vibration control force into said nonrotating aerostructure body. The system includes a data communications network link (150) linking together the nonrotating body force generators the tachometer sensor, the vibration control sensors, and an actuating force generator rotor track balance electronic controller (411), the actuating force generator rotor track balance electronic controller including at least a first computer processor with the actuating force generator rotor track controller controlling the nonrotating body force generators to input vibration control forces into the nonrotating aerostructure body and computing a rotor track solution for aircraft rotor blades.
Abstract:
A resonant inertial force generator for controlling vibrations of a structure includes a compliant spring comprising a stack of flexures and elastomeric shims in alternating arrangement, a driven inertial mass coupled to the compliant spring to generate a vibration controlling force.
Abstract:
A vehicle (520) a nonrotating vehicle body (524), a rotating machine member (522), and including a vehicle vibration control system (409), the vehicle vibration control system including a controller (411), a vehicle rotating machine member sensor (552) for inputting vehicle rotating machine member data correlating to the relative rotation of the vehicle rotating machine member rotating relative to the nonrotating vehicle body into the vehicle vibration control system controller, at least a first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor (554), for inputting at least first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor data correlating to vehicle vibrations into the controller, at least a first nonrotating vehicle body circular force generator (530), fixedly coupled with the nonrotating vehicle body and controlled to produce a rotating force with a controllable rotating force magnitude and a controllable rotating force phase, wherein the vehicle vibration sensed by the at least first nonrotating vehicle body vibration sensor is reduced.
Abstract:
Systems and methods are disclosed herein that include providing an active torsion damper control system that includes a rotatable component (206) and a rotatable measurement interface (302) disposed on the rotatable component, the rotatable measurement interface having at least one torsional strain gauge configured to measure a strain of the rotatable component, a torque management (306) computer configured to determine a resonant frequency of the rotatable component and a corrective torque needed to be applied to the rotatable component to excite the resonant frequency as a function of the measured strain, and a correction motor (308) configured to impart the corrective torque on the rotatable component.