Pump drivetrain damper system and control systems and methods for same

A damper system for a fluid pump, the damper system comprising:

• a housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber configured to receive a magnetorheological fluid therein;
• a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber and adapted to be operably coupled to a crankshaft of the fluid pump;
• and
• a magnetic device secured to the housing and positioned proximate to the flywheel;
• wherein the magnetic device applies a variable drag force to the flywheel to reduce vibration in the fluid pump when the magnetorheological fluid is received in the fluid chamber, the flywheel is operably coupled to the crankshaft, and the magnetic device is energized;
• wherein the damper system further comprises:
• a first plurality of permanent magnets connected to the housing, the first plurality of magnets having respective first poles;
• and
• a second plurality of permanent magnets either connected to the flywheel or adapted to be connected to the crankshaft, the second plurality of permanent magnets having respective second poles;
• and
• wherein each of the respective first poles is adapted to interact with a corresponding one of the respective second poles.

A method of dampening vibrations in a fluid pump drivetrain, the method comprising:

• receiving a first signal from a sensor in response to sensing a characteristic of the fluid pump drivetrain;
• sending a second signal to an electromagnet in response to receiving the first signal;
• and
• varying a charge of the electromagnet, in response to the electromagnet receiving the second signal, to generate a magnetic field to vary a characteristic of a magnetorheological fluid disposed in a fluid chamber,
• wherein the electromagnet is positioned proximate to a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber,
• wherein, in response to varying the charge of the electromagnet, the magnetorheological fluid applies a varying force to the flywheel, and
• wherein the method further comprises applying a steady force to the flywheel using the magnetorheological fluid disposed in the fluid chamber by interacting a permanent magnet positioned proximate to the flywheel with the magnetorheological fluid.

A damper system for a fluid pump, the damper system comprising:

• first and second annular extensions spaced in a parallel relation;
• a fluid chamber at least partially defined by the first and second annular extensions, wherein the fluid chamber is configured to receive a magnetorheological fluid therein;
• a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber and adapted to be operably coupled to a crankshaft of the fluid pump;
• and
• an electromagnet positioned so that the first annular extension is positioned between the electromagnet and the flywheel;
• and
• a permanent magnet positioned proximate to the flywheel so that, when the magnetorheological fluid is received in the fluid chamber, the permanent magnet interacts with the magnetorheological fluid to apply a steady force to the flywheel.

A damper system for a fluid pump, the damper system comprising:

• first and second annular extensions spaced in a parallel relation;
• a fluid chamber at least partially defined by the first and second annular extensions, wherein the fluid chamber is configured to receive a magnetorheological fluid therein;
• a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber and adapted to be operably coupled to a crankshaft of the fluid pump;
• first and second electromagnets positioned so that:
• either the first annular extension or the second annular extension is positioned between the first electromagnet and the flywheel, either the first annular extension or the second annular extension is positioned between the second electromagnet and the flywheel, and the first and second electromagnets are radially offset from each other relative to a central axis of the flywheel;
• and
• a permanent magnet positioned proximate to the flywheel so that, when the magnetorheological fluid is received in the fluid chamber, the permanent magnet interacts with the magnetorheological fluid to apply a steady force to the flywheel.

A damper system for a fluid pump, the damper system comprising:

• a housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber configured to receive a magnetorheological fluid therein;
• a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber and adapted to be operably coupled to a crankshaft of the fluid pump;
• and
• first and second magnetic devices secured to the housing and positioned proximate to the flywheel;
• wherein the first and second magnetic devices are radially offset from each other relative to a central axis of the flywheel and are configured to apply a variable drag force to the flywheel to reduce vibration in the fluid pump when the magnetorheological fluid is received in the fluid chamber, the flywheel is operably coupled to the crankshaft, and the first and second magnetic devices are energized;
• wherein the housing comprises parallel-spaced first and second annular extensions;
• wherein the first and second annular extensions of the housing at least partially define the fluid chamber;
• wherein the first magnetic device comprises a first electromagnet positioned so that the first annular extension and/or the second annular extension is positioned between the first electromagnet and a flanged portion of the flywheel;
• wherein the second magnetic device comprises a second electromagnet positioned so that the first annular extension and/or the second annular extension is positioned between the second electromagnet and the flanged portion of the flywheel;
• and
• wherein the damper system further comprises a permanent magnet positioned proximate to the flywheel so that, when the magnetorheological fluid is received in the fluid chamber, the permanent magnet interacts with the magnetorheological fluid to apply a steady force to the flywheel.

A method of dampening vibrations in a fluid pump drivetrain, the method comprising:

• receiving a first signal from a sensor in response to sensing a characteristic of the fluid pump drivetrain;
• sending a second signal to at least one of a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet in response to receiving the first signal;
• and
• varying a charge of the at least one of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, in response to the at least one of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet receiving the second signal, to generate a magnetic field to vary a characteristic of a magnetorheological fluid disposed in a fluid chamber,
• wherein the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet are positioned proximate to a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber and are radially offset from each other relative to a central axis of the flywheel,
• wherein, in response to varying the charge of the at least one of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, the magnetorheological fluid applies a force to the flywheel, and
• wherein the method further comprises applying a steady force to the flywheel using the magnetorheological fluid received in the fluid chamber by interacting a permanent magnet positioned proximate to the flywheel with the magnetorheological fluid.