# US 10,870,483 B2 · Anti-vibration suspension device for a mechanical element, and an aircraft > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,870,483 B2 - Document ID: US10870483B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/920,647 - Filed: 2018-03-14 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-16 - Assignees: Airbus Helicopters - Applicants: Airbus Helicopters - Inventors: Jeremy Jouve - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870483B2 ## CPC - B64C 27/001: {Vibration damping devices} - F16F 7/1005: {characterised by active control of the mass} - F16F 7/1011: {by electromagnetic means} - F16F 7/104: the inertia member being resiliently mounted {(F16F7/1022 takes precedence)} - F16F 7/116: on metal springs - B64C 2027/002: {mounted between the rotor drive and the fuselage} - B64C 2027/004: {using actuators, e.g. active systems} - B64C 2027/005: {using suspended masses} - F16F 2222/08: Inertia - F16F 2228/04: Frequency effects - F16F 2230/18: Control arrangements - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A suspension device provided with at least one suspension means. The suspension means comprise a tuned mass damper, the damper comprising an inertial mass carried by a mass support. The suspension means include at least a first actuator generating a dynamic force for acting on the swinging motion of the damper. The inertial mass being movable longitudinally in translation relative to the mass support, the suspension device including a second actuator connected to the inertial mass to move the inertial mass longitudinally relative to the mass support. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anti-vibration suspension device for a mechanical assembly, the suspension device provided with at least one suspension means, the suspension means comprising a tuned mass damper that performs swinging motion, the tuned mass damper comprising a mass support and an inertial mass carried by the mass support, the suspension means including at least a first actuator generating dynamic forces to act on a swinging motion of the tuned mass damper, the suspension device having at least first calculation means controlling the first actuator, the first calculation means connected to a measurement system measuring a vibratory response in order to adjust the swinging motion, wherein the inertial mass is movable longitudinally in translation relative to the mass support, the suspension device including a second actuator that is connected to the inertial mass to move the inertial mass longitudinally relative to the mass support, the suspension device including second calculation means controlling the second actuator in order to adjust a position of the inertial mass relative to the mass support, wherein the first actuator is electromagnetic and comprises at least one magnetized member and at least one electric coil, the at least one magnetized member or the at least one coil secured to the inertial mass, the first actuator is configured to excite the tuned mass damper to cause the swinging motion, wherein the inertial mass comprises at least one solid that is longitudinally slidable along the coil, the solid including the at least one magnetized member, the at least one magnetized member positioned facing the at least one coil, wherein the solid presents at least one opening having a longitudinal segment of the coil pass therethrough, wherein the magnetized member comprises a magnetized face of the inertial mass, and the at least one opening is defined at least in part by the magnetized face. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the first actuator comprises a movable member and a stationary member, the movable member integrated in the inertial mass so as to be constrained to move in translation with the inertial mass, the stationary member configured for fastening to components other than the suspension means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one coil describes a closed loop around an empty space, the coil presenting two longitudinal segments connected together by two transverse branches, the solid presenting at least two openings separated transversely by a partition of the solid, the two longitudinal segments passing respectively through the two openings and arranged transversely on either side of the partition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening extends in elevation over a minimum height and the at least one coil extends in elevation over a maximum dimension in elevation, the minimum height is greater than the sum of the maximum dimension in elevation plus a predetermined stroke in elevation for the mass support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The suspension device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening extends longitudinally over a maximum length and the at least one coil extends longitudinally over a minimum longitudinal dimension, the minimum longitudinal dimension is greater than the sum of the maximum length plus a predetermined longitudinal stroke for the inertial mass. ### Claim 6 An anti-vibration suspension device for a mechanical assembly, the suspension device provided with at least one suspension means, the suspension means comprising a tuned mass damper that performs swinging motion, the tuned mass damper comprising a mass support and an inertial mass carried by the mass support, the suspension means including at least a first actuator generating dynamic forces to act on a swinging motion of the tuned mass damper, the suspension device having at least first calculation means controlling the first actuator, the first calculation means connected to a measurement system measuring a vibratory response in order to adjust the swinging motion, wherein the inertial mass is movable longitudinally in translation relative to the mass support, the suspension device including a second actuator that is connected to the inertial mass to move the inertial mass longitudinally relative to the mass support, the suspension device including second calculation means controlling the second actuator in order to adjust a position of the inertial mass relative to the mass support, wherein the first actuator comprises at least one magnetized member and at least one electric coil, the at least one magnetized member or the at least one coil secured to the inertial mass, wherein the inertial mass comprises at least one solid that is longitudinally slidable along the coil, the solid including the at least one magnetized member, the at least one magnetized member positioned facing the at least one coil, wherein the solid presents at least one opening having a longitudinal segment of the coil pass therethrough, wherein the magnetized member comprises a magnetized face of the inertial mass, and the at least one opening is defined at least in part by the magnetized face. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the second actuator comprises a motor connected by a screw-and-nut system to the inertial mass. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the second calculation means are connected to a measurement unit, the measurement unit transmitting at least one data value to the second actuator that represents a speed of rotation of a rotor that excites the mechanical assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the first calculation means is configured to apply a minimizing algorithm, the vibratory response is injected into the minimizing algorithm, and the minimizing algorithm delivering a first control signal for controlling the first actuator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the second calculation means is configured to apply an algorithm delivering a second control signal for the second actuator as a function of a speed of rotation of a rotor that excites the mechanical assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) An aircraft provided with a carrier structure and a mechanical assembly comprising a rotor and a main power transmission gearbox driving the rotor in rotation, the mechanical assembly including at least one suspension bar extending from a high end hinged to the main power transmission gearbox (MGB) to a low end, wherein the aircraft includes a suspension device according to claim 6, at least one low end of a suspension bar is hinged to suspension means of the suspension device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The aircraft according to claim 11, wherein each suspension bar is hinged to suspension means that are specific thereto. ### Claim 13 An anti-vibration suspension device for a mechanical assembly, the suspension device provided with at least one suspension means, the suspension means comprising a tuned mass damper that performs swinging motion, the tuned mass damper comprising a mass support and an inertial mass carried by the mass support, the suspension means including at least a first actuator generating dynamic forces to act on a swinging motion of the tuned mass damper, the suspension device having at least first calculation means controlling the first actuator, the first calculation means connected to a measurement system measuring a vibratory response in order to adjust the swinging motion, wherein the inertial mass is movable longitudinally in translation relative to the mass support, the suspension device including a second actuator that is connected to the inertial mass to move the inertial mass longitudinally relative to the mass support, the suspension device including second calculation means controlling the second actuator in order to adjust a position of the inertial mass relative to the mass support, wherein the first actuator comprises at least one magnetized member and at least one electric coil, the at least one magnetized member or the at least one coil secured to the inertial mass, wherein the inertial mass comprises at least one solid that is longitudinally slidable along the coil, the solid including the at least one magnetized member, the at least one magnetized member positioned facing the at least one coil, wherein the solid presents at least one opening having a longitudinal segment of the coil pass therethrough, wherein the at least one coil describes a closed loop around an empty space, the coil presenting two longitudinal segments connected together by two transverse branches, the solid presenting at least two openings separated transversely by a partition of the solid, the two longitudinal segments passing respectively through the two openings and arranged transversely on either side of the partition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suspension device according to claim 13, wherein the first actuator comprises a movable member and a stationary member, the movable member integrated in the inertial mass so as to be constrained to move in translation with the inertial mass, the stationary member configured for fastening to components other than the suspension means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the inertial mass comprises two solids co-operating respectively with two coils of the first actuator. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the first actuator comprises a movable member and a stationary member, the movable member integrated in the inertial mass so as to be constrained to move in translation with the inertial mass, the stationary member configured for fastening to components other than the suspension means. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the first actuator does not displace a mass. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one coil describes a closed loop around an empty space, the coil presenting two longitudinal segments connected together by two transverse branches, the solid presenting at least two openings separated transversely by a partition of the solid, the two longitudinal segments passing respectively through the two openings and arranged transversely on either side of the partition. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one opening extends in elevation over a minimum height and the at least one coil extends in elevation over a maximum dimension in elevation, the minimum height is greater than the sum of the maximum dimension in elevation plus a predetermined stroke in elevation for the mass support. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) The suspension device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one opening extends longitudinally over a maximum length and the at least one coil extends longitudinally over a minimum longitudinal dimension, the minimum longitudinal dimension is greater than the sum of the maximum length plus a predetermined longitudinal stroke for the inertial mass.