Propeller-controlled active tuned-liquid-column damper

Abstract

A propeller controlled active tuned-liquid-column damper (TLCD), which can control and suppress the vibration thereof, such as building, tower, bridge, vehicle, ship, offshore platform, facilities, and instrument, etc. This invention is composed of a passive TLCD, one or more propellers, a gear-shaft unit, a servo-motor, and a computer-control system. One or more propellers are installed in a line along the gear-shaft unit inside the horizontal section of the U-shape vessel, the propellers are driven by a servo-motor controlled by the computer-control system which start the servo-motor to drive the propellers immediately. Both fluid (or water) acceleration and the propellers′ thrust can yield the resistance force to increase the vibration-control ability significantly. The natural period of an open TLCD can be adjusted by only changing the wetted length, whereas a closed TLCD can be adjusted by changing the wetted length, air pressure and air volume in the air chamber.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.