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US 2018/0020618 A1Published application
Flex bar system for mass vibration systems in changing spatial orientation using magnetostrictive actuator
AssigneeWestside Equipment Co.
InventorLloyd Snell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for inducing (harmonic) vibration of objects having a large mass(es), such as the trunk of a fruit or nut tree, the crop of which may be harvested by shaking the tree through the induced vibration. Linear and radial embodiments utilize and include an actuator using Terfenol-D, a magnetostrictive actuator. Alternative embodiments utilize a piston rod actuator.
Claims34
An apparatus for vibrating a large mass comprising:
- a. a first reaction mass comprising a spline;
- b. a primary flexible bar member provided in said spline, said primary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and further comprising a central section having a central mount and a spherical contact area located thereon, wherein said end mounts are engaged with a second reaction mass and said central mount is engaged with said spline;
- c. a plurality of secondary flexible bar members provided in said spline, each secondary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with second mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, each secondary bar member further comprising a central section having a second central mount located thereon, wherein said second end mounts are engaged with said second reaction mass, and said second central mounts are engaged with said spline;
- d. a compression plug provided in said frame anchored to said second reaction mass, said plug having a spherical outer surface thereon;
- e. an elongated magnetostrictive actuator rod having a first hardened endcap at one end thereof, and a second hardened endcap at an opposite end thereof, the outer surface of each such endcap having a complementary spherical surface located thereon, wherein said actuator rod is mounted between said primary flexible bar member and said compression plug such that the spherical area of said first endcap is in communication with the complementary spherical contact area on said primary bar member, and the spherical surface of said second endcap is in communication with the complementary spherical surface of said compression plug.
2 more elements
An apparatus for vibrating a large mass comprising:
- a. a first reaction mass;
- b. a second reaction mass interlocking with and opposing said first reaction mass but spaced apart therefrom;
- c. a first flexible bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and a central section having a central mount and a spherical contact area located thereon, wherein the end mounts of said first flexible bar are engaged with said second reaction mass;
- d. a second flexible bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and a central section having a central mount and a spherical contact area located thereon, wherein said end mounts of said second flexible bar are engaged with said first reaction mass;
- e. an elongated magnetostrictive actuator rod having a first hardened endcap at one end thereof, and a second hardened endcap at an opposite end thereof, the outer surface of each such endcap having a complementary spherical surface located thereon, wherein said actuator rod is mounted between said first and second reaction masses such that the spherical area of said first endcap is in communication with the complementary spherical contact area on said first flexible bar member, and the spherical surface of said second endcap is in communication with the complementary spherical surface of said second flexible bar member.
2 more elements
An apparatus for vibrating a large mass comprising:
- a. a spline;
- b. a primary flexible bar member provided in said spline, each first bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and further comprising a central section having a central mount located thereon, wherein said end mounts are engaged with a first reaction mass and said central mount is engaged with a second reaction mass;
- c. a plurality of secondary flexible bar members provided in said spline, said second bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and further comprising a central section having a second central mount and a contact area located thereon, wherein said second end mounts are engaged with said spline, and said second central mount is engaged with said second reaction mass;
- d. a single acting hydraulic cylinder with a spherical surface at one end engaged with the spherical surface of the primary flexible bar member, which is connected to the spline, with the other end of the hydraulic cylinder secured to the second reaction mass.
1 more element
An apparatus for vibrating a large mass comprising:
- a. a first reaction mass comprising a spline;
- b. a primary flexible bar member provided in said spline, said primary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and further comprising a central section having a central mount and a convex contact area located thereon, wherein said end mounts are engaged with a second reaction mass and said central mount is engaged with said spline;
- c. a plurality of secondary flexible bar members provided in said spline, each secondary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with second mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, each secondary bar member further comprising a central section having a second central mount located thereon, wherein said second end mounts are engaged with said second reaction mass, and said second central mounts are engaged with said spline;
- d. a compression plug provided in said frame anchored to said second reaction mass, said plug having a convex outer surface thereon;
- e. an elongated magnetostrictive actuator rod having a first hardened endcap at one end thereof, and a second hardened endcap at an opposite end thereof, the outer surface of each such endcap having a complementary concave surface located thereon, wherein said actuator rod is mounted between said primary flexible bar member and said compression plug such that the concave area of said first endcap is in communication with the complementary convex contact area on said primary bar member, and the concave surface of said second endcap is in communication with the complementary convex surface of said compression plug.
2 more elements
An apparatus for vibrating a large mass comprising:
- a. a first reaction mass comprising a spline;
- b. a primary flexible bar member provided in said spline, said primary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and further comprising a central section having a central mount and a concave contact area located thereon, wherein said end mounts are engaged with a second reaction mass and said central mount is engaged with said spline;
- c. a plurality of secondary flexible bar members provided in said spline, each secondary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with second mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, each secondary bar member further comprising a central section having a second central mount located thereon, wherein said second end mounts are engaged with said second reaction mass, and said second central mounts are engaged with said spline;
- d. a compression plug provided in said frame anchored to said second reaction mass, said plug having a concave outer surface thereon;
- e. an elongated magnetostrictive actuator rod having a first hardened endcap at one end thereof, and a second hardened endcap at an opposite end thereof, the outer surface of each such endcap having a complementary convex surface located thereon, wherein said actuator rod is mounted between said primary flexible bar member and said compression plug such that the convex area of said first endcap is in communication with the complementary concave contact area on said primary bar member, and the convex surface of said second endcap is in communication with the complementary concave surface of said compression plug.
2 more elements
An apparatus for vibrating a large mass comprising:
- a. a first reaction mass comprising a spline;
- b. a primary flexible bar member provided in said spline, said primary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, and further comprising a central section having a central mount and a spherical contact area located thereon, wherein said end mounts are engaged with a second reaction mass and said central mount is engaged with said spline;
- c. a plurality of secondary flexible bar members provided in said spline, each secondary bar member comprising an elongated flexible body with mounts provided at opposite ends thereof, each secondary bar member further comprising a central section having a central mount located thereon, wherein said end mounts are engaged with said second reaction mass, and said central mounts are engaged with said spline;
- d. a hydraulic actuator rod having a first hardened endcap at one end thereof, and a piston at the opposite end thereof, the actuator rod being secured inside a hydraulic cylinder that is mounted to second said mass.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.