Method and apparatus for continuously suppressing unwanted rotational phenomena in a rotating body

For a rotating body having at least two known massed movably affixed to the rotating body on opposite sides of the center of mass of the rotating body, the masses being selectively and individually movable radially over a range and angularly over substantially 360 degrees, both with respect to the axis of rotation of the body, a method of achieving in-place dynamic balance of the body with respect to the axis of rotation of said body while it is rotating, comprising the steps:

• (a) positioning at least two force measuring devices in positions on opposite sides of the center of mass of said body where they can each measure, at their respective positions, the dynamic forces exerted by the body with reference to the axis of rotation,
• (b) comparing the respective force measurements of said devices to determine if a dynamic imbalance exists,
• (c) if an imbalance exists, comparing the magnitude of the imbalance with a pre-selected threshold value,
• (d) if an imbalance exists and its magnitude exceeds the threshold value, determining a trial variation of the magnitude and phase of the moment of inertia of the body,
• (e) moving at least one of the known masses in its respective radial plane of movement to affect the trail variation,
• (f) noting all changes and/or absence of changes in the dynamic forces being measured,
• (g) returning the mass moved for the trial variation to its original position,
• (h) calculating from the noted changes and/or absence of changes the respective radial and angular positions at which the known masses would offset the imbalance, and
• (i) moving the known masses to their respective calculated positions.

For a rotating body having at least two known masses movably affixed to the rotating body on opposite sides of the center of mass of the rotating body, the masses being selectively and individually movable radially over a range and angularly over substantially 360 degrees, both with respect to the axis of rotation of the body, a method of maintaining in-place dynamic balance of the body with respect to the axis of rotation of said body while it is rotating, comprising the steps:

• (a) positioning at least two force measuring devices in different positions on opposite sides of the center of mass of said body where they can each measure, at their respective positions, the dynamic forces exerted by the body with reference to the axis of rotation,
• (b) continuously comparing the respective force measurements of said devices to determine if a dynamic imbalance exists,
• (c) if an imbalance exists, comparing the magnitude of the imbalance with a pre-selected threshold value,
• (d) if an imbalance exists and its magnitude exceeds the threshold value, determining a trial variation of the magnitude and phase of the moment of inertia of the body,
• (e) if an imbalance exists and its magnitude does not exceed the threshold value, then repeating step (b),
• (f) moving at least one of the known masses in its respective radial plane of movement to affect the trial variation,
• (g) noting all changes and/or absence of changes in the dynamic forces being measured,
• (h) returning the mass moved for the trial variation to its original position,
• (i) calculating from the noted changes and/or absence of changes the respective radial and angular positions at which the known masses would offset the imbalance,
• (j) moving the known masses to their respective calculated positions, and
• (k) repeating step (b).