Apparatus and method for attenuation of fluid-borne noise

Abstract

In many hydraulic systems, fluid-borne noise is generated during operation due to the effects of the hydraulic pump. This fluid-borne noise is then transmitted to the hydraulic valves, hydraulic lines, and other structure that valves and lines are mounted on. These structures then emit vibrations that create the largest portion of the system air-borne noise. In the subject invention, an apparatus is provided for the attenuation of fluid-borne noise in a hydraulic system. The apparatus includes a mechanism for effectively sensing the flow ripple produced by the pump and a mechanism for transmitting a signal (C) representative of the flow ripple to a negative ripple generator which provides a corrective flow to the hydraulic system to cancel the flow ripple. By eliminating the flow ripple in the hydraulic system, the associated air-borne noise that is created by various components that are associated with the hydraulic system is attenuated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.