Device for damping vibrations

#1. Field of the Invention

#The invention relates to a device for damping vibrations, which is attachable to a mechanical structure or integratable therein, having at least one mass, which is indirectly or directly operationally linked to the structure via elastic means, and at least one actuator for changing a stiffness which can be associated with the elastic means.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#The invention is described for exemplary purposes hereafter without restriction of the general idea of the invention on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

#FIG. 1 shows a replacement circuit diagram for an autonomous-power adaptive vibration damper;

#FIG. 2 shows a preferred exemplary embodiment for implementing an adaptively operating vibration damper; and

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic replacement circuit diagram for an autonomous-power adaptive vibration damper, which is to damp a vibrating structure 1 as effectively as possible. The vibration damper has a damper mass 2 for this purpose, which is connected via elastic means 3, for example, in the form of a spring element and/or spring system, to the structure 1. The elastic means 3 have an elasticity and/or stiffness which are variably settable. The further exemplary embodiments will show how specifically a variable elasticity setting of the elastic means of this type may be implemented. In addition, achievements which are known per se from the prior art may be used. Moreover, an electrical power source 4 is provided, which is capable of converting the relative vibration movement of the damper mass 2 relative to the vibrating structure 1 into electrical power. In the replacement circuit diagram in FIG. 1, this is illustrated in that the electrical power source 4 is operationally linked between the structure 1 and the damper mass 2, preferably attached along the elastic means 3, as may also be inferred from the specific exemplary embodiments described hereafter. The electrical power generated with the aid of the electrical power source 4 is stored and/or buffered in the illustrated replacement circuit diagram in a power accumulator 5 and finally relayed for the electrical power supply via a supply line 9 to the following electrical components: thus, a regulating unit 6 is provided, in which sensor signals of a vibration sensor 7, which detects the vibration state of the structure 1 and is connected directly thereto for this purpose, are analyzed on the basis of a vibration damping rule and/or a vibration damping algorithm for the most optimized possible vibration damping, finally activation signals are generated for an actuator 8, which are capable of deliberately influencing the elasticity and/or stiffness of the elastic means 3.

#The vibration damper according to the achievement of the object, which is schematically shown in FIG. 1, corresponds to a purely mechanically operating damper system, whose goal is to have the damper mass 2, which is coupled freely-vibrating via the elastic means 3 to the mechanical structure 1, oscillate at a vibration frequency, whereby as much vibration energy as possible may be withdrawn from the vibrating structure 1. To set the optimal damper frequency for this purpose, an active regulation of the elasticity and/or stiffness of the elastic means 3 in the course of a control circuit is needed, which is composed of the vibration sensor 7, the regulating unit 6, and the actuator 8. The electrical components contained in the control circuit require the electrical power supply which is schematically shown via the electrical supply line 9, however. The electrical power needed for this purpose is autonomously obtained as explained above, that is, without supply of external power within the damper system implemented according to the invention.

#FIG. 2 shows a specific exemplary embodiment of a damper implemented according to the invention. The illustrated components in FIG. 2 only showing the structure 1, whose vibrations are to be damped, the damper mass 2, the elastic means 3, the actuator 8, and the electrical power source 4.