Rotating shaft damping with electro-rheological fluid
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorsBrian S. M. Modrezejewski, Steven Spears
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Some examples of rotating shaft damping with electro-rheological fluid can be implemented as a method. At least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft is surrounded with multiple hollow members. Each hollow member includes an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid. A vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft is controlled by changing the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid.
Claims22
A method of damping vibrations in a rotorcraft rotating shaft, the method comprising:
- surrounding at least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft with a plurality of hollow members, each hollow member including an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid;
- controlling a vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft by changing the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid;
- and
- controlling the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft by controlling a stiffness of an electromagnetic bearing positioned between the rotorcraft rotating shaft and the plurality of follow members.
A radial damper assembly comprising:
- a ring-shaped outer housing;
- a plurality of hollow members positioned within the outer housing to surround at least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft, each hollow member including an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid;
- a network of wires arranged in columns or rows of alternating polarity that are positioned in and distributed throughout the electro-rheological fluid;
- and
- an electromagnetic bearing having a variable stiffness positioned between the plurality of hollow members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft.
A radial damper system comprising:
- a radial damper assembly comprising a plurality of hollow members surrounding at least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft, each hollow member including an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid;
- an electromagnetic bearing positioned between the plurality of hollow members and the portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft, the electromagnetic bearing having a variable stiffness;
- and
- a vibration control system to control a vibration of the rotating shaft by changing at least one of the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid or the stiffness of the electromagnetic bearing.
A radial damper assembly comprising:
- a ring-shaped outer housing;
- and
- a plurality of hollow members positioned within the outer housing to surround at least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft, each hollow member including an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid;
- a network of wires positioned in the electro-rheological fluid;
- a bearing positioned between the plurality of hollow members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft, wherein the bearing is an electromagnetic bearing having a variable stiffness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.