Abstract: A method of controlling the vibration of a vibratory separator, the method including providing a vibratory separator having a frame and a plurality of force generators coupled to the frame and a control unit operatively connected to each of the plurality of force generators, and independently controlling each of the plurality of force generators. Independently controlling each of the plurality of force generators controls a motion profile of the vibratory separator.

Abstract: Apparatus having a base, a separator housing movably connected with the base, the separator housing including a top having an inlet chute, a bottom having a liquid discharge chute, a cylindrical sidewall defining an axial centerline and having a discharge spout, and at least one screen mounted within the separator housing. A vacuum system proximate the at least one screen may also be incorporated. The apparatus further includes at least one circular force generator (CFG) disposed on the separator housing, and at least one sensor positioned on the apparatus for measuring an operating function associated with and enabled by the vibration profile, and a controller in electronic communication with the sensor and with the at least one CFG. The difference between the measured operating function and the prescribed operating function is reduced. The apparatus may also include at least one CFG having a plurality of imbalanced masses which rotate in a plane parallel the axial centerline.

Abstract: Vibration control systems, devices, and methods are provided for a rotary wing aircraft having a rotor including a plurality of blades (20) each attached to a hub (10) at its root end and capable of pitching with respect to the hub (10). The systems, devices, and methods include a blade pitch adjuster (100) that is passively adjustable in response to aerodynamic loading on the plurality of blades (20) to adjust a pitch of one of the plurality of blades (20) with respect to the hub (10) based on a frequency of the aerodynamic loading. The blade pitch adjusters (100) can be configured to exhibit relatively high stiffness at the rotor rotating frequency and tailored dynamics at frequencies higher than the rotor rotating frequency such that hub loads at one or more higher harmonics are reduced.

Abstract: Circular force generator (CFG) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed having indirectly driven imbalanced rotors for generating vibrations and/or imparting vibration control. A CFG device (10) includes a first set of imbalanced rotors (12) disposed about a center point and a second set of imbalanced rotors (12) disposed about the center point. The first set of imbalanced rotors is configured to co-rotate synchronously. The second set of imbalanced rotors is configured to co-rotate synchronously. The first and second sets of imbalanced rotors are configured to create a controllable rotating force vector having a controllable magnitude and phase about the center point. A CFG system includes a controller and one or more CFG devices configured to receive control commands from the controller. A method of generating a force via a CFG device includes receiving a force command and generating a force in response to receiving the force command.

Abstract: A non-contacting torquemeter capable of measuring torque in a rotating shaft with improved accuracy in the presence of relative motion between a rotating shaft and a transducer assembly is provided. The non-contacting torquemeter has improved robustness and reliability, and is able to self-calibrate. The non-contacting torquemeter is able to provide accurate torque measurements using a single transducer assembly positioned at a single azimuthal position on a rotating shaft.

Abstract: A torsional isolator (200, 300, 400) designed to reduce vibrations and shock experienced by electronics used during directional drilling is disclosed. The torsional isolator allows the drillstring electronics to oscillate at a slower rotational velocity than the data acquisition rate of associated sensors, such that the sensors record an average value of the azimuth heading thereby allowing for a higher accuracy measurement of the azimuth heading. The sample rate of the sensors is such that the sensors maximum error is reduced by the torsional isolator, as the output angular displacements are lower than the input angular displacements.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft including a vehicle vibration control system.

Abstract: Active noise and vibration control (ANVC) systems and methods are provided. The systems and methods include providing sensors configured to detect vibration of a structure and a controller in electrical communication with the sensors. The controller includes a hardware processor and a memory element configured to process the vibration detected by the sensors, generate a force control command signal, and output the force control command signal via an interface. The systems and methods include provisions for at least one circular force generator (CFG) in electrical communication with the controller, the CFG is configured to execute the force control command signal output from the controller and produce a force that substantially cancels the vibration force. In some aspects, one or more CFGs control different vibration frequencies causing unwanted vibrations or acoustical tones. In some aspects, one or more CFG's control unwanted vibrations during some conditions and noise during other conditions.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for directional force weighting of an active vibration control system involve arranging a plurality of force generators in an array, identifying individual component forces corresponding to force outputs of each of the plurality of force generators, determining a combination of the individual component forces that will produce a desired total force vector, and adjusting the outputs of each of the plurality of force generators such that the combination of the individual component forces are at least substantially similar to the desired force vector.

Abstract: The invention provides a system for creating a prescribed vibration profile on a mechanical device comprising a sensor (30) for measuring an operating condition of the mechanical device, a circular force generator CFG (20) for creating a controllable rotating force vector comprising a controllable force magnitude, a controllable force phase and a controllable force frequency, a controller (22) in electronic communication with said sensor and said circular force generator, the controller operably controlling the controllable rotating force vector, wherein the difference between the measured operating condition and a desired operating condition is minimized.

Abstract: Improvements to slip rings (200) and methods for the operation thereof include an improved slip ring assembly (200) that has a stationary element (202), a rotating element (210) rotatable with respect to the stationary (202) element, a bearing assembly coupled between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210), and one or more contact brushes (213) on one of the stationary element (202) or the rotating element (210). In some embodiments, the bearing assembly includes a primary bearing, a secondary bearing, a shear pin coupling the secondary bearing to the primary bearing, and an electrical monitoring circuit (206) in communication with the shear pin. In some embodiments, the one or more contact brushes (213) includes one or more metal fiber brushes constructed of a plurality of metal fibers that are configured to transmit one or more of electrical power or data between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210).

Abstract: A method of controlling the vibration of a vibratory separator, the method including providing a vibratory separator having a frame and a plurality of force generators coupled to the frame and a control unit operatively connected to each of the plurality of force generators, and independently controlling each of the plurality of force generators. Independently controlling each of the plurality of force generators controls a motion profile of the vibratory separator.

Abstract: Hub-mounted active vibration control (HAVC) devices, systems, and related methods are provided. An HAVC device (100) includes a housing (206) having a tolerance ring (600) attached to a rotary hub (702). The tolerance ring can accommodate dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion between dissimilar metals. The HAVC device can also include a plurality of coaxial ring motors (308A, 308B, 310A, 310B) configured to rotate a plurality of imbalance masses for controlling vibration. An HAVC system can further include a de-icing distributor (208) for communicating instructions to one or more heating sources (HS) provided at one or more rotary blades (802) of a vehicle or aircraft. A method of controlling vibratory loads occurring at a moving platform can include providing a moving platform, mounting a vibration control device to a portion of the moving platform, and rotating at least one pair of imbalance masses such that the combined forces of the masses substantially cancel unwanted vibration of the platform.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft including a vehicle vibration control system.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid valve includes a magnetic field generator having at least one electromagnetic coil and at least one magnetic pole having a pole length Lm. The magneto-rheological fluid valve further includes at least one flow channel adjacent to the electromagnetic coil. The at least one flow channel has a gap width g, wherein the ratio Lm/g is greater than or equal to 15.

Abstract: An aircraft rotary wing motion control fluid device providing motion control and with wireless sensing of at least one fluid property inside the fluid device is provided. The wireless sensing system is integrated with at least one of the first and second aircraft rotary wing motion control fluid device bodies. The wireless sensing system includes at least one fluid property sensor in sensing proximity to the at least one fluid chamber and a communications device for wirelessly conveying a measurement made by the at least one fluid property sensor to a remote location.

Abstract: The land vehicle includes a body, a power plant and a plurality of land engagers, the land engagers for engaging land and propelling the land vehicle across land. The land vehicle includes a controllable suspension system, the controllable suspension system for controlling suspension movements between the body and the land engagers. The land vehicle includes a computer system and suspension sensors located proximate the land engagers for measuring suspension parameters representative of suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and outputting a plurality of suspension sensor measurement outputs. The land vehicle includes controllable force suspension members located proximate the land engagers and the suspension sensors, the controllable force suspension members applying suspension travel forces between the body and the land engagers to control the suspension movements.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for controlling problematic vibrations in an aircraft having. The method and system have the ability to cancel problematic rotary wing helicopter vibrations using independent active force generator power and with distributed communications therebetween.

Abstract: The controllable suspension system includes a strut with a magnetorheological fluid damper. The magnetorheological fluid damper includes a longitudinal damper tubular housing having a longitudinally extending axis and an inner wall for containing magnetorheological fluid. The damper includes a piston head movable within the damper tubular housing along a longitudinal length the housing, with the damper piston head providing a first upper variable volume magnetorheological fluid chamber and a second lower variable volume magnetorheological fluid chamber, with a fluid flow gap between the upper and lower fluid chambers, the damper piston having a longitudinal piston rod for supporting the piston head within the housing, with the piston supported within the housing with a piston rod bearing assembly disposed between the housing and the rod, with the piston rod bearing assembly having a piston rod bearing seal interface.

Abstract: The computer programmable system and program product include first program instructions for actively driving a first imbalance mass concentration rotor and a second imbalance mass concentration rotor at a vibration canceling rotation frequency while controlling the rotational position of the first imbalance mass concentration and the second imbalance mass concentration to produce a rotating net force vector to inhibit periodic vibrations. The program product includes second program instructions to opposingly orient the first imbalance mass concentration relative to the second imbalance mass concentration during a starting stopping rotation speed less than the vibration canceling rotation frequency. The system includes a fault mode control protocol for controlling a rotation of the rotors during a sensed failure of the rotating assembly vibration control system.