Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved circular force generator having a housing configured to reduce vibrational forces transmitted to an aircraft structure. Additionally, the disclosed configuration provide the necessary safety redundancies required by the aviation industry. The circular force generator includes mounting point around the exterior of the CFG housing and a central mounting point thereby providing redundant mounting points.

Abstract: An electromagnetic inertial actuator includes a support base and a parallel arrangement of a first flexure part, a voice coil motor part, and a second flexure part. The parallel arrangement is cantilevered from the support base.

Abstract: Improved force generator (FG) devices and methods are provided herein. A FG device (10) includes a housing (16, 18), a shaft (S) centrally disposed within the housing, and multiple imbalance rotors (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) disposed within the housing and provided along the shaft. At least two pairs (PA, PB) of imbalance rotors are provided in a nested configuration with respect to each other along the shaft. The at least two pairs (PA, PB) of imbalance rotors are supported in the nested configuration by large and small bearings (BA, BB). Any two imbalance rotors are paired to rotate together in a same direction according to a desired vibration canceling force. A method of controlling vibration within a structure is provided. The method includes detecting vibration, receiving a force command at a FG device, and pairing any two imbalance masses together and rotating a pair of imbalance masses via the rotors together in a same direction to cancel the detected vibration.

Abstract: Improved vibration damping devices (10), systems, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, damping devices and related methods can be used in single rotor or tandem rotor aircraft. In some aspects, a vibration damping device (10) for use in a vibration damping system of an aircraft can include a housing (10), at least two imbalance masses (42b, 44b) provided in a side-by-side configuration within the housing, and at least two more imbalance masses (40b, 46b) provided in a nested configuration within the housing. In some aspects, devices, systems, and methods include rotating any two imbalance masses provided within the housing in a same direction. Such rotation can result in a linear force for counteracting vibration occurring within the aircraft. In some aspects, devices described herein can include one or more processors for executing commands from a controller within a damping system.

Abstract: Improved circular force generator devices (100), systems, and methods for use in an active vibration control system are disclosed. The present subject matter can include improved rotary actuator devices, systems, and methods in which a center shaft (120) is positioned in a fixed relationship with respect to a component housing (114). At least one movable body can be positioned in the component housing and rotatably coupled to the center shaft by a radial bearing (130), the at least one movable body comprising a motor (110) and at least one eccentric mass (150). With this configuration, the motor can be configured to cause rotation of the movable body about the center shaft to produce a rotating force with a controllable rotating force magnitude and a controllable rotating force phase.

Abstract: A resonant inertial force generator for controlling vibrations of a structure includes a compliant spring comprising a stack of flexures and elastomeric shims in alternating arrangement, a driven inertial mass coupled to the compliant spring to generate a vibration controlling force.

Abstract: An electromagnetic inertial actuator includes a support base and a parallel arrangement of a first flexure part, a voice coil motor part, and a second flexure part. The parallel arrangement is cantilevered from the support base.

Abstract: A controlled equilibrium device comprising a housing; at least one spring, each at least one spring having a spring stiffness; and a load leveling device movable through the housing between a first maximum displacement position and a second maximum displacement position, the load leveling device comprising a deadband displacement zone defined between a first deadband displacement threshold and a second deadband displacement threshold, the displacement required to reach the first and second deadband displacement thresholds being less than the displacement distances required to reach the first and second maximum displacement positions, the at least one spring stiffness being substantially constant when the displacement of the load leveling device is within the deadband zone, the stiffness of the at least one spring being modified to a second stiffness when the load leveling device is equal to or beyond either the first deadband displacement threshold or the second deadband displacement threshold.

Abstract: A controlled equilibrium device comprising a housing; at least one spring, each at least one spring having a spring stiffness; and a load leveling device movable through the housing between a first maximum displacement position and a second maximum displacement position, the load leveling device comprising a deadband displacement zone defined between a first deadband displacement threshold and a second deadband displacement threshold, the displacement required to reach the first and second deadband displacement thresholds being less than the displacement distances required to reach the first and second maximum displacement positions, the at least one spring stiffness being substantially constant when the displacement of the load leveling device is within the deadband zone, the stiffness of the at least one spring being modified to a second stiffness when the load leveling device is equal to or beyond either the first deadband displacement threshold or the second deadband displacement threshold.