Rotor Unbalance Patents (Class 73/66)
  • Patent number: 11927173
    Abstract: A method for compensating an imbalance of a wind rotor of a wind turbine includes applying at least one test-offset to a parameter characterizing a state of the wind rotor, wherein the imbalance depends on the parameter; measuring for the at least one test-offset an acceleration of the wind turbine, wherein the acceleration depends on the imbalance; and determining a compensation-offset based on the measured acceleration, wherein the imbalance is at least partially compensated, when the compensation-offset is applied to the parameter. Furthermore, a corresponding wind turbine includes a control unit configured to carry out the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Kirk Pierce
  • Patent number: 11761856
    Abstract: A method comprising: inspecting an engine during a first period of time to identify damage, the engine being associated with an aircraft; receiving three-dimensional data of one or more components of the engine, the three-dimensional data being generated during the first period of time; determining, during the first period of time, whether the identified damage exceeds a threshold; providing instructions to release the aircraft for operation in a second period of time, subsequent to the first period of time, if the identified damage does not exceed the threshold; and inspecting the received three-dimensional data during the second period of time to measure damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Paul A Flint, Adriano Pulisciano, Bilal M Nasser
  • Patent number: 11698321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a set of balance weights for balancing a rotor particularly of a turbomachine, on which a plurality of balance weights, which are distributed over the periphery, can be arranged for balancing an imbalance. A set of balance weights, in particular plate-shaped weights, with a predetermined number of groups of balance weights, is used for balancing the rotor. Each of the balance weights of every group of balance weights has an identical weight that is assigned to this group and a shape assigned to this group, which differs in basic shape and/or thickness of the balance weights from the balance weights of the other groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: MTU Aero Engines AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Weber, Manfred Feldmann
  • Patent number: 11686288
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for collecting the installation error of the wind vane are provided. The image of the blades of the wind turbine and the outer rotor of the generator is obtained. It is determined whether the wind vane is aligned with the center line of the wind turbine, according to a relationship between the center line of the wind turbine and the orienting plane of the wind vane in the image. In a case that the wind vane is not aligned with the center line of the wind turbine, the deviation angle between the wind vane and the center line of the wind turbine is calculated, and a direction of the wind vane is corrected according to the deviation angle. Therefore, installation errors of the wind vane are accurately determined and corrected, and accuracy is improved for installation of the wind vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Meng Wei, Boyu Yang, Amin Ye
  • Patent number: 11609150
    Abstract: A test stand for testing a bearing with a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring includes a rotatable drive flange for driving the first bearing ring, a holding bearing for supporting the bearing and for introducing a testing force into the bearing, and a drive motor. The holding bearing includes a first support ring arranged to be secured to the second bearing ring, a second support ring secured in a rotationally fixed manner, and an intermediate ring mounted between the first support ring and the second support ring in a relatively rotatable manner. The drive motor is coupled to the intermediate ring for rotating the intermediate ring relative to the first support ring and the second support ring. The bearing may be a wheel bearing of a motor vehicle. The first bearing ring may be an inner ring and the second bearing ring may be an outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Andreas Staudigel, Hermann Reichelt, Klaus Koenig
  • Patent number: 11578695
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling rotor speed of a wind turbine. One technique includes defining a system model describing resonance dynamics of a wind turbine component, such as a wind turbine tower, where the system model has a nonlinear input term, e.g. a periodic forcing term. A transform is applied to the system model to obtain a transformed model for response oscillation amplitude of the wind turbine component, where the transformed model has a linear input term. A wind turbine model describing dynamics of the wind turbine is then defined, and includes the transformed model. A model-based control algorithm, e.g. model predictive control, is applied using the wind turbine model to determine at least one control output, e.g. generator torque, and the control output is used to control rotor speed of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jacob Deleuran Grunnet, Tobias Gybel Hovgaard, Jan-Willem Van Wingerden, Sebastiaan Mulders
  • Patent number: 11338627
    Abstract: A method of monitoring one or more wheels of a vehicle is described. The method includes receiving first accelerometer measurements of a first accelerometer mounted on the vehicle's first wheel when the vehicle is moving during an interval of time, determining based on the first accelerometer measurements a first path followed by the first accelerometer when the vehicle is moving during the interval of time, determining based on the first path that the vehicle's first wheel is out of balance with respect to an axle of the vehicle's first wheel, and responsive to determining that the vehicle's first wheel is out of balance, transmitting to a user device a first alert that the vehicle's first wheel is out of balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Samsara Networks Inc.
    Inventor: Glen Phillip McGillan
  • Patent number: 11125649
    Abstract: A modular drive train test stand (1) for electric motor vehicle drives (9). The drive train test stand (1) has at least a motor module (2). The drive train test stand (1) is characterized in that the electric motor (3) of the motor module (2) has a housing with a yoke (4) for supporting the electric motor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Hell, Stefanie Nodes
  • Patent number: 10605161
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing the electrical efficiency of an electric supercharger staged upstream of a turbocharger. During idling conditions, a step-wise incremented signal may be commanded to an electric motor driving the supercharger compressor and changes in compressor speed and total vehicle current may be measured at each step. Degradation of electrical efficiency of the supercharger may be inferred based on deviations between the actual change in compressor speed and total vehicle current relative to the change expected for the given step, and mitigating actions may be accordingly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, John Erik Mikael Hellstrom, Baitao Xiao
  • Patent number: 10274393
    Abstract: A mass simulator to determine unbalance of a rotor module in a balancing machine that simulates the mass of an adjacent rotor module. The mass simulator has a shaft extending along an axis of rotation of the mass simulator. The shaft has an attachment interface at one end for attaching to a corresponding interface, and has a support portion at the opposite end which is rotatably supportable in the balancing machine. The mass simulator has a mass body mounted to the shaft by a release mechanism allowing the mass body to be repeatably mounted to and dismounted from the shaft. The mass simulator being attached to the rotor module at the attachment interface and the assembly of the attached mass simulator and rotor module located in the balancing machine to determine unbalance of the rotor module with the mass body mounted to, and dismounted from, the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Andrew IJ Rix
  • Patent number: 9037381
    Abstract: This invention relates to the operation of gas turbine engines, and in particular to determining deterioration of components during operation. In a specific embodiment, the invention is concerned with determining the actions to be taken when a foreign body impact has been detected, for example on a fan blade. Accordingly, the invention provides a method to take one or more FOD detection apparatus, analyse the likely (probabilistic) outcome, and provide a system to determine subsequent action that assures safety whilst minimising operational disruption. This invention provides a method and apparatus to identify FOD or bird impact to gas turbine fan blades, assessing the damage that may have occurred whist still in flight and determining post impact actions, including replacement parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Ian Colin Deuchar Care
  • Patent number: 8978451
    Abstract: The invention relates to a balancing device, having a measuring system for determining the rotational unbalance of a test object, comprising a spindle unit with a spindle, which is intended to hold the test object and rotate it at a test rotational speed, and a spindle mounting, by which the spindle unit is movably anchored on the machine base, such that the spindle unit can oscillate in a predetermined measuring direction as a result of the unbalance forces occurring during the measurement operation, and at least one sensor, which upon rotation of the spindle detects at least one unbalance characteristic variable occurring in the measuring direction, and a material removal system for balancing the test object by material removal in a predetermined site. The measuring system and the material removal system are designed such that material can be removed when the test object is held in the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Publication number: 20150059416
    Abstract: An exemplary washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, a balancing apparatus configured to offset an imbalance created by articles in the drum, and a motor in mechanical communication with the drum. The motor is configured for selectively rotating the drum within the tub. The washing machine appliance includes a controller configured to perform operations. The operations include receiving a signal indicative of a speed of the motor. The operations include determining a deviation of the speed of the motor from a target motor speed and comparing the deviation to one or more threshold values. The operations include determining whether to perform a rebalancing process or a spin out process based on the comparison of the deviation to the one or more threshold values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Nils Naber, Richard Dean Suel, II
  • Patent number: 8904863
    Abstract: A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulate the operation of a motor which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to regulate the operation of a hydraulic actuating means for engaging a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means and mount assembly, enabling identification, marking, and adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: David A. Voeller, Douglas S. Hanneken, Steve Molbach, Joel Clasquin, Michael D. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 8875572
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotatably mounting a rotor to be balanced is provided. The apparatus include a rotatably mounted balancing spindle to which the rotor to be balanced is to be non-rotatingly connected, at least one bearing block, a plurality of spring bars aligned parallel to the spindle axis and used to mount the balancing spindle on the bearing block such that the balancing spindle is able to vibrate, and a drive mechanism for the balancing spindle. The spring bars are arranged in more than two planes at different distances from the spindle or in planes having different rotary angular positions about the spindle axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hofmann Maschinen-und Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Bork
  • Patent number: 8813543
    Abstract: A method for reducing imbalance correction weight usage during a balancing operation of a vehicle wheel assembly. An imbalance of the vehicle wheel assembly is initially determined and utilized together with an established acceptable threshold of imbalance for the vehicle wheel assembly to compute a reduced imbalance value having a magnitude less than the determined imbalance. Using the reduced imbalance value, correction weight amounts and placement locations for application to the vehicle wheel assembly are identified. Determined differences between the identified correction weight amount using the reduced imbalance value and a convention correction weight amount are identified as imbalance correction weight savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Douglas
  • Patent number: 8751170
    Abstract: A method for determining the fatigue of the pump rotor of a gas turbopump comprises the following method steps: continuous determination of the rotational speed (n) of the pump rotor, determination of the local rotational speed maxima and minima of a temporal rotational speed profile under consideration, association of the rotational speed maxima and minima with each other to form pairs, determination of a pair fatigue value (L) for each of the rotational speed pairs, and accumulation of all pair fatigue values (L) to form a total fatigue value (Ltot). In this manner it is possible to determine the cyclic stress for the pump rotor of a vacuum pump and to include it in the calculation of a total fatigue value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Blumenthal, Michael Froitzheim, Thomas Palten, Dieter Bohry, Manfred Kiefer
  • Patent number: 8665104
    Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting rotating machines are provided. Measurements data collected by a plurality of sensors may be received by a controller that includes one or more computers. The plurality of sensors may be configured to monitor vibrations associated with the rotating machine. Based at least in part upon the measurements data, the controller may determine that a respective amplitude change for at least two of the plurality of sensors exceeds a threshold condition. The controller may also determine that the threshold condition is exceeded for a predetermined period of time. Based at least in part upon determining that the threshold condition is exceeded for a predetermined period of time, the controller may identify an alarm event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sanjeev Shyam Heda, Scott Alan Wood, Robert Joseph Iasillo
  • Patent number: 8643128
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an MEMS sensor and a method for making the MEMS sensor. The MEMS sensor according to the present invention includes: a substrate including an opening; a suspended structure located above the opening; and an upper structure, a portion of which is at least partially separated from a portion of the suspended structure; wherein the suspended structure and the upper structure are separated from each other by a step including metal etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Incorporation
    Inventor: Chuan Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8424371
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a vehicle wheel comprising a tire of a predetermined configuration and a thixotropic balancing substance, comprising rotating the vehicle wheel with a predetermined number of revolutions for a period of time, wherein a tread surface of the tire is pressed in a first contact area against a rotatable drum with a predetermined force, and a first acceleration in the first contact area is measured with a measuring device; rotating another vehicle wheel comprising another tire of the predetermined configuration with the predetermined number of revolutions for another period of time, the other vehicle wheel being conventionally balanced and having another residual unbalance, wherein another tread surface of the other tire is pressed in a second contact area against the rotatable drum with the predetermined force, and a second acceleration in the second contact area is measured with the measuring device and if the first acceleration is less than or equal to the second acceleration, determining t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Lars Bertil Carnehammar
    Inventor: Norbert Seitz
  • Patent number: 8347713
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring dynamic rigidity of a main shaft of a machine tool with high accuracy. The apparatus includes an unbalanced master that is attached to the main shaft and of which position of a center of gravity is offset with respect to a center of rotation of the main shaft; a tachometer that measures a rotational speed of the main shaft; and a run-out amount measuring device that is positioned so as to face the unbalanced master at a predetermined position in an axial direction and is any given position in a circumferential direction, and that measures an amount of run-out of the unbalanced master. The dynamic rigidity of the main shaft is calculated based on a relation between the rotational speed measured by the tachometer and the amount of run-out measured by the run-out amount measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yamaguchi, Masato Sakakibara
  • Publication number: 20120279286
    Abstract: The invention relates to a balancing device, having a measuring system for determining the rotational unbalance of a test object, comprising a spindle unit with a spindle, which is intended to hold the test object and rotate it at a test rotational speed, and a spindle mounting, by which the spindle unit is movably anchored on the machine base, such that the spindle unit can oscillate in a predetermined measuring direction as a result of the unbalance forces occurring during the measurement operation, and at least one sensor, which upon rotation of the spindle detects at least one unbalance characteristic variable occurring in the measuring direction, and a material removal system for balancing the test object by material removal in a predetermined site. The measuring system and the material removal system are designed such that material can be removed when the test object is held in the spindle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Franz Haimer Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Franz Haimer
  • Patent number: 8261599
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system of determining aerodynamic imbalances of a wind turbine rotor and optionally correcting such imbalances, as well as a method and system for determining mass imbalances of a wind turbine rotor and optionally correcting such imbalances. The aerodynamic imbalances may be detected and corrected using optical analysis of images of the wind turbine rotor. The mass imbalances may be detected and corrected using vibration analysis of the wind turbine rotor, typically using accelerometers or possibly other vibration sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: RBT, LP
    Inventors: Mike Jeffrey, Michael Melsheimer, Jan Liersch
  • Patent number: 8250915
    Abstract: A tire changer with a controller includes a with a mount assembly adapted for contacting a wheel assembly to mount the wheel to a rotating spindle. The tire changer controller is configured to regulated the operation of a motor, which may be hydraulically driven, and which is operatively connected to the rotating spindle to rotate the wheel assembly. A sensor coupled to the controller provides a data representative of the rotational position of the wheel assembly about a rotational axis. The controller is further configured to regulate the operation of a hydraulic actuating means for engaging a load roller with the wheel assembly to apply a radial force to a tire mounted on a rim of the wheel assembly during rotation of the wheel, and to regulate the operation of a tire handling means adapted to hold the tire during rotation of the wheel rim enabling automated adjustment of the tire angular mounting position relative to the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventors: David A. Voeller, Douglas S. Hanneken, Steve Molbach, Joel Clasquin, Michael D. Gerdes
  • Patent number: 8240044
    Abstract: The unevenness of the upper surface of a top flange of a wind turbine generator tower is adjusted by arranging shim plates on the upper surface of the top flange and by adjusting the thicknesses and/or number of the shim plates to be disposed at individual positions. First, the roughness levels of the upper surface of the top flange are measured at a plurality of measuring points in a state in which a nacelle of the wind turbine generator is not mounted on the tower, which is vertically erected. Next, the thicknesses and/or number of the shim plates to be disposed on the individual plurality of measuring points to adjust the unevenness of the upper surface of the top flange are determined in accordance with the measured roughness levels of the upper surface of the top flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Shiraishi, Masashi Sasaki, Kuniichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8225657
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for quantitatively detecting the unbalanced state of a rotating shaft and a clamping state of a workpiece clamped to a shaft are disclosed by solving with a nonlinear multivariable method a Lagrange kinematics equation to determine from acquired position, velocity, acceleration and torque signals of the rotating shaft an unbalanced amplitude variable and an unbalanced angle variable of the rotating shaft, optionally both with and without a workpiece. The motor driving the shaft is energized with a combined S-shaped and sinusoidal velocity profile with a position profile component, a velocity profile component, and an acceleration profile component. The components are selected such that the motor speed during the accelerating and decelerating stages does not change abruptly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Xiao Yin Shao, Wei Min Ma, Qing Gang Wang, Wen Gang Shi, Xi Hu, Jian Hui Xing, Yue Zhuo
  • Publication number: 20120003093
    Abstract: Turbochargers operate at extremely high speed, so balance of the rotating core is of the utmost importance to turbocharger life. A special frusto-conical, or frusto-spherical, centering geometry is added to the interface of the compressor nut and the nose of the compressor wheel to aid in keeping the wheel, nut, and stub-shaft centered on the turbocharger axis to reduce the degree of core unbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Lischer, Denny King
  • Patent number: 8072169
    Abstract: A method of controlling a washing machine and a motor determines whether a BLDC motor is in a normal state in software without hardware and a user is notified of an abnormal state of the BLDC motor if the BLDC motor is in an abnormal state, thereby ensuring safety. When the motor is rotated, the state of the motor is determined by applying harmonics to a voltage that is applied to a motor and analyzing an output frequency characteristic. When the motor is stopped, the state of the motor is determined by estimating the temperature of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myung Chul Kim, Tae Ho Yoon, Hyun Bae Kim, Sang Jun Lee
  • Patent number: 8071413
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an MEMS sensor and a method for making the MEMS sensor. The MEMS sensor according to the present invention includes: a substrate including an opening; a suspended structure located above the opening; and an upper structure, a portion of which is at least partially separated from a portion of the suspended structure; wherein the suspended structure and the upper structure are separated from each other by a step including metal etch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporation, R.O.C.
    Inventor: Chuan Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8056410
    Abstract: A method for determining an imbalance of a propeller shaft assembly can include establishing balancing planes relative to certain areas of the propeller shaft assembly and identifying each component of the propeller shaft assembly that could have a potential imbalance condition due to a tolerance variation. The method can also include determining the potential imbalance condition for each identified component, and determining a contribution of each determined potential imbalance condition to a respective pair of the established balancing planes. The method can further include determining a total magnitude of imbalance at the respective pair of established balancing planes based on the determined contributions of each potential imbalance condition, and determining a statistically representative value of the determined magnitude of imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor S. Sanchez, James P. Borowiak
  • Patent number: 8056411
    Abstract: A shaft assembly has a shaft body, a first universal joint coupled to a first end of the shaft body, and a second universal joint coupled to a second end of the shaft body. A method for dynamically balancing the shaft assembly includes rotating the shaft assembly at a predetermined speed, determining a level of imbalance of the shaft assembly while rotating the shaft assembly at the predetermined speed, iteratively adjusting the position of the shaft body with respect to the first and second universal joints in response to the level of imbalance to determine an optimal level of imbalance while rotating the shaft assembly, and securely positioning the first and second universal joints with respect to the shaft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Rolando V. Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20110274557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fan, to a method, and to a device for assembling the fan. The fan has an axis of rotation, which is connected to a dog, wherein the dog is connected to a fan wheel, wherein the dog, in a first number of contact surfaces, is in contact with additional contact surfaces of the fan wheel, wherein the dog and/or the fan wheel have more than the first number of contact surfaces and/or additional contact surfaces, wherein at least two contact surfaces have different height positions with respect to a central axis of the dog and/or the fan wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Klaus Linnenbrock
  • Patent number: 8047061
    Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a particular wheel on a vehicle is un-balanced during operation of the vehicle. The method includes providing wheel angle signals from the wheels of the vehicle and providing a vibration measurement signal from a response point on the vehicle, such as from an accelerometer on a steering column of the vehicle. The method also includes generating a regression vector using the wheel angle signals. The method also includes generating an estimated parameter vector using a recursive least squares algorithm, the regression vector and the vibration measurement signal. The method then calculates an imbalanced magnitude value of each wheel of the vehicle using the estimated parameter vector. The method uses a persistency of excitation test to determine whether the parameter vector has converged to a true value to determine whether the calculated imbalanced magnitude values are accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kwang-Keun Shin, Hong S. Bae
  • Publication number: 20110162442
    Abstract: A method for reducing vibration in a rotary system (130,131,133) of an article processing machine, for example a washing machine, comprising balancing said rotary system, characterized by providing a substantially circular chamber having a fulcrum on an axis (132) of said rotary system and being partially filled with an amount of a thixotropic balancing substance. A system for reducing vibration in a rotary system of an article processing machine according to the method, and a corresponding balancing device, drum and drum wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Alvin Ronlan, Norbert Seitz
  • Publication number: 20110138893
    Abstract: The unevenness of the upper surface of a top flange of a wind turbine generator tower is adjusted by arranging shim plates on the upper surface of the top flange and by adjusting the thicknesses and/or number of the shim plates to be disposed at individual positions. First, the roughness levels of the upper surface of the top flange are measured at a plurality of measuring points in a state in which a nacelle of the wind turbine generator is not mounted on the tower, which is vertically erected. Next, the thicknesses and/or number of the shim plates to be disposed on the individual plurality of measuring points to adjust the unevenness of the upper surface of the top flange are determined in accordance with the measured roughness levels of the upper surface of the top flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuaki SHIRAISHI, Masashi SASAKI, Kuniichi WATANABE
  • Patent number: 7954376
    Abstract: A balancing device is provided that is able to balance a rotor of an electrical machine. The machine includes a mounted rotor in a central bore of a stator and coaxially thereto. Between the rotor and the stator there is an air gap. The rotor preferably comprises a plurality of axially extending ferromagnetic teeth and non-magnetic wedges being arranged alternately around the circumference of the surface of the rotor. The teeth and/or the wedges preferably include balancing openings for balancing weights. The balancing device includes a mounting device and/or a locking device and/or a confirmation device. The device has a radial height that is smaller than the minimal clearance of the air gap and an axial extension such that it can be inserted into the air gap. With such a device it is possible to balance a rotor in an efficient way, when it is located in the bore of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Anders Angantyr, Gabor Csaba
  • Patent number: 7946172
    Abstract: A device for mounting rotors, in particular articulated shafts, in a balancing machine has a bearing frame and a frame upper part, which is mounted on the bearing frame so as to be able to oscillate via spring bars and includes a spindle for rotatable mounting of a rotor. The frame upper part is mounted on the bearing frame via groups of spring bars, the groups being arranged at a distance from the axis of rotation of the spindle and at a distance from one another, and the longitudinal axes of the spring bars forming the spring bar groups being oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle. The spring bars forming the spring bar groups have an elongated, slender shape such that their rigidity in an axial direction is at least 100 times, in particular at least 300 times, greater than their radial flexural rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Rogalla, Dieter Thelen
  • Patent number: 7920973
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a method of measuring the vibration of an aircraft engine. One embodiment herein provides an engine monitoring system either connected to and/or positioned in close proximity to an aircraft engine. Also provided is a clearance measuring device within the engine monitoring system. The clearanceometer collects clearance data that is later converted into vibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Mollmann, Tod R. Steen
  • Patent number: 7912587
    Abstract: A method of balancing an assembly of rotary parts of a gas turbine engine comprising measuring at least one of the concentricity and parallelism of each component and considering globally all possible component stacking positions to generate an optimized stacking position for each component of the assembly to minimize assembly unbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Cameron Todd Walters, Richard Benoit, Alphonse Bellemare, Ronald Leslie Robinson, Jiemin Wang, Harry Harris
  • Publication number: 20110056277
    Abstract: A method for reducing imbalance correction weight usage during a balancing operation of a vehicle wheel assembly. An imbalance of the vehicle wheel assembly is initially determined and utilized together with an established acceptable threshold of imbalance for the vehicle wheel assembly to compute a reduced imbalance value having a magnitude less than the determined imbalance. Using the reduced imbalance value, correction weight amounts and placement locations for application to the vehicle wheel assembly are identified. Determined differences between the identified correction weight amount using the reduced imbalance value and a convention correction weight amount are identified as imbalance correction weight savings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Michael W. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20110058942
    Abstract: The invention relates to a balancing device comprising a nut 15 having an internal thread, and a countersunk collar 17 integral with said nut 15, said countersunk collar 17 having a through-hole 23 with a diameter greater than the diameter of the internal thread of the nut 15. Said countersunk collar comprises a balancing weight 19. The invention also relates to a method for balancing a rotating part 1 with such a device, and a rotating part 1 balanced by such a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Olivier BELMONTE, Lucie Galons
  • Publication number: 20110023589
    Abstract: A method of analysing a vehicle wheel comprising a tyre of a predetermined configuration and a thixotropic balancing substance, comprising rotating the vehicle wheel with a predetermined number of revolutions for a period of time, wherein a tread surface of the tyre is pressed in a first contact area against a rotatable drum with a predetermined force, and a first acceleration in the first contact area is measured with a measuring device; rotating another vehicle wheel comprising another tyre of the predetermined configuration with the predetermined number of revolutions for another period of time, the other vehicle wheel being conventionally balanced and having another residual unbalance, wherein another tread surface of the other tyre is pressed in a second contact area against the rotatable drum with the predetermined force, and a second acceleration in the second contact area is measured with the measuring device and if the first acceleration is less than or equal to the second acceleration, determining t
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Norbert Seitz
  • Patent number: 7839304
    Abstract: An onboard system for a rotary wing aircraft detects a limit cycle oscillation in the tail mast and provides a timely indication of the limit cycle oscillation to an aircrew before serious damage to the airframe is likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Michael Riser, Matthew Joseph Stepura, Mark Andrew Long, Allen James Landers
  • Publication number: 20100288030
    Abstract: A system and method for determining whether a particular wheel on a vehicle is un-balanced during operation of the vehicle. The method includes providing wheel angle signals from the wheels of the vehicle and providing a vibration measurement signal from a response point on the vehicle, such as from an accelerometer on a steering column of the vehicle. The method also includes generating a regression vector using the wheel angle signals. The method also includes generating an estimated parameter vector using a recursive least squares algorithm, the regression vector and the vibration measurement signal. The method then calculates an imbalanced magnitude value of each wheel of the vehicle using the estimated parameter vector. The method uses a persistency of excitation test to determine whether the parameter vector has converged to a true value to determine whether the calculated imbalanced magnitude values are accurate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Kwang-Keun Shin, Hong S. Bae
  • Patent number: 7686403
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing imbalance in a wheel assembly are provided. The method includes determining an imbalance characteristic associated with a first plane, determining an imbalance characteristic associated with a second plane, and translating a component of the imbalance characteristic from the first plane to the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Douglas
  • Publication number: 20100064802
    Abstract: A clocking bar includes a rod and an indicator located along a length of the rod, wherein the indicator has a pair of indication components with a predetermined spacing therebetween. The bar also includes a hole one locator located along the length of the rod, and a rear hole locator located along the length of the rod. The clocking bar is configured to identify a stack bolt hole one from among a plurality of bolt holes on a rotor through use of a relationship between physical features of the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Creston Lewis Dempsey, Robert Michael Petroskie, Roberto Anthony Nunez
  • Patent number: 7658107
    Abstract: A rotatably supporting device for correcting balance of a rotating body includes a journal supporting part having a mandrel that rotatably supports the rotating body in a floating state about a vertical axis, a thrust supporting part that is provided at a lower end portion of the mandrel and supports a bottom part of the rotating body in the floating state, a first fluid supply passage that supplies a fluid for floating between the mandrel and a rotation support hole of the rotating body, an annular groove provided in the thrust supporting part so as to face the bottom part of the rotating body, and a second fluid supply passage that communicates with the annular groove to supply a fluid thereto for floating the rotating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Mitsubori, Takeshi Fujimaki
  • Patent number: 7654138
    Abstract: Dynamically measuring the unbalance of a rotor arranged in a device housing (1) and rotating at high angular velocity, wherein the rotor is supported in a separate bearing housing (14), involves the following steps: fastening the bearing housing (14) on the device housing (1) with interposition of resiliently yielding elements (6) so that the bearing housing (14) can be moved relative to the device housing (1) in at least two spatial dimensions and the rotor is arranged in a working position in the device housing (1) suitable for driving, accelerating the rotor, measuring the vibrations induced by unbalance while the rotor rotates at a substantially normal working speed, determining the phase position of the induced vibrations to the relative position of the rotor at the measuring speeds, and using the measured vibrations and the phase position to determine the unbalance of the rotor to be compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Thelen
  • Publication number: 20090183556
    Abstract: A rotation is corrected by rotationally driving a supercharger rotor (a turbine impeller (2), a compressor impeller (6) and a shaft (12)) by an electric motor (18) in a state of detaching a turbine housing (4) and a compressor housing (8), and detecting data necessary for correcting the rotation inbalance of a motor-driven supercharger (10). Further, the electric motor (18) is driven by using a dedicated motor driver (27) supplying a larger electric power than a power supply of an acceleration assisting motor driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Shimizu, Takehiko Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 7555939
    Abstract: A method of balancing a first turbomachine module (20), including along an axis of rotation a bearing plane (22) on one side and a junction plane (24) on the other, with respect to a rotor (1) including said module (20), in which an equivalent complementary module is defined such that the two modules form a rotor equivalent to said rotor by assembling along the junction plane (24), the total unbalance of said equivalent rotor and the corresponding correction to be made to said module are determined, which method includes the following steps: the concentricity deviation of the bearing (22) of the first module (20) with respect to the axis perpendicular to the junction plane (24) is determined; the theoretical geometric unbalance of said equivalent complementary module is calculated; a short journal (40) is mounted on the first module adjacent to the junction plane (24) to form a short rotor whose axis of rotation is substantially coincident with the axis of the module (20) and the unbalance of the short ro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Snecma
    Inventors: Paul Lucas, Alain Luinaud