http://technology.grc.nasa.gov/patent/LEW-TOPS-73
Reduces damaging and noisy vibrations within mechanical drivelines. Machine vibration often originates with rotating driveline components which creates unwanted noise and the vibration reduces machine life. NASA’s Glenn Research Center have developed a vibration ring provides damping within the driveline without disrupting the operation or position tolerance of the mechanical assembly.
In addition to reduction in vibration-induced noise it also reduces overall wear and tear, and the ring can generate electrical energy to power sensors on rotating machine parts. It can be used in automotive and motor / gearing applications.
Benefits
- Noise reduction.
- Power generation: Converts vibration into electricity that can be used to power other components, especially system health monitors and sensors
- Reliability and Quality Improvement.
Glenn’s unique, ring-shaped mechanism reduces the effect of machine vibrations by converting applied vibratory energy into electricity. The mechanism is self-contained and requires no external wiring. Unlike traditional vibration-damping elements (e.g., those made of rubber), the vibration ring is very stiff, and can be used in a mechanical driveline without disruption. When this damping element is included within the driveline, vibration is attenuated before it manifests as noise elsewhere in the machine.
The vibration ring’s compression cage is a ring-shaped mechanical amplifier. Forces imparted at any position around its perimeter are transferred into the axial direction. This transfer allows the use of a piezoelectric material, which is optimized to convert vibration energy along one axis into electricity. The generated electrical energy may be dissipated as heat or used to power system monitoring sensors. Whereas softer materials, such as rubber, tend to deform, the vibration ring attenuates vibration energy with very little deformation, making it appropriate for use within the driveline of a rotating machine. In addition, Glenn’s vibration ring effectively serves as an energy sink, which can be placed in close proximity to rotating vibration sources within a machine driveline. This prevents driveline vibration energy from exciting the rest of the machine and provides global noise reduction.
For more information, please contact Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135.
