Devices, systems, and methods for balancing closely coupled rotating machinery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10254773-B2
Application number	US-201314422430-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Sep 25, 2012
Publication date	Apr 9, 2019
Grant date	Apr 9, 2019

Abstract

Devices, systems, and related methods for balancing two or more pieces of independently rotating (e.g., not synchrophased) machinery are provided. In some aspects, the devices, systems, and methods can provide improved balancing techniques and can include providing a controller configured to simultaneously measure/receive vibration data and control balancers, one balancer at a time. In some aspects, the controller can calculate a beating cycle or a beating period using vibration data received from multiple rotating machines. In some aspects, a balance correction command can be derived in part from either one of: (a) an interpolation of an average vibration of the first rotating machine from a complex vibration of the multiple rotating machines or (b) an average vibration derived from one or more rules applied based upon the duration of the beating period or the beating cycle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for balancing coupled rotating machinery, the device comprising:
a first interface for receiving vibration information from multiple rotating machines;
a controller having a correction generation module configured to calculate a beating period or a beating cycle from the vibration information received from the multiple rotating machines; and
a second interface for sending a balance correction command to a balancer associated with a first rotating machine of the multiple rotating machines;
wherein the balance correction command is derived in part using an average vibration derived from one or more rules applied based upon the duration of the beating period or the beating cycle;
wherein a first rule of the one or more rules is applied when the beating period or the beating cycle is less than about 0.5 seconds;
wherein a second rule of the one or more rules is applied when the beating period or the beating cycle is between about 0.5 seconds and about 3 seconds;
wherein a third rule of the one or more rules is applied when the beating period or the beating cycle is between about 3 seconds and about 10 seconds; and
wherein a fourth rule of the one or more rules is applied when the beating period is longer than about 10 seconds
wherein the device corrects the balancer based on the correction command.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration information is received from multiple sensors.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the sensors comprise at least one tachometer.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the correction generation module is configured to demodulate a complex vibration calculated from the vibration information from the multiple rotating machines.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device communicates with at least two balancers.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device communicates with at least four balancers.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is disposed in a hovercraft.

8. A system for balancing coupled rotating machinery, the system comprising:
a first piece of rotating machinery rotating at a first speed;
a second piece of rotating machinery rotating at a second speed, that is different than the first speed, such that together the first and second speeds result in a complex vibration; and
a controller configured to determine an average vibration of the first piece of rotating machinery;
wherein the controller is configured to interpolate the average vibration of the first piece of rotating machinery from the complex vibration in less than one beating period and by estimating at two or more points along a demodulated complex vibration;
wherein the controller determines a balance correction command based on the interpolated average vibration; and
the controller controls the first piece of rotating machinery or the second piece of rotating machinery based on the balance correction command.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to interpolate the average vibration of the first piece of rotating machinery from the complex vibration in less than one-half of the beating period.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to estimate the average vibration of the first piece of rotating machinery at the intersection of perpendicular bisectors of each of the two or more points.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the system comprises multiple controllers, and wherein the multiple controllers communicate with each other.

12. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a first balancer for balancing the first piece of rotating machinery.

13. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a second balancer for balancing the second piece of rotating machinery.

14. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the machinery having the highest vibration is balanced first.

15. A method of providing active vibration control within an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving vibration data from at least a first rotating machine and a second rotating machine;
comparing the vibration data and determining a duration of a beat cycle;
applying rules based upon the duration of the beat cycle, wherein the step of applying rules comprises;
applying a first rule when the beating period or the beating cycle is less than about 0.5 seconds;
applying a second rule when the beating period or the beating cycle is between about 0.5 seconds and about 3 seconds;
applying a third rule when the beating period or the beating cycle is between about 3 seconds and about 10 seconds;
applying a fourth rule when the beating period is longer than about 10 seconds; and

sending a balance correction command to the first rotating machine or the second rotation machine
determining a balance correction command based on the step of applying rules; and
controlling the first rotating machine or the second rotating machine based on the correction command.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein receiving the vibration data comprises receiving information from one or more accelerometers or one or more tachometers.

17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising balancing the machinery having the highest vibration first.

18. A method of providing active vibration control within an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving vibration data from at least a first rotating machine and a second rotating machine;
determining a beating period from the vibration data;
estimating properties of a demodulated complex vibration during the beating period; interpolating an average vibration of at least the first or second rotating machine, wherein interpolating the average vibration comprises estimating two or more points along the demodulated complex vibration; and
sending a balance correction command to the first rotating machine or the second rotation machine;
determining a balance correction command based on the interpolated average vibration; and
controlling the first rotating machine or the second rotating machine based on the correction command.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising balancing the machinery having the highest vibration first.

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein interpolating the average vibration occurs in less than one beating period.

21. The method according to claim 18 , wherein interpolating the average vibration occurs in less than one-half of the beating period.

22. The method according to claim 18 , wherein interpolating the average vibration comprises estimating an intersection of perpendicular bisectors of each of the two or more points.

23. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising providing multiple controllers, wherein the multiple controllers communicate with each other.

24. A method of providing active vibration control within an aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving vibration data from at least a first rotating machine and a second rotating machine;
determining a beating period from the vibration data;
estimating properties of a demodulated complex vibration during the beating period;
interpolating an average vibration of at least the first or second rotating machine, wherein interpolating the average vibration comprises estimating an intersection of perpendicular bisectors of each of two or more points along the demodulated complex vibration; and

Assignees

• Lord Corp

Inventors

• Winzenz Wayne L
• Pedersen Douglas G
• Hildebrand Stephen F

Classifications

• F16F15/002

  characterised by the control method or circuitry (control of mechanical oscillations per se G05D19/00) · CPC title

• G05D19/02 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• B60V1/043

  the walls being flexible (skirt details B60V1/16) · CPC title

• G01M1/14

  Determining imbalance (G01M1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64D31/12

  for equalising or synchronising power plants · CPC title