Tuned mass-spring damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020386293-A1
Application number	US-201816607199-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2018
Priority date	Apr 24, 2017
Publication date	Dec 10, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A wheel/hub assembly includes an axle shaft, a wheel, and a hub supporting the wheel on the axle shaft. The wheel/hub assembly has a target resonant frequency of vibration. A tuned mass-spring damper is vibrationally coupled to the wheel/hub assembly, and has a counteracting resonant frequency of vibration that is predetermined with reference to the target resonant frequency of vibration.

First claim

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a wheel/hub assembly including an axle shaft, a wheel, and a hub supporting the wheel on the axle shaft, the wheel/hub assembly having a target resonant frequency of vibration; and a tuned mass-spring damper vibrationally coupled to the wheel/hub assembly and having a counteracting resonant frequency of vibration that is predetermined with reference to the target resonant frequency of vibration.

2 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the damper is configured as a circumferentially continuous ring and is mounted concentrically on the wheel/hub assembly.

3 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the counteracting resonant frequency is equal or substantially equal to the target resonant frequency.

4 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the damper is configured in distinct portions of elastic material having properties of density and stiffness that are predetermined with reference to the counteracting resonant frequency.

5 . An apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein the distinct portions of elastic material include a first portion having stiffness predetermined with reference to the counteracting resonant frequency, and a second portion having density predetermined with reference to the counteracting resonant frequency.

6 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the damper is coupled to the wheel/hub assembly through a bearing on the axle shaft.

7 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the damper is mounted directly on the axle shaft.

8 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the wheel/hub assembly includes a CV joint, and the damper is coupled to the wheel/hub assembly through a bearing on the CV joint.

9 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the wheel/hub assembly includes a CV joint, and the damper is mounted directly on the CV joint.

10 . An apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the damper is coupled to the wheel/hub assembly through a bearing mounted on the wheel at a location within a tire.

11 . An apparatus for use with a wheel/hub assembly including an axle shaft, a wheel, and a hub supporting the wheel on the axle shaft, the wheel/hub assembly having a target resonant frequency of vibration, the apparatus comprising:
a tuned mass-spring damper configured for vibrational coupling to the wheel/hub assembly and having a predetermined resonant frequency of vibration.

12 . An apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the wheel/hub assembly has a resonant frequency of vibration, and the resonant frequency of vibration of the damper is predetermined with reference to the resonant frequency of vibration of the wheel/hub assembly.

13 . An apparatus as defined in claim 12 , wherein the resonant frequency of vibration of the damper is equal or substantially equal to the resonant frequency of vibration of the wheel/hub assembly.

14 . An apparatus as defined in claim 11 , wherein the damper is configured in distinct portions of elastic material having properties of density and stiffness that are predetermined with reference to the resonant frequency of vibration.

15 . An apparatus as defined in claim 14 , wherein the portions of elastic material include a first portion having stiffness predetermined with reference to the resonant frequency of vibration, and a second portion having density predetermined with reference to the resonant frequency of vibration.

16 . An apparatus for use with a wheel/hub assembly including an axle shaft, a wheel, and a hub supporting the wheel on the axle shaft, the wheel/hub assembly having a target resonant frequency of vibration, the apparatus comprising:
a tuned mass-spring damper comprising:
an inner layer of rubber; and
an outer layer of rubber that overlies and is bonded to the inner layer;
wherein the inner layer is mounted on an outer race of a bearing on the axle shaft.

17 . An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the bearing couples the tuned mass-spring damper vibrationally with the wheel/hub assembly at the axle shaft.

18 . An apparatus as defined in claim 17 , wherein the bearing permits the tuned mass-spring damper float rotationally relative to the axle shaft.

19 . An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , wherein the inner layer serves as a spring portion of the tuned mass-spring damper.

20 . An apparatus as defined in claim 19 , wherein the outer layer serves as a mass portion coupled to the spring portion.

Assignees

• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations Llc

Inventors

• Rimai Benjamin E
• Motamedi Mohammad M
• Azizi Yousof

Classifications

• F16D2300/22

  Vibration damping · CPC title

• B60B27/0047

  characterised by functional integration of other elements · CPC title

• B60B2900/133

  Noise · CPC title

• B60B15/28

  Wheel-ballasting weights; Their attachment · CPC title

• B60B2900/131

  Vibrations · CPC title