MAIMUUTAMANTULUIMITIK TUN MAHATI

US009841077B2

(12 )Modrezejewski
United States et al.
Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9 ,841,077 B2
(45) Date of Patent: Dec. 12 , 2017
(54 ) ROTATING SHAFT DAMPING WITH (58 ) Field of Classification Search
ELECTRO -RHEOLOGICAL FLUID CPC .... F16F 9/ 53; F16F 9 / 535; F16F 9 / 532; F16F
13 /30 ; F16F 13 /305 ; F16F 13 / 14 ; F16F
( 71) Applicant: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc ., Fort
@ 13 / 1427 ; F16C 27 /045 ; F16C 27 /04
Worth , TX (US ) See application file for complete search history .
(56 ) References Cited
(72 ) Inventors : Brian S. M . Modrezejewski, Keller,
@
U .S . PATENT DOCUMENTS
TX (US ); Steven Spears , Hurst, TX
(US) 3 , 129 ,904 A * 4/ 1964 Hanson ............... F16C 27 /066
(73 ) Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON 244 / 17. 19
5 ,076 ,403 A 12 / 1991 Mitsui
INC ., Fort Worth , TX (US) 5 ,380 , 100 A * 1/ 1995 Yu ......................... F16C 27 /045
267/ 113
( * ) Notice :
@ Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 5 ,409 ,435 A * 4 / 1995 Daniels . ............ A63B 21/0056
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 482 /5
U .S .C . 154 (b ) by 239 days . 5 ,452,957 A * 9 /1995 Duggan B60K 17/ 24
384 /535
2003/0202726 A1* 10 /2003 Robb F16C 35 /077
(21) Appl. No.: 14/307,715 2004 /0022467 A1* 2/2004 Robb .........
384 /536
BOOK 17 / 24
(22 ) Filed : Jun . 18 , 2014 384 /536
2006 /0099808 A1* 5/2006 Kondo ... F16F 9 / 532
438 /674
(65) Prior Publication Data 2009 /0159382 A1 * 6 /2009 Chemouni .............. F16F 9 / 145
US 2015 /0369326 A1 Dec . 24 , 2015 188 /290
2009 /0218443 AL 9/ 2009 Wereley et al.
(51) Int . Cl. * cited by examiner
F16F 5 /00 ( 2006 .01)
Primary Examiner - Nicholas J Lane
F16F 9 /53 (2006 .01)
F16F 9 /00 ( 2006 .01 ) (57) ABSTRACT
B64C 27/00 ( 2006 .01 ) Some examples of rotating shaft damping with electro
F16F 13/ 14 (2006 .01) rheological fluid can be implemented as a method . At least
F16F 13 / 30 ( 2006 .01) a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a
B64C 27 /12 ( 2006 .01) rotorcraft rotating shaft is surrounded with multiple hollow
( 52 ) U . S . CI. members . Each hollow member includes an electro -rheo
CPC ............ F16F 9 /532 ( 2013 .01); B64C 27/001 logical fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an
(2013 .01 ); B64C 27 / 12 (2013 .01); F16F 9 /006 electric field applied to the electro -rheological fluid . A
(2013 .01); F16F 13 / 14 ( 2013 .01 ); F16F 13/ 30 vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft is controlled by
(2013 .01); B64C 2027/004 (2013 .01); F16F changing the viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid in
13 / 1427 ( 2013 .01); F16F 2222 / 12 ( 2013 .01) ; response to the electric field applied to the electro -rheologi
F16F 2224 /043 (2013 .01 ); F16F 2232 /02 cal fluid .
( 2013.01) 22 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
504a
508

504a
U . S . Patent Dec . 12, 2017 Sheet 1 of 6 US 9 ,841 ,077 B2

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U . S . Patent Dec. 12 , 2017 Sheet 2 of 6 US 9,841,077 B2

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U . S . Patent Dec. 12 , 2017 Sheet 3 of 6 US 9 ,841,077 B2
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U . S . Patent Dec. 12, 2017 Sheet 6 of 6 US 9 ,841,077 B2

702 FILL ELECTRO -RHEOLOGICAL

FLUID IN CHAMBERS OF
MULTIPLE HOLLOW MEMBERS

SURROUND A CIRCUMFERENTIAL
704 SURFACE AREA OF A ROTORCRAFT
ROTATING SHAFT WITH THE
MULTIPLE HOLLOW MEMBERS
*** * * * *** ** *

706 MONITOR VIBRATION OF THE SHAFT

DETERMINE AN OPTIMUM VISCOSITY
OF THE ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL
FLUID TO PROVIDE AN OPTIMUM
AMOUNTOF DAMPING
boo000000000000000000000000000000000000

DETERMINE AN ELECTRIC FIELD

710 TO BE APPLIED TO OBTAIN THE
DETERMINED VISCOSITY

ADJUST THE ELECTRIC FIELD

TO INCREASE OR DECREASE
712 THE VISCOSITY OF THE
ELECTRO -RHEOLOGICAL FLUID
TO THE OPTIMUM AMOUNT

FIG . 7
 US 9, 841,077 B2
ROTATING SHAFT DAMPING WITH is greater than an upper vibrational limit . The electric field
ELECTRO -RHEOLOGICAL FLUID applied to the electro -rheological fluid can be increased . The
electric field can increase the viscosity of the electro
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY rheological fluid to counter the vibration . It can be deter
SPONSORED RESEARCH 5 mined that the vibration of the rotating shaft is less than the
upper vibrational limit . The electric field applied to the
This invention was made with government support under electro - rheological fluid can be decreased . The electric field
FARDS Program W911W6 - 10 -2 -0007 awarded by Army can decrease the viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid .
Aviation Technical Directorate (AATD ). The government The vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft can be con
has certain rights in this invention . trolled by positioning a bearing between the rotorcraft
rotating shaft and the multiple hollow members. The bearing
TECHNICAL FIELD can be an electromagnetic bearing . Controlling the vibration
can include controlling a stiffness of the electromagnetic
This disclosure relates to damping vibrations in rotating 15 bearing .
shafts, e .g., drive shafts . Certain aspects of the subjectmatter described here can be
BACKGROUND implemented as a radial damper assembly that includes a
ring - shaped outer housing, multiple hollow dampers, and a
Several applications exist in which a shaft is to be network of wires. The multiple hollow members are posi
supported for high -speed rotation . For example , the tail rotor 20 tioned within the outer housing to surround at least a portion
drive shaft of a helicopter or an interconnecting drive shaft of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft
of a tilt rotor aircraft are supported in a manner to prevent rotating shaft . Each hollow member includes an electro
misalignment of the shaft , yet permit rotation of the shaft at rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an
relatively high , e .g ., supercritical speeds. Examples for electric field applied to the electro -rheological fluid . The
supporting such shafts include bearings and/ or hanger brack - 25 network of wires is positioned in the electro -rheological
ets . Sometimes, couplings are used to accommodate angular fluid .
misalignment. In addition , subcritical shafts can be stiff to This , and other aspects , can include one or more of the
rotate at speeds below their resonant frequencies to prevent following features . The multiple hollow members can
instability. Such rotating shafts experience vibration . include two substantially U -shaped hollow members . The
s two U - shaped hollow members can surround all of the
SUMMARY circumferential surface area of the portion of the rotorcraft
rotating shaft. Each hollow member can be an elastomeric
This disclosure relates to rotating shaft damping with member
electro -rheological fluid . This disclosure also relates to . An inner race can be positioned between the
providing fixed system damping to a rotating shaft with a 2535 bearing
multiple hollow members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft. A
can be positioned between the multiple hollow
fluid - elastomeric damper using electro -rheological fluid .
Certain aspects ofthe subjectmatter described here can be members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft. The bearing can
implemented as a method of damping vibrations in a rotating be an elastomeric bearing having a variable stiffness.
shaft. At least a portion of a circumferential surface area of Certain aspects of the subject matter described here can be
a portion of a rotating shaft is surrounded with multiple 40 implemented as a radial damper system . The system
hollow members . Each hollow member includes an electro - includes a radial damper assembly including multiple hol
rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an low members surrounding at least a portion of a circumfer
electric field applied to the electro - rheological fluid . A ential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft .
vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft is controlled by Each hollow member includes an electro - rheological fluid
changing the viscosity of the electro - rheological fluid in 45 having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field
response to the electric field applied to the electro -rheologi- applied to the electro -rheological fluid . The system includes
cal fluid . a vibration control system to control a vibration of the
This , and other aspects , can include one or more of the rotating shaft by changing the viscosity of the electro
following features. The rotating shaft can be a rotorcraft rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to
rotating shaft . The multiple hollow members can include 50 the electro - rheological fluid .
two substantially U -shaped hollow members . The two This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the
U - shaped hollow members can surround all of the circum - following features . The vibration control system can include
ferential surface area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating a vibration monitoring system to monitor the vibration of the
shaft. Each hollow member can be an elastomeric member. rotorcraft rotating shaft and an electric field generation
To control the vibration of the vibration of the rotorcraft 55 system to apply a quantity of electric field to the electro
rotating shaft, the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft rheological fluid . The quantity of the electric field can
can be monitored . A quantity of damping to counter the change the viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid to damp
vibration can be determined . A quantity of the electric field the vibration . The multiple hollow members can include two
can be applied to the electro -rheological fluid . The quantity substantially U -shaped elastomeric hollow members which
of the electric field can change the viscosity of the electro - 60 can surround all of the circumferential surface area of the
rheological fluid to provide the determined quantity of portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft .
damping . A network of wires is positioned in the electro The details of one or more implementations of the subject
rheological fluid . Applying the quantity of the electric field matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the
to the electro -rheological fluid can include applying the accompanying drawings and the description below . Other
quantity of the electric field to the network of wires. To 65 features , aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will
control the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft, it can be become apparent from the description , the drawings, and the
determined that the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft claims.
 US 9, 841,077 B2
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS nacelles. The rotatable nacelles allow aircraft 201 to take -off
and land like a conventional helicopter, and for horizontal
FIG . 1 is a schematic side view of an example helicopter. flight like a conventional fixed wing aircraft. Like the
FIG . 2 is a schematic oblique view of an example tiltrotor
helicopter 101, the tiltrotor aircraft 201 includes controls,
aircraft . 5 e. g ., cyclic controllers and pedals , carried within the cockpit
FIG . 3 is a schematic diagram showing a rotorcraft of fuselage 207 , for causing movement of the aircraft .
rotating shaft including example damper assemblies. FIG . 3 is a schematic diagram showing a rotorcraft
FIG . 4 is a schematic diagram of an example radial rotating shaft including example damper assemblies. A main
damper system . rotor gearbox assembly 302 that can reduce engine speed
FIG . 5 is a cross -sectional view of an example radial 10 and transmit torque to the main rotor blades can be con
damper assembly . nected to a turbine engine 304. The turbine engine 304 is
FIGS. 6A -6G are views of example hollow members of a connected to a 90 degree tail rotor gear box 314 that can
radial damper assembly. provide the final reduction in speed and can transmit torque
FIG . 7 is a flowchart of an example process for controlling to the tail rotor blades . In the example schematic shown in
vibration in a rotating shaft. 15 FIG . 3, the curved supercritical shaft 308 includes two
Like reference numbers and designations in the various damper assemblies (e. g ., assembly 310 , assembly 312 ), each
drawings indicate like elements . of which can be operated to actively control vibration of the
shaft 308, as described below .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG . 4 is a schematic diagram of a radial damper system
20 that includes a radial damper assembly 402 connected to a
This disclosure relates to rotating shaft damping with vibration control system 410 . FIG . 5 is a cross -sectional
electro -rheological fluid . Rotorcrafts, e . g ., helicopters , til- view of the example radial damper assembly 402 . The
trotors, or other rotorcrafts, include rotating shafts which can assembly 402 includes a ring - shaped outer housing 502 on
experience vibration during operation . This disclosure which remaining components of the assembly 402 (de
describes techniques to actively control and / or damp such 25 scribed below are mounted . The outer housing 502 can be
vibrations using an electro - rheological fluid that surrounds a mounted on a surface , e . g ., a rotorcraft surface . The assem
portion of a rotating shaft. Implementing the techniques bly 402 includes multiple hollow members ( e . g ., a first
described here can allow increasing or decreasing, as nec - hollow member 504a , a second hollow member 504b )
essary , a quantity of damping based , in part, on a monitored positioned within the outer housing 502 to surround at least
vibration of a rotating shaft . As described below , techniques 30 a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a
to control vibration using the electro - rheological fluid can be rotorcraft rotating shaft (e . g ., the shaft 308 ). In some imple
combined with techniques implementing bearings to provide m entations, the assembly 402 can include two hollow mem
additional vibration control. bers. Each hollow member can be curved , e. g ., substantially
The techniques described here can be implemented to U - shaped or semi- circular, such that positioning the two
actively damp supercritical drive shaft systems. The damper 35 curved hollow members end -to - end results in all of the
assembly described below can be implemented to support circumferential area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating
long sections of a rotating shaft . The damper assembly can , shaft being entirely surrounded . Surrounding the rotorcraft
alternatively or in addition, be implemented to support two, rotating shaft with curved hollow members can allow a
separate , axially coupled rotating shafts. Implementing the greater travel capability , e. g., 1/4 inch or more, relative to
techniques can reduce the weight and complexity of drive 40 orifice implementations. The curved member allows com
shaft- systems, can increase control of damping, and can pliance in the damper so that the damper is not a rigid
prevent catastrophic events . The system also provides infor - amount and allows the shaft to travel as needed . The system
mation to the pilot and / or maintenance crews if excessive also allows the shaft to have some curvature in a long
damping is required to maintain desired vibration levels . shafted application . In general, the flexible members of the
Exemplary techniques are described below with reference to 45 damper need not be curved , e . g ., U - shaped or semi- circular.
a rotating shaft of a rotorcraft . Similar techniques can be The member can take any form that allows the multiple
implemented with reference to any rotating shaft imple members to be arranged to form an annular cavity.
mented in any drive system , e . g., rotating shafts of automo- In some implementations , the multiple hollow members
tive drive systems, marine craft drive systems, industrial can include more than two curved hollow members ( e. g .,
drive systems, or other drive systems. 50 three , four , or more hollow members ) . Positioning the
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of two different multiple curved hollow members end - to - end can result in all
rotorcrafts . FIG . 1 is a side view of the example helicopter of the circumferential area of the portion of the rotorcraft
101, while FIG . 2 is an oblique view of the example tiltrotor rotating shaft being entirely surrounded . Alternatively, the
aircraft 201 . Helicopter 101 includes a rotary system 103 portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft can be surrounded by
carried by a fuselage 105 . Rotor blades 107 connected to the 55 a single hollow member which can be ring -shaped . In some
rotary system 103 provide flight for helicopter 101 . The implementations, one or more hollow members can be
rotor blades 107 are controlled by multiple controllers positioned to surround less than all of the circumferential
within fuselage 105 . The pitch of each rotor blade 107 can area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft. Each
be manipulated to selectively control direction , thrust, and hollow member can be an elastomeric member which can
lift of the helicopter 101. For example , during flight a pilot 60 act as a flexible rib . The elastomeric member can be made
can manipulate a cyclic controller for changing the pitch from an elastomeric material, e . g ., rubber, silicon , or other
angle of rotor blades 107 and/or manipulate pedals, thus elastomeric material. In general, any material that meets
providing vertical, horizontal, and yaw flight movement. temperature , strength and flexibility requirements can be
Helicopter 101 can further include an anti-torque system and used to make the elastomeric member.
empennages. 65 FIGS . 6A -6G are views of example hollow members of a
Tiltrotor aircraft 201 includes two or more rotary systems radial damper assembly . FIG . 6A is a perspective view of the
203 having multiple proprotors 205 and carried by rotatable hollow member 504a including a chamber 501 that spans
 US 9, 841,077 B2
substantially an entire length of the hollow member. FIG . 6B the network of wires positioned in the electro -rheological
shows the hollow member 504a including multiple ports fluid . The vibration control system 410 is connected to a
( e . g ., a first port 602 , a second port 604 , a third port 606 , a vibration monitoring system 406 which can monitor the
fourth port608) that serve as inlets to the chamber 501 . The vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft supported by the
hollow member 504a can have fewer or more than four ports 5 damper assembly 402 . For example , a control insert 412 can
that serve as the inlets to the chamber 501 . be attached to the assembly 405 . The control insert 412 can
The chamber 501 of each hollow member can be filled be a vibration sensor that can transmit a signal representative
with an electro - rheological fluid having a viscosity that of the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft to the vibra
changes based on an electric field applied to the electro tion monitoring system 406 . The vibration control system
rheological fluid . An electro -rheological fluid can be a 10 410 can determine a vibration ( e . g ., a frequency or other
suspension of fine non - conducting particles (e . g ., up to 50 vibration parameter ) based on the signal received by the
um in diameter ) in an electrically insulating fluid . The vibration monitoring system 406 . The vibration control
apparent viscosity of such a fluid can change reversibly by system 410 can determine a viscosity of the electro -rheo
an order of up to 100 ,000 in response to an electric field . For logical fluid that is sufficient to damp the determined vibra
example , an electro -rheological fluid can go from the con - 15 tion . The vibration control system 410 can further determine
sistency of a liquid to that of a gel, and back , with response an electric field to be applied to the electro -rheological fluid
times on the order of milliseconds. In some implementa - to change the viscosity to the determined viscosity .
tions , the chamber of each hollow member can be filled The vibration control system 410 can transmit a signal to
entirely with the electro -rheological fluid . Alternatively , less an electric field generation system 408 ( e. g ., a power supply
than an entirety of the chamber (e . g ., more than 50 % by less 20 system or other electric field generation system ) to apply the
than 100 % of the chamber volume) can be filled with the determined electric field to the electro -rheological fluid . The
electro -rheological fluid . The viscosity of the electro -rheo electric field generation system 408 can apply the electric
logical fluid can range from 4 mPas to 700 ,000 mPas . In field to the network of wires positioned in the electro
response to an electric field , the fluid can change from a rheological fluid . In response to the application of the
liquid system to a substantially rigid system . 25 electric field , the viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid
A network of wires can be positioned in the electro - can change . For example , the viscosity can increase or
rheological fluid . As described below , electric field can be decrease thereby increasing or decreasing the amount of
applied to the network of wires to change the viscosity of the damping provided . The variation in damping can reduce the
electro -rheological fluid in the hollow members that sur - vibration experienced by the rotating shaft as a function of
round the rotorcraft rotating shaft. The electric field can 30 its operating parameters . In some implementations , the
range from 0 to 6 . 5 kV /mm . FIGS . 6B and 6C shows an vibration control system 410 can control a stiffness of an
example network of wires in which multiple substantially electromagnetic bearing 508 to further control the vibration
straight wires ( e .g ., wires 308a , 308 , 308c ) are positioned of the rotorcraft rotating shaft . The electromagnetic bear
in the electro - rheological fluid . The wires can be positioned ing ' s stiffness can be dependent on the amount of power
in all or less than all of the chamber 501 in each hollow 35 provided to the bearing. Thus, the stiffness can be directly
member. FIGS. 6D and 6E shows an example network of proportional to the power supplied . This system can adjust
wires in which multiple substantially non -straight ( e . g ., rigidity in the bearing combining within the damping control
crooked wires such as wires 310a , 310 , 3100 ) are posi- in the electro - rheological fluid to create a complete respon
tioned in the electro -rheological fluid . FIGS. 6F and 6G sive system .
shows an example network of wires in which multiple wires 40 FIG . 7 is a flowchart of an example process 700 for
are arranged in a matrix layout. In one example of thematrix controlling vibration in a rotating shaft. At least some of the
layout, alternate columns of the matrix layout include mul- operations described with reference to process 700 can be
tiple wire ends ( e . g ., wire ends 318a , 318 , 318c ) that serve implemented by the vibration control system 410 described
as anodes (e . g ., column 314a , 314 , 314c ). Multiple wire above . At 702 , chambers ofmultiple hollow members can be
ends ( e . g ., wire ends 316a , 316 , 3160 ) that serve as 45 filled with an electro - rheological fluid . At 704 , a circumfer
cathodes ( e. g ., columns 312a , 312b , 312c) are arranged in ential surface area of a rotorcraft rotating shaft can be
columns between two columns of wire ends that serve as surrounded with the multiple hollow members . For example ,
anodes. In another example , the alternate rows can include each hollow member can be a curved , elastomeric member
multiple wire ends that serve as anodes with multiple wire which , when positioned end -to - end around a portion of a
ends that serve as cathodes being arranged in rows between 50 rotorcraft rotating shaft , can surround the portion . In some
two rows of wire ends that serve as anodes . Other matrix implementations, the hollow members can be components of
layouts are also possible . a radial damper assembly such as the assembly 402
Returning to FIG . 5 , the assembly 402 can include an described above. The rotating shaft can be positioned within
inner race 506 positioned between the multiple hollow the assembly 402 . During operation , the rotating shaft can
members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft, which is received 55 experience vibration .
in the space 510 of the assembly 402 . In this manner, the At 706 , vibration of the shaft can be monitored . For
inner race 506 attaches to the shaft and reacts the shaft example , the vibration monitoring system connected to the
loading into the hollow members and the electro - rheological damper assembly through the control insert can monitor the
fluid . In some implementations, the assembly 402 can vibration of the shaft. At 708 , an optimum viscosity of the
include a bearing 508 positioned between the multiple 60 electro -rheological fluid to provide an optimum amount of
hollow members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft. The bear- damping can be determined . For example , the vibration
ing 508 can include an electromagnetic bearing having a control system can determine the viscosity of the electro
variable stiffness . rheological fluid that can at least partially or completely
Returning to FIG . 4 , the vibration control system 410 damp the vibration of the rotating shaft. At 710 , an electric
controls a vibration of the rotating shaft by changing the 65 field to be applied to obtain the determined viscosity can be
viscosity of the electro - rheological fluid in response to the determined . For example , the vibration control system can
electric field applied to the electro -rheological fluid , e . g ., to determine a quantity of electric field that will increase the
 US 9 ,841,077 B2
viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid at least partially or cease applying the electric field to the heating layer based ,
completely damp the vibration of the rotating shaft. At 712 , in part, on whether or not the hollow member has been
the electric field can be adjusted to increase or decrease the heated to the specified operating temperature .
viscosity of the electro - rheological fluid to the optimum In some implementations , the vibration monitoring sys
amount. For example , the electric field generation system 5 tem 406 or the vibration control system 408 ( or both ) can be
can apply the determined electric field to the network of implemented in digital electronic circuitry , or in computer
wires positioned in the electro -rheological fluid . software , firmware , or hardware , including the structures
In some implementations, the network of wires can be disclosed in this disclosure and their structural equivalents ,
uniformly distributed throughout the electro -rheological or in combinations of one or more of them . Alternatively or
fluid such that applying the electric field to the network of 10 in addition , the vibration control system 408 can be imple
wires can cause the viscosity ofall of the electro -rheological mented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more
fluid to increase to the determined viscosity . Alternatively , modules of computer program instructions, encoded on
the network of wires can be non - uniformly distributed computer storage medium for execution by , or to control the
throughout the electro - rheological fluid . That is, the network operation of, data processing apparatus (e. g ., one or more
of wires may be more densely concentrated in some portions 15 processors ). A computer storage medium , for example , the
of the chamber in which the electro -rheological fluid is filled computer-readable medium , can be, or be included in , a
and less densely concentrated in other portions of the computer- readable storage device , a computer-readable stor
chamber . For example , some portions of the electro - rheo age substrate , a random or serial access memory array or
logical fluid may not have any wires . device , or a combination of one or more of them . The
In response to the electric field being applied to the 20 computer storage medium can also be, or be included in , one
electro -rheological fluid , the viscosity of the fluid increases or more separate physical and /or non -transitory components
to a quantity that is sufficient to damp the vibration of the or media ( for example , multiple CDs, disks, or other storage
rotating shaft. At 714 , it can be determined that the vibration devices ).
of the shaft has decreased . For example , the vibration A number of implementations have been described . Nev
monitoring system can continue to determine the vibration 25 ertheless, it will be understood that various modifications
of the rotating shaft and , in doing so , determine that the may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
vibration of the shaft has decreased . At 716 , it can be the disclosure .
determined if viscosity needs to be increased or decreased to
obtain desired vibration . For example , the vibration control The invention claimed is :
system can determine a viscosity of the electro -rheological 30 1. A method of damping vibrations in a rotorcraft rotating
fluid that is sufficient to damp the decreased vibration of the shaft , the method comprising:
rotating shaft . If the vibration control system determines that surrounding at least a portion of a circumferential surface
a decreased electric field is to be applied to the electro area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft with a
rheological field to decrease the viscosity, then the vibration plurality of hollow members , each hollow member
control system can cause the electric field generation system 35 including an electro - rheological fluid having a viscos
to apply the decreased electric field to the network of wires. ity that changes based on an electric field applied to the
Alternatively, if the vibration control system determines that electro - rheological fluid ;
no electric field need be applied to the electro - rheological controlling a vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft by
fluid , the vibration control system can cause the electric field changing the viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid
generation system to cease applying electric field to the 40 in response to the electric field applied to the electro
network of wires . rheological fluid ; and
In some implementations, each hollow member can controlling the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft by
include a heating layer to heat the hollow member to a controlling a stiffness of an electromagnetic bearing
specified operating temperature. For example , the elasto positioned between the rotorcraft rotating shaft and the
meric hollow members that surround a rotorcraft rotating 45 plurality of follow members .
shaft may need to be heated to a specified operating tem 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow
perature before the rotorcraft can be operated . In such members include two substantially U -shaped hollow mem
examples, a layer of material can be positioned on all or bers .
portions of the elastomeric hollow member. A network of 3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the two U -shaped
wires, similar to the network of wires positioned in the 50 hollow members surround all of the circumferential surface
electro -rheological fluid , can be positioned in the heating area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft.
layer. In response to an electric field through the network of 4 . The method of claim 1, wherein each hollow member
wires , a temperature of the heating layer can increase , is an elastomeric member .
thereby heating the elastomeric hollow member to the 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the vibra
specified operating temperature . In some implementations, 55 tion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft comprises :
the electric field generation system 406 can apply the monitoring the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft;
electric field to the network of wires in the heating layer. The determining a quantity of damping to counter the vibra
network of wires in the heating layer can be in a separate tion; and
circuit from the network of wires in the electro -rheological applying a quantity of the electric field to the electro
fluid . The electric field generation system 506 can discon - 60 rheological fluid , the quantity of the electric field to
tinue the application of electric field to the network of wires change the viscosity of the electro - rheological fluid to
in response to determining that the elastomeric hollow provide the determined quantity of damping .
members have been heated to the specified operating tem 6 . Themethod of claim 5 , further comprising positioning
perature . In some implementations, the vibration monitoring a network of wires in the electro -rheological fluid , wherein
system 408 can monitor a temperature of the elastomeric 65 applying the quantity of the electric field to the electro
hollow member and the vibration control system 410 can rheological fluid comprises applying the quantity of the
control the electric field generation system 406 to apply or electric field to the network of wires .
 US 9 ,841,077 B2
10
7 . The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the vibra a vibration control system to control a vibration of the
tion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft comprises: rotating shaft by changing at least one of the viscosity
determining that the vibration of the rotorcraft rotating of the electro - rheological fluid in response to the elec
shaft is greater than an upper vibrational limit ; and tric field applied to the electro -rheological fluid or the
increasing the electric field applied to the electro - rheo - 5 stiffness of the electromagnetic bearing.
logical fluid , wherein the electric field increases the 15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the vibration control
viscosity of the electro -rheological fluid to counter the system comprises:
vibration .
8 . The method of claim 7, further comprising : a vibration monitoring system to monitor the vibration of
determining that the vibration of the rotating shaft is less 1010 the rotorcraft rotating shaft; and
than the upper vibrational limit; and an electric field generation system to apply a quantity of
decreasing the electric field applied to the electro -rheo electric field to the electro - rheological fluid , the quan
logical fluid , wherein the electric field decreases the tity of the electric field to change the viscosity of the
viscosity of the electro - rheological fluid . electro -rheological fluid to damp the vibration .
9. A radial damper assembly comprising : 16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of
a ring - shaped outer housing ; 15 hollow members include two substantially U -shaped elas
a plurality of hollow members positioned within the outer tomeric hollow members which surround all of the circum
housing to surround at least a portion of a circumfer ferential surface area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating
ential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft .
shaft, each hollow member including an electro -rheo - 3 wires 17 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the network of
logical fluid having a viscosity that changes based on least positioned in the electro -rheological fluid comprises at
an electric field applied to the electro -rheological fluid ; arrangement of wires . wires , crooked wires, or a matrix
one of straight
a network of wires arranged in columns or rows of 18. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a network
alternating polarity that are positioned in and distrib
uted throughout the electro - rheological fluid ; and of wires positioned in and distributed throughout the electro
an electromagnetic bearing having a variable stiffness 25 rheological fluid .
19. A radial damper assembly comprising:
positioned between the plurality of hollow members
and the rotorcraft rotating shaft . a ring -shaped outer housing ; and
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of a plurality of hollow members positioned within the outer
hollow members include two substantially U -shaped hollow 30 housing to surround at least a portion of a circumfer
members . ential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the two U -shaped shaft , each hollow member including an electro -rheo
hollow members surround all of the circumferential surface logical fluid having a viscosity that changes based on
area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft. an electric field applied to the electro - rheological fluid ;
12 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein each hollow mem - 35 a network
fluid ;
of wires positioned in the electro - rheological
ber is an elastomeric member. a bearing positioned between the plurality of hollow
13 . The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an inner members and the rotorcraft rotating shaft, wherein the
race positioned between the plurality of hollow members bearing is an electromagnetic bearing having a variable
and the rotorcraft rotating shaft.
14 . A radial damper system comprising: stiffness .
a radialdamper assembly comprising a plurality ofhollow hollow The
0 20 . assembly of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of
members surrounding at least a portion of a circumfer membersmembers include two substantially U - shaped hollow
that surround all of the circumferential surface
ential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating
shaft , each hollow member including an electro -rheo area of the portion of the rotorcraft rotating shaft.
logical fluid having a viscosity that changes based on 45 21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein each hollow
an electric field applied to the electro -rheological fluid ; 45 member is an elastomeric member.
22 . The assembly of claim 19 , further comprising an inner
an electromagnetic bearing positioned between the plu
rality of hollow members and the portion of the rotor race positioned between the plurality of hollow members
craft rotating shaft, the electromagnetic bearing having and the rotorcraft rotating shaft.
a variable stiffness ; and $ *