Vibration control with active lag damper
A rotor system includes a hub assembly, a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly, a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively, and a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper. A method to control vibratory forces exerted on the hub assembly via the first and second rotor blade includes separately controlling a dynamic spring rate of each of the first and second dampers with the control system.
1. A rotor system, comprising:
a hub assembly;
a first, second, and third rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly;
a first, second, and third damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first, second, and third rotor blade, respectively;
a control system operably associated with the first, second, and third damper;
wherein each damper is a closed loop control system that uses feedback sensors to inform a controller of the damper properties and performance which is then used to determine an appropriate action of a pump system to adjust a dynamic spring rate of the damper to achieve optimum performance.
2. The rotor system of claim 1 , the first damper having:
a housing; and
a piston disposed within the housing and configured to alter dynamic forces exerted on the damper.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the piston forms a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; and
wherein fluid is channeled between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber as the piston moves within the housing.
4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fluid passage extending through the piston;
wherein the passage is configured to channel fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber.
5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a conduit positioned outside the housing and in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the pump system is in fluid communication with the conduit;
wherein the pump system is configured to pressurize the fluid disposed within the first and second fluid chambers.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the pump system is disposed within the conduit.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control system is operably associated with the pump system.
9. The rotor system of claim 1 , the first damper having:
a housing; and
an elastomeric material disposed within the housing and configured to alter dynamic forces exerted on the damper.
10. A rotor system, comprising:
a hub assembly;
a first and second rotor blade rotatably attached to the hub assembly;
a first and second damper pivotally attached to the hub assembly and pivotally attached to the first and second rotor blade, respectively;
a first pump system and a second pump system operably associated with the first and second dampers, respectively; and
a control system operably associated with the first and second pump systems;
wherein each damper is a closed loop control system that uses feedback sensors to inform a controller of the damper properties and performance which is then used to determine an appropriate action of a pump system to adjust a dynamic spring rate of the damper to achieve optimum performance.
11. The rotor system of claim 10 , the first damper having:
a housing; and
a piston disposed within the housing and configured to alter dynamic forces exerted on the damper.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the piston forms a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; and
wherein fluid is channeled between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber as the piston moves within the housing.
13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a conduit positioned outside the housing and in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first pump system is in fluid communication with the conduit.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the pump system is disposed within the conduit.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein fluid within the damper is an electrorheological fluid configured to change viscosity as electrical energy is induced.