IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,927,236
Granted Patent B2
US 11,927,236 · App. 17/156,185 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Vibration isolation for rotating machines

Inventors: Umesh N. Gandhi (Farmington Hills, MI); Paul A. Gilmore (Ann Arbor, MI); Ryohei Tsuruta (Ann Arbor, MI); Brian J. Pinkelman (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
F16F15/04F16F1/32F16F3/00F16F15/1215F16F15/1336
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,927,236
App. No.
17/156,185
Granted
Mar 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rotating machine system include a rotating machine. The rotating machine system can include a housing. The housing can include an inner surface. The housing can surround at least a portion of the rotating machine. The inner surface of the housing can be spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween. The rotating machine system can include a plurality of vibration isolators. The vibration isolators can be positioned in the space and can be operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing. The vibration isolators can be compression-type vibration isolators.

Claims (29)

1. A rotating machine system comprising:

a rotating machine;

a housing including an inner surface, the housing surrounding at least a portion of the rotating machine, the inner surface of the housing being spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween; and

a plurality of vibration isolators being positioned in the space and being operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing, the plurality of vibration isolators being a plurality of compression-type vibration isolators and having a stiffness profile including a quasi-zero stiffness region.

2. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are configured to compress at a substantially constant crush force in response to a force applied by the rotating machine.

3. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are arranged in a row in a circumferential direction about the rotating machine.

4. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are arranged substantially radially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating machine.

5. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein the plurality of rows are spaced from each other along an axis of rotation of the rotating machine.

6. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are distributed non-uniformly in a circumferential direction.

7. The rotating machine system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are distributed with a greater concentration in a lower region of the space than in an upper region of the space.

8. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating machine is suspended in the housing by the plurality of vibration isolators.

9. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators include a plurality of stacks of conical springs.

10. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators include a plurality of bi-stable structures.

11. The rotating machine system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating machine is one of a motor, turbine, or generator.

12. A rotating machine system comprising:

a rotating machine;

a housing including an inner surface, the housing surrounding at least a portion of the rotating machine, the inner surface of the housing being spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween; and

a plurality of vibration isolators being positioned in the space and being operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing, the plurality of vibration isolators being a plurality of compression-type vibration isolators, the plurality of vibration isolators having a stiffness profile including a quasi-zero stiffness region and being configured to compress at a substantially constant crush force in response to a force applied by the rotating machine, and the plurality of vibration isolators being one of: a plurality of stacks of conical springs or a plurality of bi-stable structures.

13. The rotating machine system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are arranged in a row in a circumferential direction about the rotating machine.

14. The rotating machine system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are arranged substantially radially relative to an axis of rotation of the rotating machine.

15. The rotating machine system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are arranged in a plurality of rows, and wherein the plurality of rows are spaced from each other along an axis of rotation of the rotating machine.

16. The rotating machine system of claim 12 , wherein the rotating machine is suspended in the housing by the plurality of vibration isolators.

17. The rotating machine system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are a plurality of bi-stable structures, and wherein the plurality of bi-stable structures are formed as a unitary structure with the housing.

18. The rotating machine system of claim 12 , wherein the rotating machine is one of a motor, turbine, or generator.

19. A rotating machine system comprising:

a rotating machine;

a housing including an inner surface, the housing surrounding at least a portion of the rotating machine, the inner surface of the housing being spaced from the rotating machine such that a space is defined therebetween; and

a plurality of vibration isolators being positioned in the space and being operatively connected to the rotating machine and to the inner surface of the housing, the plurality of vibration isolators being a plurality of compression-type vibration isolators distributed non-uniformly in a circumferential direction and being configured to compress at a substantially constant crush force in response to a force applied by the rotating machine, and the plurality of vibration isolators being one of: a plurality of stacks of conical springs or a plurality of bi-stable structures.

20. The rotating machine system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of vibration isolators are distributed with a greater concentration in a lower region of the space than in an upper region of the space.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066786/0837 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: GANDHI, UMESH N.; GILMORE, PAUL A.; TSURUTA, RYOHEI; PINKELMAN, BRIAN J.
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 055046/0361 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63128507 · Dec 21, 2020
Related Publication 20220196111A1 · Jun 23, 2022
Cited By (4)
US 12,565,274 US 12,576,432 US 12,679,493 US 12,715,531