초록

A damper mechanism for absorbing torsional vibrations in a rotating shaft. The damper mechanism includes a vibration absorbing mechanism and at least one actuator that is controllable to affect the torsional vibration absorbing characteristics of the vibration absorbing mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A dynamic damper mechanism for damping torsional vibration in a shaft, the dynamic damper mechanism comprising:a damper device having a mass member, an attachment member, a vibration absorbing mechanism and at least one actuator, the attachment member being adapted to be coupled for rotation with

1. A dynamic damper mechanism for damping torsional vibration in a shaft, the dynamic damper mechanism comprising:a damper device having a mass member, an attachment member, a vibration absorbing mechanism and at least one actuator, the attachment member being adapted to be coupled for rotation with the shaft, the mass member being disposed circumferentially about the attachment member, the vibration absorbing mechanism resiliently coupling the mass member to the attachment member and having a torsional vibration absorbing characteristic, the actuator being coupled to the vibration absorbing mechanism and being operable in at least two conditions, each condition affecting the torsional vibration absorbing characteristic of the vibration absorbing mechanism; a first sensor that is adapted to sense a rotational position of the shaft and generate a position signal in response thereto; a second sensor that is adapted to sense a magnitude of the torsional vibration in the shaft and generate a vibration signal in response thereto; and a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and the at least one actuator, the controller receiving the position signal and the vibration signal and controlling the at least one actuator in response thereto to cause the at least one actuator to affect the torsional vibration absorbing characteristic of the vibration absorbing mechanism so as to damp the torsional vibration in the shaft. 2. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a magnostrictive member having a dimension that varies in accordance with a control signal that is produced by the controller.3. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 2, wherein the vibration damping mechanism includes a resilient member that extends radially outwardly between the attachment member and the mass member in a compressed state, the magnostrictive member being operable for varying a degree to which the resilient member is compressed.4. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of second resilient members, each of the second resilient members extending radially outwardly between the attachment member and the mass member in a compressed state and circumferentially spaced apart from one another and the resilient member.5. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 4, wherein a second magnostrictive member is coupled to each of the second resilient members, each of the second magnostrictive members being operable for varying a degree to which an associated one of the second resilient members is compressed.6. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 5, wherein the controller is operable for controlling the magnostrictive member and each of the second magnostrictive members on an individual basis.7. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 4, wherein the second resilient members are formed from an elastomeric material.8. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 3, wherein the resilient member is formed from an elastomeric material.9. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 2, wherein the vibration damping mechanism includes a first resilient member and a second resilient member, each of the first and second resilient members being configured to exert a force in a tangential direction, the first and second resilient members being spaced apart from one another with one of the magnostrictive member, the attachment member and the mass member being disposed therebetween.10. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second resilient members is a spring.11. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 10, wherein the spring is a coil spring.12. The dynamic damper mechanism of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second resilient members is formed from an elastomeric material.13. A shaft assembly for transmitting rotary power, the shaft assembly comprising:a shaft structure; a damper device having a mass member, an attachment member, a vibration absorbing mechanism and at least one actuator, the attachment member being adapted to be coupled for rotation with the shaft structure, the mass member being disposed circumferentially about the attachment member, the vibration absorbing mechanism resiliently coupling the mass member to the attachment member and having a torsional vibration absorbing characteristic, the actuator being coupled to the vibration absorbing mechanism and being operable in at least two conditions, each condition affecting the torsional vibration absorbing characteristic of the vibration absorbing mechanism; a first sensor for sensing a rotational position of the shaft and generating a position signal in response thereto; a second sensor for sensing a magnitude of torsional vibration in the shaft and generating a vibration signal in response thereto; and a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and the at least one actuator, the controller receiving the position signal and the vibration signal and controlling the at least one actuator in response thereto to cause the at least one actuator to affect the torsional vibration absorbing characteristic of the vibration absorbing mechanism so as to damp the torsional vibration in the shaft structure. 14. The shaft assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator includes a magnostrictive member having a dimension that varies in accordance with a control signal that is produced by the controller.15. The shaft assembly of claim 14, wherein the vibration damping mechanism includes a resilient member that extends radially outwardly between the attachment member and the mass member in a compressed state, the magnostrictive member being operable for varying a degree to which the resilient member is compressed.16. The shaft assembly of claim 13, wherein the vibration damping mechanism includes a first resilient member and a second resilient member, each of the first and second resilient members being configured to exert a force in a tangential direction, the first and second resilient members being spaced apart from one another with one of the magnostrictive member, the attachment member and the mass member being disposed therebetween.17. A shaft assembly for transmitting rotary power, the shaft assembly comprising:a shaft structure; a damper device having a mass member, an attachment member a vibration absorbing mechanism and at least one actuator, the mass member being disposed circumferentially about the shaft structure, the vibration absorbing mechanism resiliently coupling the mass member to the shaft structure and having a torsional vibration absorbing characteristic, the actuator being coupled to the vibration absorbing mechanism and being operable in at least two conditions, each condition affecting the torsional vibration absorbing characteristic of the vibration absorbing mechanism; a first sensor for sensing a rotational position of the shaft and generating a position signal in response thereto; a second sensor for sensing a magnitude of the torsional vibration in the shaft and generating a vibration signal in response thereto; and a controller coupled to the first and second sensors and the at least one actuator, the controller receiving the position signal and the vibration signal and controlling the at least one actuator in response thereto to cause the at least one actuator to affect the torsional vibration absorbing characteristic of the vibration absorbing mechanism so as to damp the torsional vibration in the shaft structure. 18. The shaft assembly of claim 17, wherein the actuator includes a magnostrictive member having a dimension that varies in accordance with a control signal that is produced by the controller.19. The shaft assembly of claim 18, wherein the vibration damping mechanism includes a resilient member that extends radially outwardly between the attachment member and the mass member in a compressed state, the magnostrictive member being operable for varying a degree to which the resilient member is compressed.20. The shaft assembly of claim 18, wherein the vibration damping mechanism includes a first resilient member and a second resilient member, each of the first and second resilient members being configured to exert a force in a tangential direction, the first and second resilient members being spaced apart from one another and being disposed on opposite sides of one of the magnostrictive member, the mass member and a radially extending member that is fixedly coupled for rotation with the shaft structure.