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An illustrative embodiment of a damper for use with rotary machinery may include a damper mass connected to an electronics housing via one or more piezo elements. The illustrative embodiment of the damper may include one or more electrical components wherein the electrical components, piezo elements

An illustrative embodiment of a damper for use with rotary machinery may include a damper mass connected to an electronics housing via one or more piezo elements. The illustrative embodiment of the damper may include one or more electrical components wherein the electrical components, piezo elements, and/or damper mass may be tuned such that the damper is configured with an electrical resonance frequency corresponding to a mechanical resonance frequency present in a component of the rotary machinery. The piezo elements may be extension/retraction type or bending type, and they may have any orientation with respect to the rotational axis of the rotary machinery depending on the specific embodiment and/or application of the damper.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A damper comprising: a. an electrical component;b. a piezo element having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said piezo element is engaged with said electrical component, and wherein said piezo element is in electrical communication with said electrical component; andc. a damper mas

1. A damper comprising: a. an electrical component;b. a piezo element having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said piezo element is engaged with said electrical component, and wherein said piezo element is in electrical communication with said electrical component; andc. a damper mass engaged with said second end of said piezo element, wherein said damper mass, said piezo element, and said electrical component are configured to have an electrical resonance frequency that corresponds to a mechanical resonance frequency of a component of a rotary machine. 2. The damper according to claim 1 further comprising an electronics housing, wherein said electrical component is further defined as being positioned in said electronics housing. 3. The damper according to claim 2 wherein said electronics housing, said piezo element, and said damper mass are further defined as being configured to rotate with a machine rotor of said rotary machine. 4. The damper according to claim 1 wherein said electrical component is further defined as being positioned in a bearing rotor. 5. The damper according to claim 3 further comprising a sleeve, wherein said sleeve is configured to rotate with a machine rotor of said rotary machine. 6. The damper according to claim 5 further comprising a second piezo element having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said second piezo element is engaged with said electrical component, wherein said second end of said second piezo element is engaged with said damper mass, and wherein said second piezo element is in electrical communication with said electrical component. 7. The damper according to claim 6 further comprising an end ring adjacent said damper mass. 8. The damper according to claim 7 wherein said electrical component is further defined as being selected from a group consisting of a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, and a semi-active element. 9. The damper according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of electrical components. 10. A damper comprising: a. an electronics housing configured for engagement with a machine rotor of a rotary machine, wherein an electrical component is positioned within said electronics housing;b. a piezo element having first and second ends, wherein said first end of said piezo element is engaged with said electronics housing, and wherein said piezo element is in electrical communication with said electrical component;c. a damper mass engaged with said second end of said piezo element, wherein said damper mass, said piezo element, and said electrical component are configured to have an electrical resonance frequency that corresponds to a mechanical resonance frequency of a component of a rotary machine; and,d. an end ring configured for engagement with said machine rotor, wherein said end ring is positioned adjacent said damper mass and provides at least an axial limit to the maximum distance the damper mass may be located away from said electronics housing. 11. The damper according to claim 10 wherein said end ring further comprises an outer radial limiter positioned radially outward with respect to said damper mass and an inner radial limiter positioned radially inward with respect to said damper mass. 12. The damper according to claim 10 wherein said end ring further comprises an angled extension on a surface thereof adjacent said damper mass and said damper mass further comprises a chamfer 30b corresponding to said angled extension. 13. The damper according to claim 10 wherein said damper mass further comprises a surface feature. 14. The damper according to claim 10 further comprising a plurality of piezo elements, wherein each said piezo element has a first and a second end, wherein said first end of each said piezo element is engaged with said electrical component, wherein said second end of each said piezo element is engaged with said damper mass, and wherein each said piezo element is in electrical communication with said electrical component. 15. The damper according to claim 14 wherein said plurality of piezo elements is further defined as a piezo element assembly. 16. The damper according to claim 14 wherein said damper mass is further defined as being moveable with respect to said electronics housing in a dimension that is generally parallel with respect to a rotational axis of said machine rotor. 17. The damper according to claim 14 wherein said end ring is further defined as a mass guide, wherein said mass guide is configured to translate movement of said damper mass that occurs in a plane that is not parallel to a rotational axis of said machine rotor to a bending force on said plurality of piezo elements. 18. The damper according to claim 14 wherein said end ring is further defined as a mass guide, wherein said mass guide is configured to translate movement of said damper mass that occurs in a plane that is not parallel to a rotational axis of said machine rotor to a force on said plurality of piezo elements that is generally parallel to a length of each said piezo element. 19. A method of damping a vibration in a rotary machine, said method comprising: a. engaging a damper with a shaft of said rotary machine, wherein said shaft is rotatable with respect to a second structure of said rotary machine, wherein said damper comprises: i. an electrical component engaged with said rotary machine;ii. a piezo element engaged with said rotary machine, wherein said piezo element is in electrical communication with said electrical component; and,iii. a damper mass engaged with said piezo element at a second end of said piezo element;b. tuning electrical component, said piezo element, and said damper mass to an electrical resonance frequency that corresponds to a mechanical resonance frequency of a machine rotor of said rotary machine, wherein said machine rotor is engaged with said shaft;c. allowing said damper mass to move with respect to said electronics housing;d. generating an electrical charge via said piezo element when said damper mass moves; and,e. dissipating said electrical charge as an electrical current via electrical component.