Apparatus and method for reducing vibrations of a structure particularly a helicopter

US6286782A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Horst Bansemir · Munich, DE
• Bernd Bongers · Tauberbischofsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 1998
• Grant date: Sep 11, 2001
• Expiry date: Nov 2, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16F2224/0241
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Apparatus for damping vibrations of a structure such as the air frame of a helicopter wherein a spring system (1), which has an elastic wall structure forming a tube-shaped hollow body supports a weighted vibrating object (23). At least one region of the wall structure is constructed to be elastically deformable in its plane, with a spring stiffness, tuned to the frequency of the vibration to be damped. The wall structure is formed by several planar spring elements (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d), each of which can be elastically deformed in its plane by an arrangement of longitudinal strips (110a, 110b, 111a, 111b) and connecting cross pieces (120a, 120b, 121a, 121b). A battery of the helicopter can be used as the vibrating weight (23). The vibration damper containing the battery is installed at a location on the helicopter where clear structural vibrations occur in two directions perpendicular to each other and wherein the vibration damper is tuned to the vibrations frequencies in both directions.