Tuned energy redistribution system for vibrating systems

Abstract

The tuned energy redistribution system is used to precisely control the amplitude of vibrations in a vibrating system. The vibrating system typically has a resonant frequency or other vibration frequency modes that are either undesirable or of excessive amplitude. The present tuned energy redistribution system functions to redistribute the vibrational energy from these undesirable frequencies to other selected frequencies, such as by spreading the vibration frequencies out over a wide band of frequencies. The tuned energy redistribution comprises vibration input elements and/or vibration shaping elements that collectively function to enable the user to program the frequency and magnitude of the vibrations that are produced by the vibrating system. This energy redistribution is typically accomplished by providing tuned absorbers, consisting of a vibrating mass and a vibration stop, which shape the frequency response of the vibrating system by responding to frequencies mostly near their natural frequency of vibration and then, when the response displacement is sufficient, provide a vibration input by impacting the element in the vibrating system to which they are connected via the vibration stop, causing broad band vibration to be generated by the series of impacts.