Lossless Adjustable Spring/Inerter Mechanism

Brief Description

This technology offers a novel mechanical arrangement for lossless, adjustable operation of springs or inerters.

Full Description

The technology consists of a mechanical setup where a spring or an inerter is connected via a lever with a variable pivot point, allowing for adjustable operation without energy loss. For rotary applications, it involves a lossless adjustable rotary 2-port transformer, realized through two cones coupled by rolling balls, enabling continuous adjustment of angular velocities and torques.

Suggested uses

• Automotive suspension systems. 
• Industrial machinery vibration dampening. 
• Robotic articulations and actuators. 
• Aerospace control surface actuation.

Advantages

• Energy-efficient operation with minimal power loss. 
• Adjustable settings allow for versatile application in different mechanical setups. 
• Continuous lossless adjustment of torques and angular velocities. 
• Easy integration into existing mechanical systems.

Patent Status

Patent Pending

Related Materials

• T. T. Georgiou, F. Jabbari and M. C. Smith, "Principles of Lossless Adjustable One-Ports," in IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 252-262, Jan. 2020, doi: 10.1109/TAC.2019.2917853.