The Elements of Pendulum Dampers

Abstract

The dynamics of a pendulum damper is treated in a more general way than hitherto, all known types being included. A new method of considering the effects of a pendulum damper when fixed at any point in an engine system is developed, showing that its action results in an alteration or displacement of the critical speeds at which the harmonic orders occur. A convenient method is outlined for arriving theoretically at the best design for a pendulum damper, whatever may be its location in the engine system. As a practical illustration, a brief account is given of experimental work which was undertaken to test the behaviour of a well-known engine when a certain pendulum damper was fitted to the flywheel. A further account of a similar application to a six-cylinder engine is also given. Special forms of pendulums, and a note on the estimation of angular amplitudes, are discussed in Appendix I, and a bibliography and a short list of the most important patent specifications relating to pendulum dampers are also included.