ContiTech Schwingmetall - Press Releases

Hanover, May 2008 At CeMAT (May 27-31, 2008) ContiTech Vibration Control is presenting an active vibration system capable of applying opposing vibration to purposefully and flexibly neutralize a drive's inherent vibration. “Active vibration control systems are a good idea wherever structure-borne sound detracts from the operational comfort of systems, machines and vehicles,“ explains Dr. Hans-Jürgen Karkosch, head of Advanced Development at ContiTech Vibration Control. In the form of a large-scale model at its trade show booth (L14 in hall 25) the company offers visitors a first-time look at the working principle underlying active vibration technology.

Working principle behind the active vibration system: An actuator starts to oscillate. This oscillation is transmitted to the vehicle body, where it compensates for other vibration under certain physical circumstances.

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An active vibration control system consists of four components – a power generating actuator, an electronic control device, a power amplifier and an acceleration sensor. The company holds a key patent for an electromagnetic actuator. The design of the actuator and the functional development of the active systems in particular fall within ContiTech Vibration Control’s core competency. For the development of control devices and sensors, the expertise at Continental can be called into play. Active vibration control systems have already been successfully tested on many experimental vehicle makes and models.

“The active vibration system employs electric energy to get the actuator vibrating. This vibration is fed, for example, into the body of a passenger car. Under certain physical conditions it functions as counteracting vibration to compensate for the engine’s structure-borne noise,” explains Karkosch. An active vibration control system can neutralize vibration over a broad frequency range. Systems consisting, for instance, of a hydromount with integrated actuator are especially good at compensating for low-frequency disturbance. Excitation like this occurs, for example, in the idle range of an industrial vehicle.