Synchronization characteristics and stable states of four co-rotating vibrators with balanced slanted elliptical trajectory

In the petroleum drilling and mining screening industries, our goal is to enhance excitation force, integrate circular screening with rectilinear transport to obtain the balanced slanted elliptical trajectory (BSET), and reduce screen mesh clogging. This work investigates the synchronization characteristics and stable states of four co-rotating vibrators. The novelty of this work lies in using a novel vibration model to achieve the BSET in the synchronization state and in further considering the influence of a new skewing angle between two eccentric rotors (ERs), which are few in previous vibration screening field. Initially, the vibration model is extracted from the designed prototype. Then, in accordance with Routh–Hurwitz criterion, the synchronization and stability are theoretically analyzed using small parameters of vibrator velocity and phase differences (PDs). The synchronization characteristics related to mechanical structures are discussed via numerical calculation and experimental verification. Results reveal that the synchronization implementation is adversely affected by the skewing angle, even leading to unordered behaviors. Achieving zero-phase or in-phase synchronization with four vibrators is only feasible with a larger symmetric distance and installation angle. This work can contribute a foundation for designing some new types of large vibration screening and material conveyance machines.