Electrorheological valve
US10352481B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2017 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 6, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/87249
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ER fluid valve includes a housing and a plurality of parallel flow passages through the housing each defined by spaced electrodes at least one of which is controllable independently of other flow passages electrodes. A controller is configured to selectively establish electrical fields for all of the independently controllable electrodes to close all of the flow passages to ER fluid flowing through the housing. By removing the fields from all of the independently controllable electrodes, all the flow passages are open to the ER fluid flowing through the housing. By establishing fields for select independently controllable electrodes to close their associated flow passages and by leaving other flow passages open, restricted flow of the ER fluid through the housing is accomplished to vary the flow rate through the housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.