Method and apparatus for reducing brake shudder
US5816587A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60G2202/424
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A variable stiffness suspension bushing (18) that is useful in a suspension of a motor vehicle to reduce brake shudder includes a shaft or rod (40) connected to a suspension member (12), an inner cylinder (42) fixedly connected to the shaft or rod (40), and an outer cylinder (44) fixedly connected to a chassis member (16). A magnetorheological (MR) elastomer (48), having iron particles embedded therein, is interposed between the inner (42) and outer (44) cylinders, and a coil (54) is disposed about the inner cylinder (42). When the coil (54) is energized by electrical current provided from a suspension control module (20), a variable magnetic field is generated so as to influence the magnetorheological (MR) elastomer (48) whereby variable stiffness values of the elastomer (48) are obtained to provide the bushing (18) with variable stiffness characteristics in order to eliminate compromises heretofore necessary when using single, fixed rate bushings.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.