Magnetorheological fluid damper tunable for smooth transitions
US6318520A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60G2204/112
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An improved magnetorheological fluid damper is provided which effectively provides a smooth transition, without a sharp break in the damper force/velocity curve, between very low damping forces near zero damper velocity to higher damping forces at higher piston velocities while maintaining desirable maximum force levels. The damper includes a piston assembly, including a magnet assembly and a flow gap extending through the piston assembly to permit fluid flow between the chambers. The force/velocity optimization feature includes a groove or passage open to the flow gap, positioned in series with a part of the flow gap in a magnetic circuit generated by the magnet assembly and dimensioned/sized to permit fluid flowing the passage to experience a magnetorheological effect less than a magnetorheological effect experienced by fluid flowing through the flow gap but not through the groove. Preferably, the passage is formed in an inner annular surface of a flux ring positioned around a piston core. The passage may be a single passage or multiple passages and may be formed, for example, by a curvilinear surface, a modified rectangular surface and/or a triangular surface or combinations of …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.