Controllable vehicle suspension system with a controllable magnetorheological fluid strut

US7849983B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LORD Corporation · US

Inventors

• Kenneth A. St. Clair · Raleigh, US
• William J. McMahon · Chapel Hill, US
• Robert H. Marjoram · Holly Springs, US
• Mark R. Jolly · Raleigh, US
• J. David Carlson · Cary, US
• K. Andrew Kintz · Apex, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 1, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 14, 2010
• Expiry date: Dec 9, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The controllable suspension system includes a strut with a magnetorheological fluid damper. The magnetorheological fluid damper includes a longitudinal damper tubular housing having a longitudinally extending axis and an inner wall for containing magnetorheological fluid. The damper includes a piston head movable within the damper tubular housing along a longitudinal length the housing, with the damper piston head providing a first upper variable volume magnetorheological fluid chamber and a second lower variable volume magnetorheological fluid chamber, with a fluid flow gap between the upper and lower fluid chambers with a piston head fluid flow interface length HL, the damper piston having a longitudinal piston rod for supporting the piston head within the housing, with the piston supported within the housing with a piston rod bearing assembly disposed between the housing and the rod, with the piston rod bearing assembly having a piston rod bearing seal interface length BL, wherein contact between the piston head and the damper tubular housing inner wall is inhibited.