Magnetorheological fluid clutch apparatus with cylindrical fluid gap

A magnetorheological fluid clutch apparatus comprising:

• a stator adapted to be connected to a structure, the stator having at least an annular wall;
• a first rotor rotatably mounted to the stator, the first rotor having at least one first drum supported on one side of a first drum holder, a hollow chamber on an opposite side of the first drum holder, and at least one first fluid passage through the first drum holder;
• a second rotor rotatably mounted to the stator for rotating about a common axis with the first rotor, the second rotor having at least one second drum opposite the at least one first drum and separated by annular spaces, the at least one second drum supported by a second drum holder, at least one second fluid passage being defined through the second drum holder;
• magnetorheological (MR) fluid in an MR fluid chamber including the annular spaces between the drums, the MR fluid configured to generate a variable amount of torque transmission between the rotors when subjected to a magnetic field;
• and
• an inner magnetic core and an outer magnetic core, the inner magnetic core and the outer magnetic core connected to at least one of the rotor to rotate therewith so as to be rotatably mounted to the stator;
• and
• at least one coil supported by the annular wall and actuatable to deliver a magnetic field through the MR fluid, the magnetic field following a path comprising at least the annular wall, the outer magnetic core, the at least one first drum and the at least one second drum, and the inner magnetic core;
• wherein a magnetorheological fluid path is sequentially defined by the annular spaces, the first fluid passages, the hollow chamber, fluid passages in the outer magnetic core, a space outward of the drums, and the second fluid passages;
• wherein one of the rotors is adapted to be coupled to a power input and the other of the rotors is adapted to be connected to an output whereby actuation of the at least one coil results in a variation of torque transmission between the rotors.

A magnetorheological fluid clutch apparatus comprising:

• a stator adapted to be connected to a structure and having a power emitting device;
• a first rotor rotatably mounted to the stator, the first rotor having a magnetic core, at least one first shear surface, and a power receiving device configured to wirelessly receive power from the power emitting device on the stator;
• at least one fluid gap between the power emitting device and the power receiving device, the fluid gap entirely filled with a fluid;
• a second rotor rotatably mounted to the stator for rotating about a common axis with the first rotor, the second rotor having at least one second shear surface opposite the at least one first shear surface, the shear surfaces separated by at least one annular space;
• magnetorheological fluid in an MR fluid chamber including the at least one annular space between the at least one first shear surface and the at least one second shear surface, the MR fluid configured to generate a variable amount of torque transmission between the rotors when subjected to a magnetic field;
• and
• at least one coil connected to the power receiving device and supported by the magnetic core, the at least one coil actuatable to deliver a magnetic field through the MR fluid, the magnetic field following a path comprising the magnetic core, the at least one first shear surface and the at least one second shear surface;
• wherein one of the rotors is adapted to be coupled to a power input and the other of the rotors is adapted to be connected to an output whereby actuation of the at least one coil results in a variation of torque transmission between the rotors.