# US 10,767,722 B2 · Mount for subframe

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- Number: US 10,767,722 B2
- Document ID: US10767722B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/206,242
- Filed: 2018-11-30
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Toshio Inoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767722B2

## CPC

- F16F 9/535: {Magnetorheological [MR] fluid dampers (springs comprising magnetorheological [MR] elastomers F16F1/361)}
- B62D 27/04: resilient
- B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions}
- F16F 2222/12: Fluid damping
- F16F 2224/045: magnetorheological
- F16F 2228/066: Variable stiffness
- F16F 2234/02: cylindrical
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

Flows of magnetorheological fluid inside a mount are controlled to be stopped in the direction of the axis of the mount and in directions perpendicular to the axis by applying coil excitation current to an exciting coil, and thus the elastic properties of the mount are adjusted such that the mount is hardened in the axial direction and in the directions perpendicular to the axis. As a result, a variable damping force can be exerted on the external forces applied to the mount in the axial direction and in the directions perpendicular to the axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mount for a subframe of a vehicle, said mount having a cylindrical shape, containing magnetorheological fluid in a fluid tight manner, and configured to be disposed on the subframe at a position where the subframe is supported by a vehicle body, the mount comprising:
upper and lower fluid chambers;
a middle fluid chamber, including an axial path extending in a direction of an axis of the mount and an axis-perpendicular path extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis, the middle fluid chamber being disposed between the upper and lower fluid chambers;
and a magnetic member,
wherein:
one end of the axial path communicates with one of the upper and lower fluid chambers,
another end of the axial path communicates with one end of the axis-perpendicular path, and another end of the axis-perpendicular path communicates with the other of the upper and lower fluid chambers;
the magnetic member forms magnetic paths passing through the axial path of the middle fluid chamber in directions perpendicular to the axis, and passing through the axis perpendicular path in the direction of the axis, in a state where excitation current is applied to a coil wound about the axis;
and wherein a plurality of partition members extend radially to partition the upper and lower fluid chambers into sectors of a hollow cylinder.

### Claim 2

A mount for a subframe of a vehicle, said mount having a cylindrical shape and configured to be disposed on the subframe at a position where the subframe is supported by a vehicle body, the mount comprising:
an inner cylinder including a hollow shaft portion for fastening the mount to the vehicle body;
an outer cylinder disposed to be coaxial with the inner cylinder;
a coil having a cylindrical shape and secured adjacent to the inner cylinder; and
first and second elastic members each having an annular shape, respectively disposed in upper and lower portions of the mount, and holding a magnetorheological fluid inside the mount in a fluid tight manner,
wherein:
a first fluid chamber and a third fluid chamber accommodating the magnetorheological fluid are respectively disposed in the upper and lower portions inside the mount;
a second fluid chamber accommodating the magnetorheological fluid is disposed between the first fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber;
the second fluid chamber includes an axial path, extending in a direction of an axis of the mount and communicating with the first fluid chamber, and an axis-perpendicular path, extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis and communicating with the axial path and the third fluid chamber; and
a first magnetic member is secured to an outer circumference of the inner cylinder and a second magnetic member is secured to an inner circumference of the outer cylinder such that magnetic paths passing through the axial path of the second fluid chamber in the directions perpendicular to the axis and passing through the axis-perpendicular path in the direction of the axis are formed in a state where excitation current is applied to the coil,
and wherein a plurality of partition members extend radially to partition the first fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber into sectors of a hollow cylinder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The mount for the subframe according to claim 2, wherein:
the axial path and the axis-perpendicular path of the second fluid chamber are crank-shaped when the mount is viewed in longitudinal section;
the magnetic paths in the directions perpendicular to the axis are formed radially in the directions perpendicular to the axis; and
the magnetic paths in the direction of the axis are formed throughout an entire circumference of the axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The mount for the subframe according to claim 2, wherein a volume of the second fluid chamber is smaller than a volume of the first fluid chamber and than a volume of the third fluid chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The mount for the subframe according to claim 2, wherein a stiffness of one of the first and second elastic members, each having the annular shape, respectively disposed in the upper and lower portions of the mount, and holding the magnetorheological fluid inside the mount in a fluid tight manner, is lower than a stiffness of the other elastic member.