System and method for limiting vibration in an apparatus during a loss of power

An apparatus, comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) a member movable relative to said frame;
• c) damping means including a volume of a field controllable medium, the field controllable damper interconnected between the frame and the movable member;
• d) a controller for activating said field controllable damper to generate a damping condition at a predetermined member operating condition;
• and
• e) a means for limiting vibration in said apparatus during a loss of power to the apparatus.

In an apparatus comprising a frame;

• a movable member;
• a damping device including a volume of a field controllable medium, the field controllable damper interconnected between the frame and the movable member;
• a controller for activating said field controllable damper to generate a damping condition at a predetermined member operating condition;
• and means for activating the damping device at a predetermined operating condition of the moving member, the method comprising the steps of upon loss of power to the apparatus, supplying an activating signal to the means for activating the damping device and as required supplying activating signals to the damping device to change the rheology of the field controllable medium in the damping device.

In an apparatus comprising a frame;

• a movable member;
• a damping device interconnected between the frame and the movable member where said damping device is activated in response to a signal;
• a controller for supplying said signal to activate said damper to generate a damping condition at a predetermined member operating condition;
• and means for activating the damping device at a predetermined operating condition of the moving member, the method comprising the steps of upon loss of power to the apparatus, supplying an activating signal to the means for activating the damping device and as required supplying activating signals to the damping device to provide the required damping to the apparatus.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a) a frame;
• b) a member movable relative to said frame;
• c) damping means interconnected between the frame and the movable member, said damping means for supplying damping in response to an actuating signal;
• d) a controller for actuating said damper to generate a damping condition at a predetermined member operating condition;and
• e) means for limiting vibration in said apparatus during a loss of power to the apparatus.