Damping coefficient-regulating inductive heating systems and isolator assemblies including the same

An isolator assembly, comprising:

• an isolator including a hydraulic damper fillable with a damping fluid, the hydraulic damper comprising:
• first and second hydraulic chambers containing the damping fluid when the damper is filled therewith;
• first and second metal bellows peripherally bounding the first and second hydraulic chambers, respectively;
• and
• a restricted orifice through which the first and second hydraulic chambers are fluidly coupled;
• and
• an inductive heating shroud positioned around an outer circumference of the hydraulic damper in a non-contacting relationship to form a circumferential clearance between the inductive heating shroud and the hydraulic damper, the inductive heating shroud configured to direct energy through the circumferential clearance and to hydraulic damper in a manner heating the first and second metal bellows and the damping fluid contacted thereby.

A damper coefficient-regulating inductive heating system configured to be installed on an isolator containing a hydraulic damper fillable with a damping fluid, the damper coefficient-regulating inductive heating system comprising:

• an inductive heating device positioned around a periphery of the hydraulic damper in a non-contacting relationship when the damper coefficient-regulating inductive heating system is installed on the isolator;
• a sensor configured to monitor data indicative of damping fluid temperature;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the inductive heating device and the sensor, the controller configured to receive the data from the sensor and, in response thereto, control the inductive heating device to selectively generate a varying magnetic field to induce heating of one or more damper components contained in the hydraulic damper and contacting the damping fluid.