US 4,733,758 A · Tunable electrorheological fluid mount

Abstract

The mount has variable volume fluid chambers interconnected by fluid passageways and containing electrorheological fluid. Valves are arranged in series with a plurality of the passageways. Each valve has a flow area greater than that of the passageway in series therewith. Energization of a valve generates an electrical field effective to so increase the apparent viscosity of the fluid within the valve as to prevent fluid flow through the passageway in series with it. Selective energization of the valves, by suitable controls associated therewith, varies the frequencies at which fluid inertia forces cause the mount to undergo abrupt changes in dynamic stiffness. The valves may be located upon opposite sides of a central mount section through which the chamber connecting passages extend. Electrode elements of the valves are preferably so shaped as to minimize fluid drag and electrical concentration. In one embodiment the passageways all communicate at one end with a common variable volume chamber, while communicating at their opposite ends with respective ones of a plurality of different chambers.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A vibration attenuating mount or the like of the fluid inertia type, comprising:

housing means, formed in part of resilient elastomeric material, having a plurality of variable volume fluid chambers and a plurality of flow passageways interconnecting said chambers;
electrorheological fluid means disposed within said chambers and said passageways for during operation of said mount generating inertia forces effecting abrupt changes in the dynamic stiffness of the mount at certain excitation frequencies;
adjustable means for adjustably varying said frequencies at which said changes occur, said adjustable means including valve means disposed in series with at least one of said passageways for controlling the flow of said fluid therethrough, said valve means having a plurality of parallel flow paths extending therethrough, the combined cross-sectional flow areas of said flow paths being substantially greater than the cross-sectional flow area of said one of said passageways.

A vibration attenuating mount or the like of the fluid inertia type, comprising:

a housing having a rigid central section, and means disposed adjacent opposite sides of said central section and defining therewith first and second variable volume fluid chambers;
said central housing section having first and second passageways extending therein from opposite sides of said central section in generally parallel relationship to each other and to a central axis of said central section, said central section having a third passageway extending therein in a helical fashion about said axis and opening at its opposite ends from said opposite sides of said section, each of said passageways being of generally circular crosssectional shape, said first and second passageways having first and second differing diameters;
electrorheological fluid means within said chambers and said passageways;
first valve means carried by and disposed adjacent one side of said central housing section and in series with said first passageway for controlling fluid flow through said first passageway;
second valve means carried by and disposed adjacent the opposite side of said central housing section in series with said second passageway for controlling fluid flow through said second passageway;
each of said valve means having a cross-sectional flow area substantially greater than the cross-sectional flow area of the one of said passageways in series therewith, and each of said valve means including a plurality of electrode members extending in spaced adjacent relationship to each other for, during energization of said valve means, generating a high intensity electrical field effective to substantially solidify such of said fluid as is then adjacent said spaced electrode members;
said electrode members having surface portions extending transversely of the direction of flow of said fluid, said surface portions being of arcuate shape;
and control means connected to each of said valve means for at times energizing one of said valve means while allowing the other of said valve means to remain unenergized, and for at other times simultaneously energizing both of said valve means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tunable electrorheological fluid mount

Life of this patent

Tunable electrorheological fluid mount

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18