Electro-rheological shock absorber

A shock absorber, having a first end and a second end, comprising:

• a casing, including a first chamber, a second chamber and a divider between the first and second chamber preventing fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
• electro-rheological compression fluid within the second chamber;
• a rod which reciprocates in the casing, the rod being positioned axially within the first chamber, and passing axially through the divider and the second chamber, and passing out of the casing and terminating at the second end of the shock absorber;
• a damping member which reciprocates in the second chamber and which restricts the flow of fluid through the second chamber, the damping member dividing the second chamber into a first section and a second section;
• the damping member being attached to that portion of the rod passing through the second chamber so that the damping member does not reciprocate relative to the second end of the shock absorber;
• the casing being attached to means to anchor the shock absorber at its first end, relative to which the casing does not reciprocate;
• a by-pass passage external to but in fluid communication with second chamber, said passage permitting fluid communication between the first section and the second section of the second chamber;
• a valve member in the by-pass passage controlling the flow of fluid between the first and second sections of the second chamber;
• the valve member controlled by electro-rheological actuating means comprising a perforated valve member situated within said by-pass passage to permit the flow of electro-rheological fluid therethrough;
• and electrode means coupled to said perforated valve member for generating an electric field within said valve member such that a second quantity of electro-rheological fluid contained therein solidifies, thereby impeding the flow of the electro-rheological fluid through said bypass passage and thereby creating a compressive damping force by said damping member;
• and
• wherein the presence of the rod on both sides of the damping member in the second chamber assists in equalizing volume throughout the second chamber.

A shock absorber comprising:

• a casing including a chamber containing compression fluid;
• a damping member reciprocating in said chamber attached to an arm extending from said chamber;
• said damping member containing a plurality of perforations to permit the flow of fluid breakthrough;
• valve means for controlling the flow of the compression fluid, said valve means comprising:
• a valve member for insertion into the compression fluid, controlling the amount of compression fluid passing said valve member;
• and an electro-rheological actuating means in communication with the valve member and which controls the movement of the valve member;
• said electro-rheological actuating means comprising:
• a moveable chamber, having an interior filled with electro-rheological fluid and an exterior surface, the relative position of the exterior of the chamber controlling the relative position of the valve member;
• bias means providing tension against said chamber;
• stationary piston means within the electro-rheological fluid having perforations therethrough permitting the flow of electro-rheological fluid through the piston means;
• electrode means integral with the piston means for generating an electric field between at least one positive and one negative electrode such that said electro-rheological fluid within said piston means solidifies thus controlling the position and movement of the chamber with respect to the piston means;
• whereby the position of the piston means in relation to the chamber controls the relative position of the exterior of the chamber;
• wherein the amount of damping of the shock absorber is controlled by adjusting the amount of compression fluid passing the valve member through control of the relative position of the valve member using the electro-rheological actuating means.

A shock absorber comprising:

• a casing, said casing including a generally cylindrical chamber containing electro-rheological compression fluid;
• a damping member which reciprocates in the chamber and which restricts the flow of fluid through the chamber, the damping member dividing the chamber into a first section and a second section;
• the casing being attached to means to anchor the shock absorber at a first end, relative to which the casing does not reciprocate;
• the damping member being attached to means to anchor the shock absorber at a second end, relative to which the damping member does not reciprocate;
• a by-pass passage external to but in fluid communication with said chamber, said passage permitting fluid communication between the first section and the second section of the chamber;
• a valve member in the by-pass passage controlling the flow of fluid between the first and second sections of said chamber, the valve member controlled by electro-rheological actuating means;
• and
• said electro-rheological actuating means comprises a perforated valve member situated within said by-pass passage to permit the flow of electro-rheological fluid therethrough;
• and electrode means coupled to said perforated valve member for generating an electric field within said valve member such that a second quantity of electro-rheological fluid contained therein solidifies, thereby impeding the flow of the electro-rheological fluid through said bypass passage and thereby creating a compressive damping force by said damping member.

A shock absorber, having a first end and a second end, comprising:

• a casing, including a first chamber, a second chamber and a divider between the first and second chamber preventing fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
• compression fluid within the second chamber;
• a rod which reciprocates in the casing, the rod being positioned axially within the first chamber, and passing axially through the divider and the second chamber, and passing out of the casing and terminating at the second end of the shock absorber;
• a damping member which reciprocates in the second chamber and which restricts the flow of fluid through the second chamber, the damping member dividing the second chamber into a first section and a second section;
• the damping member being attached to that portion of the rod passing through the second chamber so that the damping member does not reciprocate to the second end of the shock absorber;
• the casing being attached to means to anchor the shock absorber at its first end, relative to which the casing does not reciprocate;
• a by-pass passage external to but in fluid communication with second chamber, said passage permitting fluid communication between the first section and the second section of the second chamber;
• a valve member in the by-pass passage controlling the flow of fluid between the first and second sections of the second chamber;
• the valve member controlled by electro-rheological actuating means comprising:
• a moveable chamber, having an interior filled with electro-rheological fluid and an exterior surface, the relative position of the exterior of the chamber controlling the relative position of the valve member;
• bias means providing tension against said moveable chamber;
• stationary piston means with the electro-rheological fluid having perforations therethrough permitting the flow of electro-rheological fluid through the piston;
• electrode means integral with the piston means for generating an electric field between at least one positive and one negative electrode such that said electro-rheological fluid within said piston solidifies thus controlling the position and movement of the moveable chamber relative to the piston;
• whereby the position of the piston in relation to the moveable chamber controls the relative position of the exterior of the moveable chamber.