Magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer for a shock absorber
AssigneeMTS Systems Corporation
InventorsDavid S. Nyce, Stephen W. Smith, Arnold F. Sprecher, Jr., Mauro G. Togneri, Peter T. Tola, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock absorber includes a housing having a chamber and a piston slidably disposed in the chamber. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends out of the housing. The piston rod includes a bore extending longitudinally therein. A magnetostrictive transducer provides an output signal indicative of the piston with respect to the housing. The magnetostrictive transducer includes a magnetostrictive waveguide disposed in the bore and a magnet joined to the housing that is operably coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide.
Claims25
A shock absorber comprising:
- a housing having a chamber;
- a piston slidably disposed in the chamber;
- a rod connected to the piston and extending out of the housing, the rod having a bore extending longitudinally therein;
- and
- a magnetostrictive transducer comprising:
- a magnetostrictive waveguide disposed in the bore;
- and
- a magnet joined to the housing and operably coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide.
A magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly operable with a magnet, the magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly comprising:
- an elongated support plate having spaced-apart opposed ends, longitudinally extending opposed sides and a support surface, the sides of the support plate including edge portions;
- a housing having a first recess adapted to receive a first edge portion of the support plate and a second recess facing the first recess adapted to receive a second edge portion of the support plate in order to support opposed sides of the support plate;
- and
- a magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire mounted to the support plate.
A magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly operable with a magnet, the magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly comprising:
- a support plate;
- a housing having a first recess adapted to receive a first edge portion of the support plate and a second recess adapted to receive a second edge portion of the support plate;
- and
- a magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire mounted to the support plate, the magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire including a loop for thermal expansion.
A magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly operable with a magnet, the magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly comprising:
- a support plate;
- a housing having a first recess adapted to receive a first edge portion of the support plate and a second recess facing the first recess adapted to receive a second edge portion of the support plate;
- and
- a magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire mounted to the support plate, the magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire including a loop for thermal expansion.
A shock absorber comprising:
- a first housing having a chamber;
- a piston slidably disposed in the chamber;
- a rod connected to the piston and extending out of the first housing;
- a second housing connected to the rod having a recess for receiving the first housing;
- and
- a magnetostrictive transducer comprising:
- a magnetostrictive waveguide joined to the second housing;
- and a magnet joined to the first housing and operably
- coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide.
A vehicle suspension strut comprising:
- a housing having a chamber;
- a piston slidably disposed in the chamber;
- a rod connected to the piston and extending out of the housing, the rod having a bore extending longitudinally therein;
- and
- a magnetostrictive transducer comprising:
- a magnetostrictive waveguide disposed in the bore;
- and
- a magnet joined to the housing and operably coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide.
A vehicle suspension strut comprising:
- a first housing having a chamber;
- a piston slidably disposed in the chamber;
- a rod connected to the piston and extending out of the first housing;
- a second housing connected to the rod having a recess for receiving the first housing;
- and
- a magnetostrictive transducer comprising:
- a magnetostrictive waveguide joined to the second housing;
- and
- a magnet joined to the first housing and operably coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide.
A magnetostrictive transducer waveguide assembly operable with a magnet, the assembly comprising:
- an elongated support plate;
- a magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire mounted to the support plate;
- and
- the support plate including conductive traces to electrically couple the magnetostrictive electrically conductive wire to operating circuitry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.