Loading patent…
AssigneeLord Corporation
InventorsDouglas E. Ivers, J. David Carlson, Mark R. Jolly, Michael J. Chrzan, Donald R. Prindle, Kenneth A. St. Clair
Estimating the term…
A controllable valve assembly (18) applicable in Magnetorheological (MR) fluid devices (20), such as MR mounts and MR dampers. The valve assembly (18) includes a valve body (32) having a magnetic circuit (40) contained therein which carries magnetic flux .PHI., a controllable passageway (42) within the magnetic circuit (40), a MR (magnetically controlled) fluid (44) including soft-magnetic particles in a liquid carrier contained in the controllable passageway (42), a magnetic flux generator, such as a wound wire coil (46), generating magnetic flux .PHI. which is directed through the MR fluid (44) in the controllable passageway (42) thereby generating "rheology" changes causing restriction in flow of MR fluid (44) therethrough. In one aspect, a one-way check valve (34) is operative with a passive passageway (36) which is arranged in parallel relationship to the controllable passageway (42) provides "asymmetric" damping across the controllable valve (18) creating higher pressure differentials in a first direction and a lower in a second direction without "rapidly switching" the current to the coil (46). In another aspect, "asymmetric" damping is provided by a "changeable gap" formed by a moveable wall portion of the controllable passageway (42). In a third aspect, a first controllable passageway provides controllable flow in a first direction and a second controllable passageway provides controllable flow in a second direction, thereby provide "asymmetry." In a fourth aspect, "asymmetry" is provides by a "variable magnetic short" which changes magnetic circuit reluctance dependent on flow direction.
A two-way controllable valve assembly, comprising:
A two-way controllable valve assembly, comprising:
A two-way controllable valve assembly, comprising:
A controllable magnetorheological fluid damper including a housing having a closed end, an aperture through an end opposed to said closed end, and an internal chamber located therein, a piston slidably received within said internal chamber and subdividing said internal chamber into a first and second chamber, a piston rod attached to said piston and slidably received within said aperture, means for attaching said piston rod to a first member, means for attaching said housing to a second member, a valve body within said piston, said valve body having at least a portion of a magnetic circuit contained therein which is capable of carrying a magnetic flux, a controllable passageway adjacent to said valve body in a vicinity of said magnetic circuit, said controllable passageway capable of controllable flow, a magnetorheological fluid contained within said controllable passageway, said first chamber, and said second chamber, a magnetic flux generator within said valve body for generating a magnetic flux which is carried by said magnetic circuit and which is directed to act upon said magnetorheological fluid in said controllable passageway to provide said controllable flow to said magnetorheological fluid in said controllable passageway, the improvement comprising:
A controllable magnetorheological fluid mounting having a housing, an inner member, a flexible member interconnecting between said inner member and said housing, an internal cavity within said mounting, a partition subdividing said internal cavity into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a controllable passageway capable of controllable flow between said first fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber, a magnetorheological fluid contained in said controllable passageway, said first chamber, and said second chamber, a magnetic circuit contained in said partition which is capable of carrying a magnetic flux, a magnetic flux generator adjacent said partition for generating said magnetic flux which is carried by said magnetic circuit and which is directed to act upon said magnetorheological fluid in said controllable passageway to provide said controllable flow in said controllable passageway, the improvement comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.