Two-way magnetorheological fluid valve assembly and devices utilizing same

A two-way controllable valve assembly, comprising:

• (a) a valve body having a high reluctance magnetic circuit and a low reluctance magnetic circuit contained therein, said high and low reluctance magnetic circuits capable of carrying a low and a high magnetic flux, respectively,
• (b) first and second controllable passageways adjacent to said valve body,
• (c) a Magnetorheological fluid contained in said first and second controllable passageways,
• (d) a magnetic flux generator for generating said high and low magnetic flux which are carried by said high and low reluctance magnetic circuits and which are directed to act upon said magnetorheological fluid in said first and second controllable passageways to provide controllable rheology changes therein, and
• (e) a first one-way check valve operative with said first controllable passageway substantially restricting flow in a first flow direction and allowing flow in a second flow direction, and
• (f) a second one-way check valve operative with said second controllable passageway substantially restricting flow in said second flow direction and allowing flow in said first flow direction.

A two-way controllable valve assembly, comprising:

• (a) a valve body having at least a portion of a magnetic circuit contained therein which is capable of carrying a magnetic flux,
• (b) a controllable passageway adjacent to said valve body in a vicinity of said magnetic circuit,
• (c) a Magnetorheological fluid contained in said controllable passageway,
• (d) a magnetic flux generator 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 controllable rheology changes to said magnetorheological fluid ill said controllable passageway thereby restricting flow through said controllable passageway, and
• (e) means for interjecting a magnetic short into and out of said magnetic circuit as a function of flow direction in said controllable passageway thereby causing a high magnetic circuit reluctance when said magnetic short is in said magnetic circuit, thus a lower damping force, and a low magnetic reluctalnce when said magnetic short is out of said magnetic circuit, thus a higher damping force.