Center bearing assembly including a support member containing a rheological fluid

A center bearing assembly adapted to support a shaft for rotation relative to a support surface comprising:

• a bearing adapted to support a shaft for rotation;
• a bracket adapted to be supported on a support surface;
• and
• a supporting structure disposed between said bearing and said bracket, said supporting structure including first and second bladders having first and second quantities of a fluid therein and a control valve that provides selective fluid communication between said first and second bladders.

A center bearing assembly adapted to support a shaft for rotation relative to a support surface comprising:

• a bearing adapted to support a shaft for rotation;
• a bracket adapted to be supported on a support surface;
• and
• a supporting structure disposed between said bearing and said bracket, said supporting structure including a container defining first and second chambers having first and second quantities of a fluid therein, wherein said container includes an outer portion, an intermediate portion, and an inner portion, wherein an outer annular chamber is defined between said outer portion and said intermediate portion and an inner chamber is defined between said intermediate portion and said inner portion, and wherein a control valve provides selective fluid communication between said outer and inner chambers.

A center bearing assembly adapted to support a shaft for rotation relative to a support surface comprising:

• a bearing adapted to support a shaft for rotation;
• a bracket adapted to be supported on a support surface;
• and
• a supporting structure disposed between said bearing and said bracket, said supporting structure having first and second quantities of a fluid therein and a control valve for controlling the flow of fluid between said first and second quantities of fluid, wherein said first and second quantities of fluid is one of a rheological fluid or a magneto-rheological fluid.

A center bearing assembly adapted to support a shaft for rotation relative to a support surface comprising:

• a bearing adapted to support a shaft for rotation;
• a bracket adapted to be supported on a support surface;
• a supporting structure disposed between said bearing and said bracket, said supporting structure having first and second quantities of a fluid therein and a control valve for controlling the flow of fluid between said first and second quantities of fluid;
• and
• a control circuit for operating said control valve.