Magneto-rheological dampers for semi-active suspension systems

A magneto-rheological damper, comprising:

• a damper body having a reservoir for a magneto-rheological fluid;
• a piston rod;
• a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, the piston rod guide having a passage therein for receiving the piston rod;
• a piston rod bearing assembly coupled to the piston rod guide and arranged to engage and support reciprocal motion of the piston rod;
• at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• a fluid chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod, the fluid chamber being in communication with the reservoir;
• a piston rod guide filter defining a means for filtering fluid entering the fluid chamber, wherein the piston rod guide filter includes a magnetic field generator;
• and
• an accumulator arranged between the piston rod guide and the damper body.

A method of controlling motion, said method including:

• providing a magneto-rheological fluid;
• providing a damper body having a reservoir for containing the magneto-rheological fluid;
• providing a piston rod;
• providing a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, the piston rod guide having a passage therein for receiving the piston rod;
• providing a piston rod assembly coupled to the piston rod guide and arranged to engage and support reciprocal motion of the piston rod;
• providing at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• providing a fluid chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• providing a piston rod guide filter arranged in a communication path between the fluid chamber and the reservoir to filter particulates out of fluid entering the fluid chamber, wherein the piston rod guide filter includes a magnetic field generator;
• and
• providing an accumulator arranged between the piston rod guide and the damper body.

A magneto-rheological damper, comprising:

• a damper body;
• a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, the piston rod guide having a passage therein for receiving a piston rod;
• a piston rod bearing assembly disposed in the piston rod guide to engage with and support reciprocal motion of the piston rod;
• at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• a lubrication chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• a piston rod guide filter, said piston rod guide filter filtering fluid entering the lubrication chamber, wherein said piston rod guide filter includes a magnetic field generator;
• and
• a piston rod guide gas charged accumulator, said piston rod guide gas charged accumulator arranged between the piston rod and the damper body.

A land vehicle suspension system fluid damper, comprising:

• a damper body;
• a piston rod guide disposed within the damper body, the piston rod guide having a passage therein for receiving a piston rod;
• a piston rod bearing assembly disposed in the piston rod guide to engage with and support reciprocal motion of the piston rod;
• at least a first piston rod seal and at least a second piston rod seal arranged to seal between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• a lubrication chamber defined between the piston rod guide and the piston rod;
• a piston rod guide gas charged accumulator, said piston rod guide gas charged accumulator arranged between the piston rod and the damper body;
• and
• a piston rod guide filter, said piston rod guide filter filtering a plurality of particles entering the lubrication chamber wherein said piston rod guide filter includes a magnetic field generator.