AIR SPRING WITH MAGNETO-RHEOLOGICAL FLUID GASKET FOR SUPPRESSING VIBRATIONS
First Claim
1. A method of using a gas spring to isolate a payload from vibrational forces, the gas spring having a housing and a piston within the housing, the piston mechanically isolated from the housing via a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid gasket, the piston having opposing first and second piston surfaces, the method comprising:
- coupling the payload to the piston;
applying a net gas pressure force to the piston by respectively exposing the first and second piston surfaces to first and second gas pressures;
allowing the piston to be displaced relative to the housing in response to a vibration applied to the housing; and
selectively applying a magnetic field to the MR fluid gasket to alternately transform the properties of the MR fluid gasket between primarily viscous and primarily elastic.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Vibration suppression systems and methods for isolating payloads from vibrational forces are provided. A gas spring has a housing and a piston within the housing. The piston is mechanically isolated from the housing via a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid gasket. A payload is coupled to the piston, and net gas pressure force is applied to the piston by respectively exposing the first and second piston surfaces to first and second gas pressures. The piston is allowed to be displaced relative to the housing in response to a vibration applied to the housing. A magnetic field is selectively applied to the MR fluid gasket to alternately transform the properties of the MR fluid gasket between primarily viscous and primarily elastic.
16 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of using a gas spring to isolate a payload from vibrational forces, the gas spring having a housing and a piston within the housing, the piston mechanically isolated from the housing via a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid gasket, the piston having opposing first and second piston surfaces, the method comprising:
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coupling the payload to the piston; applying a net gas pressure force to the piston by respectively exposing the first and second piston surfaces to first and second gas pressures; allowing the piston to be displaced relative to the housing in response to a vibration applied to the housing; and selectively applying a magnetic field to the MR fluid gasket to alternately transform the properties of the MR fluid gasket between primarily viscous and primarily elastic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vibration suppression system, comprising:
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a gas spring including a housing and a piston disposed within the housing, the piston configured to be displaced relative to the housing in response to a vibration applied to the housing, the piston configured to support a payload and having first and second opposing surfaces, the housing configured to allow a first gaseous medium to apply a first gas pressure to the first piston surface, and allow a second gaseous medium to apply a second gas pressure to the second piston surface, thereby resulting in a net gas pressure force applied to the piston; a magneto-rheological (MR) fluid gasket mechanically isolating the piston from the housing; and a gasket control subsystem including one or more magnets and a controller configured to selectively apply a magnetic field from the one or more magnets to the MR fluid gasket to alternately transform the properties of the MR fluid gasket between primarily viscous and primarily elastic. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification