Electroviscous fluid control device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for connection between relatively movable parts, said apparatus comprising:
- means defining a variable volume fluid chamber having a first portion for connection with one of the parts and a second portion for connection with another of the parts, said chamber having fluid therein for resisting movement of the parts relative to each other;
a valve for controlling fluid flow from said chamber to a location at which the fluid does not resist relative movement of the parts;
said valve including a valve member movable from a first position to provide fluid communication between said chamber and said location; and
an electroviscous fluid control device for resisting movement of said valve member from said first position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for connection between relatively movable parts. The apparatus includes a variable volume chamber having a first portion for connection with one of the parts and a second portion for connection with another of the parts. The chamber has fluid therein for resisting movement of the parts relative to each other. A valve controls the fluid flow from the chamber to a location at which the fluid does not resist relative movement of the parts. The valve includes a valve member movable from a first position to provide fluid communication between the chamber and the location. An electroviscous fluid control device resists movement of the valve member form the first position.
95 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for connection between relatively movable parts, said apparatus comprising:
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means defining a variable volume fluid chamber having a first portion for connection with one of the parts and a second portion for connection with another of the parts, said chamber having fluid therein for resisting movement of the parts relative to each other; a valve for controlling fluid flow from said chamber to a location at which the fluid does not resist relative movement of the parts; said valve including a valve member movable from a first position to provide fluid communication between said chamber and said location; and an electroviscous fluid control device for resisting movement of said valve member from said first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for damping relative movement of parts, said apparatus comprising:
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a cylinder defining a fluid chamber; a piston located in said fluid chamber and dividing said fluid chamber into first and second chamber portions; said piston being connected with one of the parts and said cylinder being connected with the other of the parts; said piston and cylinder being relatively movable in compression and expansion strokes to damp relative movement of the parts; means providing for fluid communication between said first and second chamber portions including a valve for controlling fluid flow between said first and second chamber portions during a compression stroke; said valve including a valve member movable from a closed position to an open position allowing fluid communication between said first and second chamber portions; and an electroviscous fluid control device for controlling movement of said valve member between the open and closed positions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for providing fluid communication between first and second chamber portions of a fluid damper which comprises a cylinder defining a fluid chamber and a piston dividing the chamber into the first and second chamber portions and which piston and cylinder are relatively movable in compression and expansion strokes, said apparatus comprising:
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means defining a fluid passage in said piston communicating the first and second chamber portions; a valve member carried by said piston and movable relative thereto to control flow through said fluid passage; spring means biasing said valve member into a position restricting flow between said chambers; said valve member having a surface against which fluid pressure acts upon movement of said piston and cylinder during a compression stroke to urge said valve member to open against the bias of said spring to allow fluid flow between said chambers; and an electroviscous fluid control device for controllably resisting movement of said valve member against the bias of said spring. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A vehicle suspension system comprising:
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damping means for controlling the rate at which vehicle parts move relative to one another including; a cylinder defining a fluid damping chamber, a piston located in said fluid damping chamber and dividing said fluid damping chamber into first and second chamber portions, said piston having a piston rod connected thereto for connection with one of the parts and said cylinder being for connection with the other of the parts, said piston and cylinder being relatively movable in compression and expansion strokes to damp relative movement of the parts, first means providing for fluid communication between said first and second chamber portions including a first valve for controlling fluid communication between said first and second chamber portions, said first valve including a first valve member movable between a first position allowing fluid flow between said first and second chamber portions and a second position restricting fluid flow between said first and second chamber portions during a compression stroke, and a first electroviscous fluid control device for controlling the movement of said first valve member; a spring connectable with the relatively movable vehicle parts for biasing the parts to an initial position, said spring being compressible and extendable during relative movement of the parts; and fluid spring means for resisting compression of said spring, said fluid spring means including; a bellows having a spring integrally molded in crests of said bellows for biasing said bellows to an extended position; means in said bellows defining a variable volume fluid spring, said fluid spring chamber resisting compression of said bellows as a function of the amount of fluid in said fluid spring chamber; a second valve for controlling fluid flow from said fluid spring chamber, said second valve including a second valve member movable from a first position to allow fluid flow from said fluid spring chamber, and a second electroviscous fluid control device for controlling movement of said second valve member from said first position. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification