Controllable vibration apparatus
First Claim
1. In a controllable vibration device having a body defining an internal cavity, a piston cooperating with said internal cavity, means subdividing said internal cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a fluid contained within said upper and lower chambers, an electrically-controllable member controlling flow of said fluid in a fluid passage between said upper and lower chambers, the improvement comprising:
- (a) circuit means for carrying a high-potential electrical current to said electrically-controllable member, said circuit means including a single-strand electrical conductor passing into said internal cavity,(b) means for completing said circuit means to a low-potential(c) a flexible sealing element closely surrounding said single-strand electrical wire, and(d) means for axially compressing said flexible sealing element such that said flexible sealing element radially expands into sealing engagement with said single-strand electrical conductor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A controllable vibration apparatus having an electrical connection to a controllable valve made through a single-strand electrical conductor. In one embodiment, the piston and rod are preferably used as the source of ground or return electrical path. An axially compressed sealing element provides radial sealing against the conductor. An accumulator including a flexible diaphragm provides separation of fluid and accumulator chambers. In magnetorheological (MR) fluid dampers, a special sealing system including a relationship between piston rod surface finish and particle size is provided. A surface treated metal bushing is used with a lip seal to prevent escape of fluid and support side loads. The controllable valve can be formed from top and bottom pole pieces spaced from an outer ring to define a passageway. The pole and ring are preferably secured together by non-magnetic bridging elements. Preferably, the coil assembly is configured with integral axially-extending pins for ease of connection. Push-on connectors preferably make the connection between the conductor and pins. In a two single-strand conductor version, one single-strand carries the incoming current and the other the outgoing current.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. In a controllable vibration device having a body defining an internal cavity, a piston cooperating with said internal cavity, means subdividing said internal cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a fluid contained within said upper and lower chambers, an electrically-controllable member controlling flow of said fluid in a fluid passage between said upper and lower chambers, the improvement comprising:
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(a) circuit means for carrying a high-potential electrical current to said electrically-controllable member, said circuit means including a single-strand electrical conductor passing into said internal cavity, (b) means for completing said circuit means to a low-potential (c) a flexible sealing element closely surrounding said single-strand electrical wire, and (d) means for axially compressing said flexible sealing element such that said flexible sealing element radially expands into sealing engagement with said single-strand electrical conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a controllable vibration device having a body which at least partially defines an internal cavity, a piston interacting with said internal cavity, and an electrically-controllable valve member, said electrically-controllable valve member comprising:
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a) a first flux carrying member including an axially extending substantially cylindrical portion, b) a second flux carrying member including a radially extending portion cooperating with said substantially cylindrical portion to form a passageway therebetween, said radially extending portion having two holes formed therein, and c) a coil assembly included within said electrically-controllable valve member and sandwiched between said first and second flux carrying member, said coil assembly further comprising a bobbin, a coiled wire which is hoop-wound about said bobbin, and two axially-directed, electrically-conductive pins electrically connected to said coiled wire and integral with said coil assembly, said two axially-directed, electrically-conductive pins adapted to carry electrical current being received in said two holes.
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25. In a magnetorheological fluid damper having a damper body defining an internal cavity having an aperture formed therein, a piston rod slidably received within said aperture, a piston assembly attached to said piston rod subdividing said internal cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a magnetorheological fluid contained within said upper and lower chambers, an electrically-controllable valve controlling flow of said fluid between said upper and lower chambers, said piston assembly, comprising:
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a) a top pole piece of magnetically soft material; b) an annular outer ring surrounding said top pole piece also manufactured from a magnetically soft material; c) bridge means attaching said top pole piece to said outer ring and forming portions of a passageway between said ring and said top pole piece through which said fluid flows; d) a bottom pole piece connected to said piston rod and forming a another passageway portion between said ring and said bottom pole piece; and e) a coil assembly further comprising a bobbin, a wire coil which is hoop-wound about said bobbin, and at least one axially-directed, electrically-conductive pin electrically connected to said wire coil and integral with said coil assembly, said coil assembly clamped in position relative to said top pole piece and said bottom pole piece, a portion of said coil assembly surrounding an upper portion of said bottom pole piece and said electrically-conductive pin extends into a lower portion of said bottom pole piece. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper including a damper body having an internal cavity containing an amount of MR fluid and an aperture at one end, said aperture slidingly receiving a piston rod, means to seal said aperture against egress of fluid, said (MR) fluid damper comprising:
a piston rod having a surface finish in which a nominal scratch depth (Rz) therein is less than about 25% of a nominal size of magnetically soft particles contained within said MR fluid and greater than Rz 12 microinch. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper, comprising:
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(a) a damper body made of magnetically soft material and at least partially defining an internal cavity which contains an amount of MR fluid therein, and (b) a piston assembly including i) a piston body which defines a portion of a magnetic circuit therein, said piston body including at least one wear band of a magnetically soft material secured about a peripheral portion thereof, said wear band also forming part of said magnetic circuit and carrying magnetic flux into said damper body, ii) a coil assembly for magnetically energizing said magnetic circuit and producing magnetic flux therein, iii) and a passageway passing through said piston containing an amount of MR fluid which changes rheology upon said energizing, said damper body forming a substantial part of said magnetic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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39. A single tube damper, comprising:
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(a) a damper body, having an end cap and a top cap defining an internal cavity containing an amount of liquid therein and having an aperture in said top cap, (b) a piston rod slidingly received in said aperture, (c) a piston secured to one end of said piston rod subdividing said internal cavity into two chambers, said piston including a first flux carrying member and a second flux carrying member cooperating to define at passageway and a coil assembly to generate a magnetic flux when energized which acts between said members and upon said fluid in said passageway, (d) circuit means including a single-strand electrical conductor electrically connected to said coil assembly, a flexible sealing element closely surrounding said electrical conductor, and means for compressing the sealing element such that the flexible sealing element expands into sealing engagement with said electrical conductor, and (e) a diaphragm assembly interacting with one of said two chambers and partially defining an accumulator chamber which is devoid of liquid, said diaphragm assembly being capable of movement in response to movement of said piston, said accumulator chamber being pressurized to between 100-500 psi without a fill valve.
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40. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper, comprising:
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(a) a damper body at least partially defining an internal cavity which contains an amount of MR fluid therein and which has an aperture formed therein. (b) a piston rod slidingly received in said aperture, and (c) a piston assembly attached to said piston rod, subdividing said internal cavity into two chambers, said piston assembly including first and second flux carrying members cooperating to define a passageway and a coil assembly adapted to generate a magnetic flux which acts upon said passageway when energized, said piston assembly further including a wear surface for reducing friction between said piston assembly and said damper body which includes a primary metallic layer coated with a friction reducing surface treatment selected from a group consisting of porous bronze, nickel, fluorinated polyethylene polymer, and combinations thereof, and (d) circuit means including a single-strand electrical conductor electrically connected to said coil assembly, a flexible sealing element closely surrounding said electrical conductor, and means for compressing the sealing element such that the flexible sealing element expands into sealing engagement with said electrical conductor.
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41. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid damper including a damper body having an internal cavity containing an amount of MR fluid and an aperture at one end, said aperture slidingly receiving a piston rod, means to seal said aperture against egress of fluid, said (MR) fluid damper comprising:
a piston rod having a surface finish in which a nominal scratch depth (Rz) therein is in the range between about Rz 12 microinch and about Rz 20 microinch and magnetically soft particles contained within said MR fluid have a nominal diameter of between about 1 micron and about 6 microns.
Specification