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Apparatus with active material surface in contact with rheological fluid and method of enhancing performance thereof

  • US 8,056,687 B2
  • Filed: 08/03/2007
  • Issued: 11/15/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:

  • a rheological fluid characterized by an increase in yield stress under an applied field;

    a mechanical assembly configured to provide the field and including an active material component forming a surface in contact with the rheological fluid;

    wherein the surface is characterized by a first surface geometry when the active material component is not activated and by a second surface geometry when the active material component is activated;

    wherein one of said first and second surface geometries is rougher than the other surface geometry; and

    wherein activation of the active material component is configured to be controllable such that the rougher surface geometry is in contact with the rheological fluid when the field is applied and the other of the surface geometries is in contact with the rheological fluid when the field is removed.

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