Fluid-filled cellular solids for controlled
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a composite material consisting of a cellular solid or a fibrous matrix forming an interconnected network of cells, impregnated with a magnetorheological or electrorheological fluid that stiffens under predetermined conditions, said composite material being adapted to be compressed during an impact to dissipate energy of said impact, and said network of cells being located entirely within a rigid housing,wherein said compression occurs as a piston moves within said rigid housing toward, and relative to, said composite material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An impact absorber using an energy-absorbing, fluid-impregnated material consisting of a porous interconnected network of solid material forming edges and faces of cells, preferably an open-cell reticulated or partially closed-cell foam, or formed from fibers or other cellular solids. The matrix is impregnated with a field responsive fluid such as a magneto- or electro-rheological fluid, or with a shear-rate responsive fluid such as a dilatant (shear-thickening) fluid. The material is placed under compression during impact, and may be housed within a cylinder and compressed by a piston. The stiffness of the composite material consisting of a matrix filled with a field responsive fluid can be controlled by varying the field intensity and spatial gradients of the applied field to vary the rheological properties of the fluid.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a composite material consisting of a cellular solid or a fibrous matrix forming an interconnected network of cells, impregnated with a magnetorheological or electrorheological fluid that stiffens under predetermined conditions, said composite material being adapted to be compressed during an impact to dissipate energy of said impact, and said network of cells being located entirely within a rigid housing, wherein said compression occurs as a piston moves within said rigid housing toward, and relative to, said composite material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. Apparatus comprising a compressible composite material consisting of a cellular solid or a fibrous matrix forming an interconnected network of cells impregnated with a field-responsive or shear-thickening fluid, which composite material includes one or more structures adapted for bending or buckling during compression of said composite material, a housing for retaining said composite material in a confined space, which housing has one or more restricted passageways for permitting a limited flow of said fluid to exit said housing when said material is so compressed, wherein said compression occurs as a piston moves within said housing toward, and relative to, said composite material in said confined space and as said housing remains rigidly unbending.
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17. An impact absorber comprising:
- a compressible composite material consisting of a cellular solid or a fibrous matrix forming an interconnected network of cells impregnated with a magnetorheological or electrorheological fluid that stiffens under predetermined conditions, a rigid cylinder, and a piston mounted for axial movement within said cylinder for compressing said composite material in response to an impact to dissipate energy of said impact, said network of cells being located entirely within said cylinder, and said axial movement of said piston being toward, and relative to, said impact absorber when said compression occurs.
- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
Specification