Magnetorheological damping device for reduction or elimination of vibration in steering systems
First Claim
1. A damping device for use with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft, comprising:
- a magnetorheological material directly in contact with the steering shaft;
a coil arranged in effective proximity to the magnetorheological material, wherein the magnetorheological material is the only damping material between the steering shaft and the coil; and
a body indirectly in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material, and which does not rotate with the steering shaft,wherein a voltage applied to the coil to activate the magnetorheological material increases a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation between the steering shaft and the body, andwherein a viscosity of the magnetorheological material retains the magnetorheological material within the damping device without the use of an open-network carrier and without the use of seals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A damping device for use with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft. The damping device comprises a magnetorheological material that can be embedded in an open-network carrier and is directly or indirectly in contact with the steering shaft, a coil arranged in effective proximity to the magnetorheological material, and a body indirectly in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material, which does not rotate with the steering shaft. A voltage can be applied the coil to activate the magnetorheological material, increasing a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation of the steering shaft and the body.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A damping device for use with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft, comprising:
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a magnetorheological material directly in contact with the steering shaft; a coil arranged in effective proximity to the magnetorheological material, wherein the magnetorheological material is the only damping material between the steering shaft and the coil; and a body indirectly in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material, and which does not rotate with the steering shaft, wherein a voltage applied to the coil to activate the magnetorheological material increases a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation between the steering shaft and the body, and wherein a viscosity of the magnetorheological material retains the magnetorheological material within the damping device without the use of an open-network carrier and without the use of seals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19)
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9. A damping device comprising:
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a magnetorheological material directly in contact with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft, and having a viscosity that contains the magnetorheological material without the use of seals; a sleeve; at least one coil; and at least one flux carrier; wherein the magnetorheological material is located between the at least one flux carrier and the steering shaft such that the magnetorheological material is directly in contact with the steering shaft and the at least one flux carrier; wherein a voltage applied to the coil to activate the magnetorheological material increases a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation between the steering shaft and the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21)
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17. A method for damping vibrations in a rotatably-mounted steering shaft, comprising:
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directly placing a magnetorheological material in contact with the steering shaft, wherein a viscosity of the magnetorheological material retains the magnetorheological material without the use of an open-network carrier and without the use of seals; arranging a coil in effective proximity to the magnetorheological material, wherein the magnetorheological material is the only damping material between the steering shaft and the coil; and providing a body that does not rotate with the steering shaft, and which is in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material; wherein the coil is configured to activate the magnetorheological material via a voltage applied to the coil so that a viscosity of the magnetorheological material is increased to inhibit relative rotation between the steering shaft and the body.
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20. A damping device for use with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft, the damping device comprising:
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a cylindrical band of magnetorheological material in contact with and surrounding the steering shaft, wherein a viscosity of the magnetorheological material contains the magnetorheological material without the use of an open-network carrier and without the use of seals; first and second coils surrounding the band of magnetorheological material; a first flux carrier surrounding the band of magnetorheological material and positioned between the first and second coils; a second flux carrier surrounding the band of magnetorheological material and adjacent to the second coil; a sleeve surrounding the first and second coils; and a steering column indirectly in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material, wherein the steering shaft passes through the steering column and wherein the steering column does not rotate with the steering shaft, wherein a voltage applied to the coil to activate the magnetorheological material increases a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation between the steering shaft and the steering column.
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Specification