TEMPERATURE STABILIZED VISCOUS DAMPER SYSTEM

• US 20190040926A1
• Filed: 07/23/2018
• Published: 02/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Spiegel, Richard Vincent, Chow, Hin Bun
• Application Number:
  US16/042,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20190040926A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/027 comprising control arrangements F16F15/0237 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/173 provided within a closed housing F16F15/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/103 Devices with one or more members moving linearly to and fro in chambers, any throttling effect being immaterial, i.e. damping by viscous shear effect only F16F9/53 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/12 Devices with one or more rotary vanes turning in the fluid any throttling effect being immaterial, i.e. damping by viscous shear effect only F16F9/53 takes precedence; pivoting supports for apparatus or articles placed on stands or trestles F16M11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/52 in case of change of temperature F16F9/003 takes precedence; combined with external adjustment F16F9/44
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/53 Means for adjusting damping characteristics by varying fluid viscosity, e.g. electromagnetically F16F13/30 takes precedence; brakes comprising a medium with electrically or magnetically controlled friction F16D57/002; electrorheological fluids per se C10M171/001; magnetorheological fluids per se H01F1/447
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/16 the conductor being mounted on an insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/267 the insulating base being an organic material, e.g. plastic H05B3/262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

A viscous damper system includes a body having a chamber disposed inside the body that contains a viscous fluid. The viscous damper system also includes a moving member that is disposed inside the chamber that moves to displace the viscous fluid. A heater strip is operably coupled to a surface of the body. The heater strip includes a heating element and an insulator. A connector electrically coupled to the heater strip powers the heater strip to stabilize a temperature of the viscous fluid inside the chamber of the body.

Claims

1. A viscous damper system comprising:

a body having a chamber disposed inside the body, wherein the chamber is configured to contain a viscous fluid;

a moving member disposed inside the chamber, wherein the moving member is configured to move to displace the viscous fluid;

a heater strip operably coupled to a surface of the body, the heater strip having a heating element and an insulator; and

a connector electrically coupled to the heater strip, wherein the connector is configured to power the heater strip to stabilize a temperature of the viscous fluid inside the chamber of the body.

2. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the heater strip is a flexible strip that is configured to be wrapped around the surface of the body.

3. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the heater strip includes conductive buses that are configured to electrically couple the heater strip to the connector.

4. The viscous damper system of claim 3, wherein the conductive buses are configured to be printed on an outer surface of the heating element.

5. The viscous damper system of claim 3, wherein the connector is electrically coupled to an electrical system comprising a switch, wherein the electrical system provides power to the heater strip when the switch is in a first position, and wherein the electrical system does not provide power to the heater strip when the switch is in a second position.

6. The viscous damper system of claim 5, wherein the heater strip is configured to consume power from the electrical system when the switch is in the first position.

7. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the heater strip is configured to stabilize the temperature of the viscous fluid, wherein stabilizing the temperature of the viscous fluid stabilizes a viscosity of the viscous fluid.

8. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the viscous fluid is a silicone oil.

9. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the moving member comprises an impeller that is configured to rotate inside the chamber to displace the viscous fluid inside the chamber.

10. The viscous damper system of claim 9, wherein the impeller is operably coupled with a gear via a shaft, the impeller being configured to rotate within the chamber in response to rotation of the gear.

11. The viscous damper system of claim 10, wherein the gear is operably coupled with an arm, the impeller being configured to rotate within the chamber as the gear moves along the arm.

12. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is a positive temperature coefficient ink that is printed on the insulator.

13. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the heater strip is configured to be operably coupled to the surface of the body via an adhesive strip.

14. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the moving member comprises a piston that is configured to move in a linear direction inside the chamber to displace the viscous fluid inside the chamber.

15. The viscous damper system of claim 1, wherein the heater strip is configured to increase a temperature of the viscous fluid inside the chamber of the body.

16. A viscous damper system comprising:

a body having a chamber disposed inside the body, wherein the chamber is configured to contain a viscous fluid;

a moving member disposed inside the chamber, wherein the moving member is configured to move to displace the viscous fluid;

a heater strip operably coupled to a surface of the body, the heater strip having a heating element and an insulator; and

a connector electrically coupled to the heater strip, wherein the connector is configured to power the heater strip to stabilize a temperature of the viscous fluid inside the chamber of the body,

wherein the heater strip is a flexible strip that is configured to be wrapped around the surface of the body,

wherein the heater strip includes conductive buses that are configured to electrically couple the heater strip to the connector, the conductive buses are configured to be printed on an outer surface of the heating element, and

wherein the connector is electrically coupled to an electrical system comprising a switch, wherein the electrical system provides power to the heater strip when the switch is in a first position, and wherein the electrical system does not provide power to the heater strip when the switch is in a second position.

17. The viscous damper system of claim 16, wherein the heater strip is configured to consume power from the electrical system when the switch is in the first position.

18. The viscous damper system of claim 16, wherein the viscous fluid is a silicone oil.

19. The viscous damper system of claim 16, wherein the moving member comprises one of an impeller or a piston, wherein the impeller is configured to rotate inside the chamber, and wherein the piston is configured to move in a linear direction inside the chamber.

20. The viscous damper system of claim 16, wherein the heating element is a positive temperature coefficient ink that is printed on the insulator.