Patent ID: 9303716
Filing Date: 2016-04-05
CPC Classification: B62D,F16F

Claim Text:
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, 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.