Patent ID: 7422092
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A magnetorheological fluid damper apparatus comprising in combination: a damper housing providing at least a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, the primary chamber containing a magnetorheological fluid and the secondary chamber containing and sealingly enclosing a resiliently compressible material, wherein said magnetorheological fluid in the primary chamber is substantially separated from said resiliently compressible material in the secondary chamber; a piston rod passing through the primary chamber and penetrating the secondary chamber, the piston rod having at least one piston mounted thereon within the primary chamber, wherein the at least one piston includes at least one magnetorheological fluid passageway through which said magnetorheological fluid is allowed to flow; and a plurality of adjustably activatable magnets disposed along the axial length of the primary chamber; whereby at least said magnetorheological fluid in the primary chamber may be activated by the adjacent adjustably activatable magnets along the axial length of the primary chamber; and wherein: (i) the primary chamber includes at least a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, and (ii) the at least one piston (a) is disposed intermediate the first sub-chamber and the second sub-chamber and (b) provides a magnetorheological fluid passage for the magnetorheological fluid to flow between the first sub-chamber and second sub-chamber.