Patent ID: 7413063
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: B60G,C10M,C10N,F16F,H01F

Abstract:
1. A strut for a vehicle suspension system comprising: a primary fluid chamber; a displacement member extending into said primary fluid chamber; a damper element mounted to said displacement member and disposed in said primary fluid chamber for moving with said displacement member to dampen movement of said displacement member; a secondary fluid chamber having at least two distally disposed sections in fluid communication with said primary fluid chamber on respective opposite sides of said damper element; a compressible fluid which varies in viscosity in response to application of an electromagnetic field; field means disposed proximate to said secondary fluid chamber for generating an electromagnetic field within said secondary fluid chamber to determine an effective viscosity of said compressible fluid exposed to said electromagnetic field in a portion of said secondary fluid chamber disposed between said distally disposed sections; wherein an effective pressure of said compressible fluid within said primary fluid chamber and an intensity of said electromagnetic field is determined by a controller external to said strut; wherein said compressible fluid comprises particles which are responsive to electromagnetic fields; and wherein said particles comprise a hollow core member and an electromagnetic field responsive particle disposed within said hollow core member.