Patent ID: 6776518
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
A method of making a magnetorheological device, said method comprising, providinga container at a magnetorheological fluid manufacturing location, the container comprised of a first container end, a second container end and a wall extending between the first and second container ends, the container defining a chamber, the first and second container ends being closed, the container further comprising an inlet port and a discharge port; a mixing element located in the chamber; a driven member comprising a first member end made integral with the mixing element and a second member end located outside of the chamber, the second member end including a first coupling means; dispersing a plurality of soft magnetic particles in a liquid carrier to provide a magnetorheological fluid, said magnetorheological fluid having a selected soft magnetic particle density, filling said container via said inlet port at said magnetorheological fluid manufacturing location with said magnetorheological fluid having said selected soft magnetic particle density, transporting said magnetorheological fluid in said container to a destination location, coupling a motive force to the first coupling means to drive said driven member and integral mixing element at said destination location inorder to provide said selected soft magnetic particle density, transferring a portion of said magnetorheological fluid with said selected soft magnetic particle density through said discharge port to a magnetorheological device at said destination location to provide a magnetorheological device containing said magnetorheological fluid at said destination location, said magnetorheological device containing said magnetorheological fluid with said selected soft magnetic particle density, returning said container to a magnetorheological fluid manufacturing location and refilling said container with a magnetorheological fluid comprised of a plurality of soft magnetic particles in a liquid carrier.