Patent ID: 6955589

Claim:
A system for metering flow of a magnetorheological fluid through a conduit means, comprising: a) centrifugal pump means for pressurizing said fluid within said conduit means; b) means including a magnetic valve for controllably varying the flow rate of said pressurized fluid through said conduit means; c) flow measurement means serially connected to said magnetic valve for determining said rate of flow; d) programmable control means operationally connected to said flow measurement means and to said magnetic valve for adjusting said magnetic valve in response to signals from said flow measurement means to control said rate of flow to a predetermined aim; wherein said magnetic valve includes first and second magnet polepieces coaxially disposed, each having an axial flow passage therethrough, said polepieces being axially spaced apart and being tapered on an outer surface thereof towards each other; a non-magnetic spacer having an axial flow passage therethrough and being disposed between said first and second polepieces; and solenoidal electrical windings surrounding said polepieces and said spacer for controllably providing a magnetic field within said flow passage in response to energizing signals.