Patent ID: 6883649

Claim:
For use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper wherein MR fluid in the damper comprises a carrier fluid portion and micro-particles in suspension in the carrier fluid, a closing system comprising: a) a body having an outer diameter, an O-ring gland in the outer diameter, a receptacle, a channel, and a lip; b) an O-ring seal adapted to connect with the O-ring gland; c) a retaining ring adapted to connect with the body and with an inner diameter of a housing of the damper, the housing having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain MR fluid; d) a first piston rod seal adapted to connect with the receptacle of the body; e) a piston rod guide having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the receptacle, and having an inner diameter shaped to slidably couple with a piston rod of the damper; f) a seal assembly including: i) a seal retainer having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the lip of the body to form a lubrication chamber, an inner diameter, and a cavity located coaxial to the inner diameter, wherein the seal retainer allows MR carrier fluid from the fluid reservoir to replenish the lubrication chamber while restraining MR micro-particles, ii) a second piston rod seal located in the cavity, and iii) a seal cover placed over the second piston rod seal, the seal cover being adapted to connect with the seal retainer and captively hold the second piston rod seal, and g) a lubrication passage delimited by the body and the seal assembly, the lubrication passage communicating lubricant from the lubrication chamber to the inner diameter of the piston rod guide.