Patent ID: 7303056

Claim:
A controllable magnetorheological (MR) damper, comprising: first, second and third portions; the first and second portions having a translational degree of freedom therebetween; means for supporting a side load while permitting a sliding action between the first and second portions; the third portion having a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the first and second portions; the first and third portions coupled via a translation-to-rotation converter; the second and third portions coupled via a magnetorheological (MR) fluid; a magnetic field generator in field communication with the magnetorheological fluid; and a signal path in signal communication with the magnetic field generator; wherein the third portion is rotationally responsive to translational motion between the first and second portions, the shear stress characteristic of the magnetorheological fluid is responsive to the magnetic field generator, and the magnetic field generator is controllably responsive to an excitation signal from the signal path; wherein the third portion comprises a cylindrical rotor ring disposed within the MR fluid; wherein the rotor ring comprises two magnetic sections comprising magnetic materials with a substantially non-magnetic section disposed therebetween such that a magnetic flux path is defined by the two magnetic sections about the substantially non-magnetic section.