Height adjustable damping device

摘要

A damping device includes a housing defining a pressure chamber, containing a magnetorheological fluid. A rod is slideably coupled to the housing to adjust a length of the housing. A piston is attached to the rod and disposed within the pressure chamber. The piston is immersed within the magnetorheological fluid, and separates the pressure chamber into a first half and a second half. An electromagnet is disposed in magnetic contact with the magnetorheological fluid, and is operable to apply a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid to increase viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid to prevent movement of the rod relative to the housing. The magnetorheological fluid is free to flow through a fluid port in the piston, between a first half and a second half of the pressure chamber, in the absence of the magnetic field from the magnetic source to allow adjustment of the length.

主权项

1. A damping device comprising:
a first pressure chamber extending along a longitudinal axis and containing a first fluid; a first rod extending along the longitudinal axis and including an interior end disposed within the first pressure chamber, wherein the first rod is moveable along the longitudinal axis relative to the first pressure chamber; a first piston attached to the interior end of the first rod and interacting with the first fluid to dampen movement of the first rod along the longitudinal axis; a second pressure chamber extending along the longitudinal axis and containing a magnetorheological fluid; a second rod extending along the longitudinal axis; a second piston attached to the second rod and interacting with the magnetorheological fluid; an electromagnet disposed in magnetic contact with the magnetorheological fluid, and operable to apply a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid in response to an electric current to increase viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid to secure a position of the second piston within the second pressure chamber.