Closing system for a magneto-rheological damper

摘要

A closing system for use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper. The closing system provides lubrication for a piston rod without a need for periodic replenishment. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lubrication chamber of the closing system utilizes a carrier fluid portion of MR fluid present in a fluid reservoir of the damper as lubricant for a piston rod guide and the piston rod. A seal retainer comprised of a porous material acts as a selective barrier to the micro-particles in the MR fluid in the fluid reservoir, allowing the MR carrier fluid portion to pass through the porous seal retainer to the lubrication chamber while restraining the micro-particles in the fluid reservoir. The seal retainer thus acts as a filter to segregate the abrasive particles of the MR fluid and allows the MR carrier fluid portion of the MR fluid to continuously replenish the lubrication chamber and lubrication passage to lubricate the piston rod guide and piston rod.