Fluid seal assembly

摘要

A pressured system such as a suspension strut 10 for a vehicle includes a fluid seal 11. The seal is located in a housing that is mounted over a fluid-filled tube 20. The seal includes a member 40 in circumferential engagement with a displacement rod 32. An actuator 50 abuts the member 40 and is configured to bend the member when an electric input is applied. The actuator may be made of a piezoelectric material. The static friction on the displacement rod is reduced when the member is displaced by the actuator. A radial preload on the displacement rod is provided by a support member 44. A backup member 46 is also provided to support the seal. The static friction may be reduced by a method that includes sensing a vehicle condition relative to the pressured system and determining a voltage to be applied to the actuator when the displacement rod moves from a stationary position.