| 摘要 |
<p>A spring (10) for resisting relative movement of parts (12, 14) includes a cylindrical hub (16) concentric within an outer cylinder (20). An inner cylinder (18) is concentric between the hub (16) and the outer cylinder (20). A plurality of elastomeric spring members (22, 26, 28, 32) is connected between the hub (16) and the inner cylinder (18) and between the inner and outer cylinders (16, 18) to define two annular sealed fluid chambers (24, 30). A fluid is disposed within each chamber (24, 30). A variable energy field is applied across the fluid in one chamber to control its resistance to flow. Another variable energy field is applied across the fluid in the other chamber to control its resistance to flow. Each energy field is adjustable independent of the other. Upon relative movement between the hub (16) and the outer cylinder (20), the spring members (22, 26, 28, 32) either axially deform, stretch, or twist, depending upon the direction of relative movement. The shape of each chamber (24, 30) changes and the strength of the field in each chamber changes. While the strength of each field is changing, the resistance to relative movement of the parts (12, 14) is changing. Thus, the spring (10) characteristics of the spring are changing while relative movement of the parts (12, 14) is occurring.</p> |
