Hybrid fluid elastomeric damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9334920-B2
Application number	US-201514729190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

A damper includes a housing that forms a fluidly sealed cavity for receiving a fluid therein. The fluid is configured to change fluid properties as electrical energy is induced. An electrical subsystem provides electrical energy to the fluid, which is monitored with a control subsystem. The method includes inducing the fluid with electrical energy to change the dampening effects of the damper in real time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a damper, having:
a housing forming a fluidly sealed cavity; and
a fluid disposed within the cavity and configured to change fluid properties as electrical energy is induced;

a piston elastically attached to an inner surface of the housing;
a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber positioned within the housing and position at opposing ends of the piston;
a fluid passage ending through the piston and in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber;
wherein fluid channeled between the first chamber and the second chamber travel solely through the fluid passage;
a plurality of coils positioned within the second chambers and configured to provide electrical energy to the fluid; and
a control subsystem operably associated with the electrical subsystem and configured to regulate the electrical energy induced into the fluid.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is an electrorheological fluid.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the fluid changes viscosity as electrical energy is induced.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor operably associated with the control subsystem;
wherein the sensor is configured to sense electrical energy from the electrical subsystem.

5. A method, comprising:
providing the damper of claim 1 ;
inducing a fluid disposed within the damper with electrical energy; and
monitoring and controlling the amount of electrical energy with the control subsystem;
wherein inducing the fluid with the electrical energy changes the dampening effects of the damper; and
wherein the control subsystem thus allows real time monitoring and changing of the dampening effects of the damper in real time.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
providing heat energy to a dampening device disposed within the damper.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
sensing the heat energy and the electrical energy with a sensor operably associated with the control subsystem.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Modrzejewski Brian
• Judd Bryan
• Sottiaux Dan
• Stamps Frank B
• Schofield Emily

Classifications

• F16F9/3292

  Sensor arrangements · CPC title

• B64C27/35 Primary

  having elastomeric joints · CPC title

• F16F9/532 Primary

  Electrorheological [ER] fluid dampers · CPC title

• F16F13/06

  the damper being a fluid damper, e.g. the plastics spring not forming a part of the wall of the fluid chamber of the damper (F16F13/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64C27/51

  Damping of blade movements · CPC title