Inventors:
Benjamin K. Henderson - Albuquerque NM, US
Steven F. Griffin - Albuquerque NM, US
Joel D. Gussy - Chantilly VA, US
Steven A. Lane - Albuquerque NM, US
Elizabeth L. C. Jensen - Redondo Beach CA, US
Richard K. Davies - Rochester Hills MI, US
Jennifer A. Gruits - Royal Oak MI, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ann Arbor MI, US
David M. Stevens - Athens MI, US
Ryan D. Majkrzak - San Clemente CA, US
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Washington DC
International Classification:
F16F 15/03, F16M 1/00
Abstract:
A damper containing magneto-rheological (“MR”) fluid and a plunger lies between and is mechanically coupled both to a fixture and a vibration source. The plunger has a head immersed in the MR fluid. Annular magnets circumscribe the damper and produce a magnetic field surrounding the damper. A tubular shielding sleeve composed of magnetically impermeable material surrounds a portion of the damper. The sleeve is mechanically coupled both to the fixture and the vibration source by springs, and can translate relative to the damper to affect the strength of the magnetic field acting on the MR fluid surrounding the plunger head. The sleeve oscillates responsive to vibration of the vibration source and controls the viscosity of the MR fluid surrounding the plunger head in proportion to the amplitude of the sleeve's oscillation. The resonant frequency of the sleeve is adjusted to approximate the fundamental resonance of the fixture.