Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Gary Lee Johnston

William Charles Kruckemeyer

Michael Leslie Oliver

Richard Edward Longhouse

James William Zehnder, Ii

Gary Lee Jones

Harvey J Lambert

Swaminathan Gopalswamy

Stephen E Dourson

Samuel Miller Linzell

Donelle Robert Mills

Donald E Schenk

John Benjamin Hageman

David Fredrick Reuter, Ii

Brian Paul Heber

Mark Wayne Long

Ernst Severin Baumgartner

Jay Michael Shores

James Louis Lopez, Jr

Chiung Alex Lee

Frederick Clem Miller

Steven Ray Robinson

Kurt E Olson

A damper for damping movement of a shaft, the damper including a housing having an inner surface defining a chamber and a rotor rotatably mounted in the chamber. The chamber is filled with magnetorheological fluid such that when the rotor is moved in the chamber the magnetorheological fluid damps the movement of the rotor. The rotor has an outer surface adjacent to and spaced apart from the inner surface. The damper further comprises shaft coupled to the rotor and an outer magnet adjacent the space between the outer surface and the inner surface for restricting the flow of the magnetorheological fluid in the space between the outer surface and the inner surface.

Rotary damper with magnetic seals

A monotube suspension damper including a cylinder tube having a fluid chamber and a gas chamber, a piston dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber, a primary fluid flow path across the piston including flow control valves which throttle fluid flow, a secondary fluid flow path across the piston parallel to the primary flow path including flow control valves which throttle fluid flow, and a tubular connecting rod on the cylinder tube connected to the piston. A valve spool is supported on the piston for linear translation between closed and open positions blocking and unblocking the secondary flow path. A control rod inside of the connecting rod is disposed between the valve spool and a flexible diaphragm exposed to pneumatic pressure in an expansible load leveling chamber between sprung and unsprung masses of the motor vehicle. As the pneumatic pressure in the expansible chamber varies, the control rod transfers flexure of the diaphragm to the valve spool to close the secondary flow path and increase the stiffness of the suspension damper as pneumatic pressure increases and to open the secondary flow path and decrease the stiffness of the suspension damper as pneumatic pressure decreases.

Suspension damper for motor vehicle

A brake apply system includes a pressure charging module having a bore carrying a pumping piston that has a base piston surface and an augmentation piston surface. The pressure charging piston separates the bore into an input chamber adjacent the base piston surface and an output chamber adjacent the augmentation piston surface. A suspension damper is hydraulically connected to the input chamber of the pressure charging module, preferably through a continuously open fluid communication circuit. A wheel brake is hydraulically connected to the accumulator output chamber through a selectively open fluid communication circuit. An accumulator is interconnected in the selectively open fluid communication circuit and maintains a pressure charge that is generated by movement of the pumping piston as effected by operation of the damper and that is delivered to the wheel brake through the selectively open fluid communication circuit Through this mechanism the initial pressurization rate of the brake apply system is increased.

Pressure augmentation for brake apply system

A damper provides tunable variable rates in both extension and compression operation. A piston is carried in a cylinder tube separating out extension and compression chambers. The piston carries a first valving assembly that is tuned to provide a first damping level when fluid flows through the piston from the extension chamber to the compression chamber and a second valving assembly that is tuned to provide a second damping level when fluid flows through the piston from the compression chamber to the extension chamber. A control valve assembly is mounted to move with the piston. When the control valve assembly is closed, fluid flow between the compression and extension chamber flows substantially only through the first and second valving assemblies and when the control valve is open at least some fluid flows between the compression and extension chambers through a secondary valve assembly without passing through the first and second valving assemblies. The secondary valve assembly is mounted to move with the piston and includes a third valving assembly that is tuned to provide a third damping level, and includes a fourth valving assembly that is tuned to provide a fourth damping level. When the control valve is open, fluid flow from the extension chamber to the compression chamber passes through both the first valving assembly and the third valving assembly wherein performance of the damper is determined by the first and third valving assemblies in parallel, and fluid flow from the compression chamber to the extension chamber passes through both the second valving assembly and the fourth valving assembly wherein performance of the damper is determined by the second and fourth valving assemblies in parallel.

Bi-Directional Multiple State Suspension Damper

A hydraulic mount is operable in soft and firm modes and includes a valve positioned at the partition between the working chamber and the reservoir. A normally open fluid path extends through the partition and opens between the working chamber and the reservoir for soft operational characteristics useful in attenuating low amplitude vibrations. The valve body and the partition together define a control chamber in the fluid path. The control chamber is open to the reservoir through lateral openings in the valve body so that fluid pressure in the control chamber is approximately at atmospheric pressure so that a small actuator can move the valve. When the valve is closed the fluid path is closed for firm operational characteristics in controlling large amplitude inputs such as those from torque transients.

Bi-state hydraulic engine mount

A braking system generally provides pressure equalization between the sides of a split braking circuit. The amount of equalization provided is limited to enable the introduction of purposely induced pressure variances. A result is that unintentional pressure variations are moderated and intentional target pressure variations are easily obtainable. The braking system provides power braking operation in response to a manually actuated master cylinder. Fluid pressure is transmitted through isolation valves directly to the wheel brakes. The braking system also provides power operation in response to a powered pump. The pump delivers pressurized fluid through a controllable supply valve. When the supply valve is open, the isolation valve(s) are shifted to provide open fluid communication path between proportional pressure control valves and the wheel brakes. The pressure equalization effecting device is isolated from the master cylinder pressurized circuit during base brake operation.

Pressure equalization in a proportionally regulated fluid system

A magnetorheological fluid fan clutch effects modulated rotational motion transmission between a rotatable input shaft carrying an input clutch plate and a housing having a front cover and a rear cover forming a cavity about the input clutch plate wherein the front and rear covers operate as output clutch plates. A nonmagnetic spacer is positioned between the front and rear covers and radially outside the input clutch plate. A bearing supports the housing on the input shaft through the rear cover so that the input clutch plate is rotatable on the input shaft relative to the housing. Magnetorheological fluid is carried in the cavity, through which torque is variably transferred between the input clutch plate and the housing. A coil is positioned radially outside the nonmagnetic spacer and carries a variable electrical current to effect a variable magnetic field across the input clutch plate and through the magnetorheological fluid providing modulated torque transmission between the input clutch plate and the housing.

Magnetorheological fluid fan clutch

A split rotor cooling fan clutch includes an input member that is constantly driven at engine speed, or at some selected proportion thereof. An output member is journaled on the input member so as to be supported thereon in a substantially nonrotating state when decoupled and alternately, to be concentrically rotatable in concert therewith at a variety of speeds. A space presented between the input and output members contains a quantity of magnetorheological fluid. An engagement mechanism includes the split rotor and coil, with a ferromagnetic element positioned to define an operative gap between the rotor and the ferromagnetic element. The coil is selectively energized with a given current to result in a torque transfer between the input and output elements that provides a rotational speed of the fan tailored to the cooling requirements of the associated engine. Internal heat generation is managed electronically to prevent overheating.

Split rotor cooling fan clutch

In a vehicle braking system, integral control and isolation valves are used to individually control the brake line pressure to each wheel brake and to provide pedal isolation for each brake channel. The system is operable on a single fluid or a separated fluid system with an integrated power source. Full proportional anti-lock braking and traction control is provided to each selected wheel independently. The system is applicable as a two, three or four channel base brake system.

Integral control and isolation valve proportional brake system

A passive magnetorheological clutch includes an input member that is constantly driven at engine speed, or some selected proportion thereof. An output member is journaled on the input member so as to be supported thereon in a nonrotating state and to be concentrically rotatable in concert therewith. A space presented between the input and output members contains a quantity of magnetorheological fluid. The space also contains an engagement mechanism including a permanent magnet and a ferromagnetic ring concentrically positioned with an operative gap therebetween, wherein the operative gap's dimension is variable to effect changes in the magnetic field passing between the magnet and the ring. When an actuator effects a reduction in the distance between the magnet and ring, the amount of magnetic field increases in density adjacent the ring. The resultant torque transfer from the input member to the output member is effected across the operative gap and through the magnetorheological fluid. As the operative gap is reduced, the torque transfer increases in a gradual and progressive manner.

Passive magnetorheological clutch

A hydraulic power booster for a brake apply system includes a mechanically actuated hydraulic booster of compact design that can be integrated in line with a conventional type master cylinder. Additionally, a combination of twin mechanically actuated check valves is arranged to provide a structure with essentially no leakage when the hydraulic booster is at rest and when the hydraulic booster is at poise. A mechanically actuated check valve is normally held open and is positioned in a passageway between the power piston and a fluid reservoir. This check valve is substantially, immediately closed upon the application of force to the brake pedal. Another mechanically actuated check valve is provided in a passageway between the hydraulic power supply and the power piston. This check valve is mechanically opened to supply a selected amount of pressurized fluid to the power piston which generates a selected amount of vehicle braking in response to actuation of the brake pedal.

Hydraulic power booster for a brake apply system

A proportional fluid pressure regulation system is provided using a combination of a proportional valve and a shuttle valve for fluid flow control. A system of fluid pressure regulation is achieved where the desired pressure output is provided by one of two pressure input sources. The two pressure input sources are alternately selected by operation of a pilot operated shuttle valve and a solenoid operated proportional valve. The two pressure sources may comprise a manually actuated vehicle braking system's master cylinder and a power operated fluid pump.

Proportional fluid pressure regulation system

A brake module including an integrally formed manifold and accumulator provides a way of simplifying assembly, increasing packaging flexibility and reducing the total number of individual components.

Brake Module with integrated accumulator

A brake system with a direct connection between the master cylinder and wheel brake through an isolation valve and dual normally closed poppet style control valves provides efficient, proportional and independent wheel control suitable for use in achieving anti-lock braking and traction control braking intervention functions.

Proportional braking system with dual poppet valves

A braking system is provided with the addition of a normally closed access valve that is held in the open position during assembly of the braking system providing a path for the evacuation and fluid filling process of the braking system. Through the additional access valve, all areas, including otherwise inaccessible areas of the hydraulic circuit of the braking system are filled from one access point such as at the master cylinder assembly. After completion of the evacuation and fill process, the valve is closed and remains closed during all braking operation of the system.

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Pleasant Hill, OH, United States of America

Gary Lee Johnston