Delphi Technologies, Inc.

John H Muhlenkamp

Venkatasubramanian Ananthanarayanan

Ilya Lisenker

Patrick Neil Hopkins

Sohrab Sadri Lonbani

A magneto-rheological damping device comprises a core element for carrying a magnetic flux and a magnetic flux generator positioned adjacent to a portion of the core element and operable to generate a magnetic flux in the core element. A sleeve is positioned over the core element and magnetic flux generator and includes a plurality of protrusions extending generally radially outwardly from a center of the core element. A flux ring surrounds the core element and sleeve and defining a passage between flux ring and core element for the flow of a magneto-rheological fluid. The sleeve protrusions are configured to engage the flux ring and secure the flux ring in a concentric position around the core element and sleeve.

Apparatus and method for a magneto-rheological (MR) damping device

A novel and improved magnetorheological fluid damper is provided which effectively secures a flux ring to a piston core in a manner which prevents relative axial and radial movement between the flux ring and the core throughout operation. The damper includes crimp portions formed on each end of the flux ring for engaging respective end plates positioned at each end of the piston core to secure the end plates and thus the flux ring to the piston core. One of the end plates may, in turn, function to maintain a piston rod in connection with the piston core. Specifically, each end plate functions as a spring device by being elastically deformed during a crimping process causing the end plates to apply a spring force against the flux ring. One of the end plates may also apply another spring force to the piston rod. A crimping method is also provided which effectively and efficiently permits crimping in a simple manner.

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Dayton, OH, United States of America

John H Muhlenkamp