Hydraulic mount with voltage controlled fluid

Abstract

The hydraulic mount assembly is disclosed having a partition forming two hydraulic chambers. A primary chamber is formed by an elastomeric member and a second chamber by a resilient diaphragm. The partition is formed by a pair of plates that define an intermediate cell between the chambers. The partition plates are both formed of conductive material and are connected by a conductor to ground potential. An intermediate plate of conducting material is mounted between the plates within the cell on spaced insulating pads. Preferably, the intermediate plate includes a peripheral skirt extending toward a cooperating continuous channel formed in one of the partition plates so as to form a dome with increased surface area and a tortuous pathway for the flow of fluid through the cell between the primary and secondary chambers. The plates are connected to a control circuit including a system controller with transducers that sense the operating conditions of the vehicle. The system controller is connected to a voltage source so that a voltage potential may be applied between the intermediate plate and the partition plates. This potential may be infinitely varied to modulate the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid within the chambers of the mount. In this way the damping characteristics of the mount are adjusted to provide the desired balance between vibration isolation and engine and/or transmission movement control under any operating conditions.