Magnetorheological damper

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a magnetorheological damper comprising: a stator comprising a solenoid coil to which a current can be applied; a rotor configured to rotate with respect to the stator; and an orifice disposed between the stator and the rotor, where the orifice is configured such that fluids sealed in a first chamber and a second chamber defined by the stator and the rotor communicate with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a magnetorheological (MR) damper. Background Art

[0002] A damper for a vehicle reacts to the relative velocity of the sprung mass and the unsprung mass of the vehicle to generate a damping force, which is a force that resists the relative motion of the sprung mass and the unsprung mass. Dampers for vehicles can be classified into linear dampers and rotary dampers. Currently, linear dampers are widely used.

[0003] A vibrating system has a resonance determined by the mass and stiffness of the system, and the amplitude of the resonance is determined by the damping. In other words, in a system with greater damping, the amplitude at the resonance point is smaller, while in a system with less damping, the amplitude at the resonance point is very large.

[0004] The resonant frequency of the vehicle body is generally between 1 Hz (Hertz) and 1.5 Hz, and the resonant frequency of the wheel is generally between 10 Hz and 15 Hz. The frequency band between the two resonances (1 Hz to 10 Hz) generally corresponds to a frequency band in which humans are very sensitive to vertical acceleration excitation. When the damping in the corresponding frequency band is small, the ride comfort is good, and when the damping in the corresponding frequency band is large, the ride comfort is poor. Since the damping of a system that provides good ride comfort in a sensitive frequency band is small, the system has a larger amplitude at the resonant frequency of the vehicle body. The ride comfort in the frequency band of 1 Hz to 10 Hz is inversely proportional to the amplitude at the resonant frequency of the vehicle body, and there is a relationship of one increasing while the other decreases.

[0005] In order to compensate for this characteristic, a variable damping system has been developed. The variable damping system can be divided into two types. One type is a system configured to control the opening of the orifice using a solenoid or a motor. In this system, the opening of the orifice should be controlled by precise position control, so the system requires a precise micro-position control system. The system uses a method of precisely controlling the position of the valve core through a motor or a solenoid to adjust the opening of the orifice.

[0006] Another type of variable damping system adjusts damping by changing the properties of a fluid using electricity or magnetism. Generally, magnetism is used to change the properties of a fluid, and a magnetorheological (MR) damper using magnetism is close to practical application because the MR damper is recently adopted in many vehicles. The MR damper has an orifice through which a fluid flows, and has an MR coil installed therein and an MR core configured to apply a magnetic field around the orifice.

[0007] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the embodiments of the present disclosure and therefore it may include information that does not constitute the relevant technology that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0008] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2022-0129190 (publication date: September 23, 2022) may provide information related to the technical field of the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure may solve problems associated with the related art, and provide an improved MR damper that is more efficient in generating damping force for a given MR damper volume.

[0010] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an MR damper capable of efficiently generating a magnetic field.

[0011] Yet another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an MR damper with reduced friction.

[0012] The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the foregoing, and a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains (hereinafter, “one skilled in the art”) will clearly understand other embodiments not mentioned herein based on the following description.

[0013] Features of the embodiments of the present disclosure for performing the functions characteristic of the embodiments of the present disclosure described later are as follows.

[0014] One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an MR damper, which includes: a stator, including a solenoid coil to which current can be applied; a rotor, configured to rotate relative to the stator; and an orifice formed between the stator and the rotor, the orifice being configured to allow fluids sealed in a first chamber and a second chamber to communicate with each other, the first chamber and the second chamber being defined by the stator and the rotor.

[0015] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for assembling a stator of an MR damper, the stator having an outer MR core including a first element and a second element, the method comprising: winding a solenoid coil around a bobbin; installing the second element into the bobbin having the solenoid coil wound around the circumference; and installing the bobbin with the second element installed to the first element.

[0016] Other aspects and preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed below.

[0017] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicular" or other similar terms as used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger cars including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including various boats and ships, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more sources of power, for example, a vehicle powered by both gasoline and electricity.

[0018] The above features and other features of embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The above-mentioned features and other features of the embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which the exemplary embodiments are given by way of illustration only and therefore do not limit the embodiments of the present disclosure, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A magnetorheological (MR) damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0021] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 4A is a perspective view of a first element of an outer MR core of an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of a first element of an outer MR core of an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 5A is a perspective view of a second element of an outer MR core of an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of a second element of an outer MR core of an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a bobbin for an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view of a bobbin for an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 7shows an assembly process of an outer MR core for an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 a cross-sectional view of the assembled outer MR core; and

[0030] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an MR damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that they present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features for illustrating the basic principles of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The specific design features of the embodiments of the present disclosure (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific intended application and use environment.

[0032] In the drawings, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The description of the specific structure or function presented in the embodiments of the present disclosure is only exemplary, for the purpose of explaining the concepts according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, and these embodiments can be implemented in various forms. In addition, these descriptions should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described herein, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents and substitutes falling within the concepts and scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0034] Meanwhile, in the present disclosure, terms such as "first" and / or "second" may be used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. For example, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component.

[0035] It should be understood that when a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, the component may be directly connected to the other component, or there may be intervening components. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected to" another component, there are no intervening components. Other terms used to describe the relationship between components (e.g., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.) should be interpreted in a similar manner.

[0036] Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals represent the same parts. The terms used in this article are for the purpose of illustrating the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the singular form includes the plural meaning. The terms "comprise" and / or "comprising" used in this specification refer to the presence or addition of the listed parts, steps, operations and / or elements, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other parts, steps, operations and / or elements.

[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] A common linear MR damper has an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a piston having an orifice formed therein. When the piston moves, a pressure difference is generated between the two chambers, allowing the MR fluid to flow through the orifice. Here, a magnetic field is applied, and then the fine particles present in the MR fluid are aligned into a line by the magnetic field, thereby generating fluid flow and varying the damping force.

[0039] The rotary MR damper includes a stator portion and a rotor portion. As an example, the stator portion may have an annular or cylindrical aperture formed therein, and the solenoid coil may be arranged around the aperture. As another example, the aperture may be formed in a portion where the stator portion and the rotor portion serving as a shaft move relative to each other, and the solenoid coil may be provided as an elongated annular core.

[0040] The former case has several problems. For example, the relative movement between the stator part and the rotor part may generate friction. In addition, since the orifice, the solenoid coil, and the MR core are arranged inside the stator part, the structure of the stator part is complicated, and the number of structures for generating the required damping force increases. In the latter case, an orifice is formed in a portion between the stator part and the rotor part where the stator part and the rotor part move relative to each other, but since the solenoid coil has the shape of an elongated annular core, the magnetic field may not be generated efficiently, and the number of structures for generating the required damping force may increase.

[0041] To this end, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved MR damper having a simplified structure, having a higher efficiency in generating damping force for a given MR damper volume, and being able to efficiently generate a magnetic field.

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the MR damper according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is of a rotary type. The MR damper includes a stator 30 and a rotor 50. The stator 30 and the rotor 50 are accommodated in a housing 10. The stator 30 is fixed to the housing 10, and the rotor 50 is rotatably installed in the housing 10.

[0043] The housing 10 seals the MR fluid therein. The MR fluid can flow as the rotor 50 rotates. An orifice 40 through which the MR fluid moves is defined between the stator 30 and the rotor 50. Specifically, when the rotor 50 rotates, the MR fluid can flow between the first chamber 70 and the second chamber 90 through the orifice 40. The first chamber 70 and the second chamber 90 are separated by the stator 30 and the rotor 50.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the MR damper includes at least two MR cores 32, 52. Both the stator 30 and the rotor 50 may include MR cores. In one implementation, the stator 30 includes an outer MR core 32, and the rotor 50 includes an inner MR core 52.

[0045] refer to Figure 4A , Figure 4B , Figure 5A and Figure 5B According to the implementation method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the external MR core 32 includes a first element 132 and a second element 232. In some implementation methods, the second element 232 can be formed integrally with the first element 132, but a space can be formed between the second element and the first element 132. A bobbin 36 on which the solenoid coil 34 is wound can be installed in the space. In some implementation methods, the second element 232 can be separated from the first element 132 and inserted into the first element 132. In addition, the bobbin 36 on which the solenoid coil 34 is wound can be installed between the first element 132 and the second element 232. Because the external MR core 32 has a substantially "E" shape, the external MR core 32 can form two magnetic field loops together with the internal MR core 52, thereby improving the efficiency of generating a magnetic field compared to the related art, and generating a greater damping force under a given MR damper volume.

[0046] The first element 132 may have a first receiving portion 1132a and a second receiving portion 1132b formed therein. The first receiving portion 1132a and the second receiving portion 1132b may have a groove shape. The depth of the first receiving portion 1132a may be greater than the depth of the second receiving portion 1132b. In one implementation method, the second element 232 may be inserted into the first receiving portion 1132a. The bobbin 36 wound with the solenoid coil 34 may be mounted on the second element 232.

[0047] Reference again Figure 3, the stator 30 has a solenoid coil 34 installed therein. The solenoid coil 34 is configured to allow current to be applied thereto. When current is applied to the solenoid coil 34, a magnetic field can be formed around the solenoid coil 34. The intensity of the applied current, the timing of applying the current, and the cycle can be adjusted.

[0048] The solenoid coil 34 may be wound within the outer MR core 32. In one implementation, as Fig. 6A and Figure 6B As shown, the solenoid coil 34 is wound around the bobbin 36, which is an insulator and is installed inside the outer MR core 32. In one implementation method, the second element 232 can be inserted into the bobbin 36 wound with the solenoid coil 34, and the first element 132 can be installed to the outside of the bobbin 36. Here, the bobbin 36 can be located in the second receiving portion 1132b.

[0049] refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 According to the implementation method of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the stator 30 can be assembled through a series of processes. The solenoid coil 34 is wound on the bobbin 36, which is an insulator. The second element 232 is inserted into the bobbin 36 wound with the solenoid coil 34. The bobbin 36 with the second element 232 inserted therein is inserted into the first element 132. The second element 232 is matched with the first receiving portion 1132a, and the bobbin 36 with the solenoid coil 34 wound therein is located in the second receiving portion 1132b. In some implementation methods, the side block 38 can be mounted to each side of the first element 132.

[0050] Continue to refer Figure 3 , the rotor 50 can rotate within the housing 10. The inner MR core 52 of the rotor 50 is arranged inside the stator 30. The inner MR core 52 has a shaft 54 ​​of the rotor 50 mounted therein. The inner MR core 52 also has blades 56 mounted thereto.

[0051] In one implementation method, the blades 56 may be respectively disposed at opposite sides of the stator 30, with the stator 30 interposed between the blades. Therefore, the first chamber 70 is disposed between any one of the blades 56 and the stator 30. The second chamber 90 is disposed between another blade of the plurality of blades 56 and the stator 30. The chambers 70, 90 and the blades 56 may be arranged along the circumferential direction of the MR damper.

[0052] When the rotational motion of the shaft 54 ​​is converted into motion of the vanes 56, the pressure in the two chambers 70, 90 (each chamber is disposed between the stator 30 and the vanes 56) changes. Therefore, the MR fluid can flow from the first chamber 70 at a high pressure to the second chamber 90 at a low pressure in the flow direction F. Here, although the first chamber 70 is described as a high pressure chamber and the second chamber 90 is described as a low pressure chamber, it should be understood that this is only for clarity of explanation and the two are interchangeable.

[0053] As described above, the aperture 40 is formed between the stator 30 and the rotor 50. In particular, the aperture 40 may be provided between the stator 30 and the rotor 50 at the radial inner side of the stator 30 or the radial outer side of the rotor 50. Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the friction force generated between the stator 30 and the rotor 50 may be minimized.

[0054] refer to Fig. 9 Compared with the related art, the MR damper according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can generate a magnetic field more efficiently, and can improve the efficiency of generating a damping force under a given MR damper volume. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the iron core is a flat iron core. The magnetic field can be generated around the solenoid coil 34 as shown in M1, and can act on the orifice 40 as shown in M2. Therefore, the area where the magnetic field can act is widened, thereby, the MR damper according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can improve the efficiency of generating a magnetic field while having a simplified structure, and can improve the efficiency of generating a damping force under a given MR damper volume.

[0055] As is apparent from the above description, the embodiments of the present disclosure can provide the following effects.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an MR damper is provided that has a higher efficiency in generating damping force for a given MR damper volume.

[0057] Furthermore, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an MR damper capable of efficiently generating a magnetic field using a flat core having an “E” shape.

[0058] Furthermore, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an MR damper having an aperture formed between a stator and a rotor to reduce friction.

[0059] The effects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned herein will be clearly recognized by those skilled in the art based on the above description.

[0060] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present disclosure described above are not limited to the embodiments and drawings described above, and various substitutions, modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the technical concept of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A magnetorheological damper, comprising: a stator including a solenoid coil to which electric current can be applied; a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator; as well as An orifice is disposed between the stator and the rotor, wherein the orifice is configured to allow fluids sealed in a first chamber and a second chamber to communicate with each other, the first chamber and the second chamber being defined by the stator and the rotor.

2. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 1, wherein: The stator further includes an outer magnetorheological core, and wherein the solenoid coil is wound within the outer magnetorheological core.

3. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 2, wherein: The external magnetorheological core comprises: a first element; and The second element is disposed in the first element, and a space is formed between the first element and the second element.

4. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 3, wherein: The second element is formed integrally with the first element or separately from the first element.

5. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 3, wherein: The solenoid coil is installed in the space.

6. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 3, further comprising a bobbin, wherein the bobbin is arranged in the space, The solenoid coil is wound around the bobbin.

7. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 3, wherein: The first element comprises: a first receiving portion recessed into the first element and allowing the second element to be located in the first receiving portion; and A second receiving portion is recessed into the first member at a depth smaller than that of the first receiving portion, and allows the solenoid coil to be located in the second receiving portion.

8. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 1, wherein: The rotor comprises: Axles; and At least two blades are spaced apart from each other and connected to the shaft, wherein the stator is interposed between the at least two blades.

9. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 8, wherein: The rotor also includes an inner magnetorheological core disposed about the shaft and coupled to the blades.

10. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 8, wherein: The first chamber is disposed between a first blade of the at least two blades and the stator; and The second chamber is disposed between a second blade of the at least two blades and the stator.

11. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to receive the stator and the rotor therein and seal a fluid therein, the stator being fixed to the housing and the rotor being rotatable within the housing.

12. The magnetorheological damper according to claim 1, wherein: The stator further comprises an outer magnetorheological core, wherein the solenoid coil is wound within the outer magnetorheological core; The rotor includes an internal magnetorheological core; and The aperture is defined between the outer magnetorheological core and the inner magnetorheological core.

13. A method for assembling a stator of a magnetorheological damper, the stator comprising an outer magnetorheological core, the outer magnetorheological core comprising a first element and a second element, the method comprising: winding a solenoid coil around a bobbin; installing the second element into the bobbin around which the solenoid coil is wound; as well as The bobbin on which the second element is mounted is mounted to the first element.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising: Side blocks are mounted on opposite sides of the first element, respectively.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein: Mounting the bobbin with the second element mounted thereon to the first element comprises: placing the second element in a first receiving portion provided in the first element; and The bobbin on which the second element is mounted is placed in a second receiving portion provided in the first element.

16. A method of providing a magnetorheological damper, the method comprising: forming a stator, the stator including a solenoid coil to which electric current can be applied; forming a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator; as well as An aperture is formed between the stator and the rotor, wherein the aperture allows fluids sealed in first and second chambers defined by the stator and the rotor to communicate with each other.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The stator further includes an outer magnetorheological core, and wherein the solenoid coil is wound within the outer magnetorheological core.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The rotor comprises: Axles; and At least two blades are spaced apart from each other and connected to the shaft, wherein the stator is interposed between the at least two blades.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein: The first chamber is disposed between a first blade of the at least two blades and the stator; and The second chamber is disposed between a second blade of the at least two blades and the stator.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein: The stator further comprises an outer magnetorheological core, wherein the solenoid coil is wound within the outer magnetorheological core; The rotor includes an internal magnetorheological core; and The aperture is formed between the outer magnetorheological core and the inner magnetorheological core.

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