Guiding mechanism, magnetorheological damper, suspension system and vehicle

Abstract

The application relates to a guide mechanism, a magnetorheological damper, a suspension system and a vehicle, which comprises a ring-shaped shell, a sealing mechanism and a bearing mechanism, the sealing mechanism is installed on the ring-shaped shell and is used for cooperating with the ring-shaped shell and a piston rod to form a sealed space; the bearing mechanism is installed on the sealed space and is used for forming a sliding fit with the piston rod; the ring-shaped shell is provided with an oil storage groove in communication with the sealed space, the oil storage groove is used for storing lubricating oil, and the lubricating oil in the oil storage groove lubricates the piston rod via a gap between the bearing mechanism and the piston rod. By arranging the sealing mechanism and the oil storage groove, the guide mechanism has better lubricating and maintaining capabilities while maintaining guiding precision, thereby reducing the abrasion risk between the piston rod and the guide mechanism, and the stable operation performance and the service life of the magnetorheological damper are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of damper technology, and in particular to a guide mechanism, a magnetorheological damper, a suspension system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] A magnetorheological damper is an intelligent damping device based on the reversible change in the rheological properties of a magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) under the influence of a magnetic field. This type of device typically includes a cylinder, a guiding mechanism, a piston rod, a coil unit, and the magnetorheological fluid filled within the cylinder. The guiding mechanism guides the piston rod to achieve axial reciprocating motion within the cylinder. When the coil is energized, the resulting magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid, causing a rapid change in its shear stress, thereby achieving dynamic adjustment of the damping force. Due to its fast response speed and wide adjustable damping range, magnetorheological dampers are widely used in vehicle suspension systems, structural vibration damping, and precision mechanical buffering.

[0003] In related technologies, to achieve smooth reciprocating motion of the piston rod under high pressure conditions, a sliding fit structure that combines guiding and sealing functions is typically installed between the piston rod and the guiding mechanism to meet the dual requirements of guiding accuracy and sealing performance. However, during long-term operation, this sliding fit area is prone to wear due to continuous relative movement. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a guide mechanism, a magnetorheological damper, a suspension system, and a vehicle, which improves the lubrication effect between the guide mechanism and the piston rod, thereby reducing the wear phenomenon between the guide mechanism and the piston rod, so as to at least partially solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, according to a first aspect of this application, a guiding mechanism is provided, comprising:

[0006] Annular shell;

[0007] A sealing mechanism is installed on the annular housing and is used to cooperate with the annular housing and the piston rod to form a sealed space;

[0008] A bearing mechanism is installed in the sealed space and is used to form a sliding fit with the piston rod;

[0009] The annular housing is provided with an oil storage tank that communicates with the sealed space. The oil storage tank is used to store lubricating oil, and the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank lubricates the piston rod through the gap between the bearing mechanism and the piston rod.

[0010] In some embodiments, the bearing mechanism includes a first end and a second end, and the oil reservoir is located at at least one of the first end and the second end of the bearing mechanism.

[0011] In some embodiments, the annular housing includes a first oil guide groove; wherein,

[0012] The oil reservoir is located at the second end of the bearing mechanism, and the first oil guide groove is used to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the first end side of the bearing mechanism.

[0013] Alternatively, the oil reservoir is located at the first end of the bearing mechanism, and the first oil guide groove is used to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the second end of the bearing mechanism.

[0014] In some embodiments, the projection of the oil reservoir in the radial direction along the annular housing is located within the projection range of the bearing mechanism, and the annular housing further includes a second oil guide groove extending from the oil reservoir to the end side of the bearing mechanism to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to at least one of the first end and the second end of the bearing mechanism.

[0015] In some embodiments, the number of oil reservoirs is at least two, with at least one oil reservoir located on the first end side of the bearing mechanism and at least one oil reservoir located on the second end side of the bearing mechanism.

[0016] In some embodiments, the annular housing further includes a third oil guide groove for connecting the oil reservoir located at the first and second ends of the bearing mechanism.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first, second, or third oil guide groove of the annular housing extends along the axial direction of the piston rod.

[0018] In some embodiments, the number of the first, second, or third oil guide grooves of the annular shell is multiple, and they are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the annular shell.

[0019] In some embodiments, the oil reservoir is arranged around the piston rod.

[0020] In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism includes a first oil seal disposed within the annular housing, the first oil seal being configured to form a sliding seal with the piston rod.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first oil seal is disposed on the first end side of the bearing mechanism.

[0022] In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism includes a second oil seal disposed within the annular housing, the second oil seal being configured to form a sliding seal with the piston rod.

[0023] In some embodiments, the guide mechanism further includes a mounting base mounted on the annular housing, and the second oil seal is mounted on the mounting base.

[0024] In some embodiments, the second oil seal is disposed on the second end side of the bearing mechanism.

[0025] In some embodiments, the oil reservoir is located between the first oil seal of the sealing mechanism and the first end of the bearing mechanism;

[0026] And / or, the oil reservoir is located between the second oil seal of the sealing mechanism and the second end of the bearing mechanism.

[0027] In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism further includes a dust seal installed on the annular housing and in contact with the outer wall of the piston rod, for preventing external dust from entering the gap between the guide mechanism and the piston rod.

[0028] According to a second aspect of this application, a magnetorheological damper is provided, including the guiding mechanism described in the above technical solution.

[0029] According to a third aspect of this application, a suspension system is provided, including the guiding mechanism described in the above-described technical solution, or the magnetorheological damper described in the above-described technical solution.

[0030] According to a fourth aspect of this application, a vehicle is also provided, including the guiding mechanism described in the above-described technical solutions, or the magnetorheological damper described in the above-described technical solutions, or the suspension system described in the above-described technical solutions.

[0031] In the guiding mechanism of this application embodiment, by setting a sealing mechanism and an oil reservoir, the guiding mechanism can maintain guiding accuracy while having good lubrication retention capability, thereby reducing the wear risk between the piston rod and the guiding mechanism, which is beneficial to improving the stable operation performance and service life of the magnetorheological damper.

[0032] Specifically, the oil reservoir is used to store lubricating oil to provide a continuous lubrication source for the reciprocating sliding of the piston rod. During operation, the lubricating oil can be distributed along the gap formed between the inner wall of the guide mechanism and the outer surface of the piston rod to the contact area between the two, which helps to establish a stable oil film at the sliding interface, thereby reducing sliding friction and mitigating contact wear to a certain extent.

[0033] Other features and advantages of this application will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0035] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals in the following description denote the same parts.

[0036] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the guide mechanism provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of another guiding mechanism provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0038] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of another guiding mechanism provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of another guiding mechanism provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0040] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of another guiding mechanism provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of another guiding mechanism provided in an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure.

[0042] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0043] 10. Guiding mechanism; 20. Piston rod; 100. Annular housing; 110. Oil reservoir; 120. First oil guide groove; 130. Second oil guide groove; 140. Third oil guide groove; 200. Bearing mechanism; 210. First end; 220. Second end; 300. Sealing mechanism; 310. First oil seal; 320. Second oil seal; 330. Dust seal; 400. Mounting base. Detailed Implementation

[0044] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the protection scope of this application.

[0045] According to the first aspect of this application, referring to Figures 1 to 6This disclosure provides a guide mechanism 10 applied to a magnetorheological damper. Specifically, the guide mechanism 10 is applied to the cylinder end of the magnetorheological damper, guiding and supporting the reciprocating sliding of the piston rod 20, while also serving as a sealing and lubrication aid, which helps maintain the guiding stability and system sealing of the piston rod 20 during its movement.

[0046] For example, the magnetorheological damper includes a cylinder and a piston rod 20, the piston rod 20 being axially reciprocating within the cylinder. A guide mechanism 10 is mounted at one end opening of the cylinder and configured to engage with the cylinder port, thereby defining the axial movement path of the piston rod 20. The guide mechanism 10 has a through-hole structure, the piston rod 20 passing through the through-hole, and is slidably engaged with the guide mechanism 10, thus structurally constraining the direction of movement of the piston rod 20 and guiding it to move axially along the inner wall of the cylinder.

[0047] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 The guiding mechanism 10 includes an annular housing 100, a sealing mechanism 300, and a bearing mechanism 200. The annular housing 100, as the main component of the guiding mechanism 10, has a hollow annular structure. Its outer wall is used to connect with the inner wall of the cylinder of the magnetorheological damper, thereby achieving stable installation of the guiding mechanism 10 at the cylinder end. This connection method can be based on interference fit, snap-fit, or threaded connection, giving the annular housing 100 good structural stability during long-term operation and helping to avoid guide misalignment caused by assembly loosening.

[0048] The inner ring sidewall of the annular housing 100 surrounds a through-hole area through which the piston rod 20 passes. This inner ring sidewall has a mating structure for mounting the sealing mechanism 300 and the bearing mechanism 200. This mating structure can be an axially oriented groove, step, or positioning cavity, used to define the installation position of the seal or bearing component and maintain its axial stability during use. When the piston rod 20 passes through the through-hole, the annular housing 100, the piston rod 20, and the sealing mechanism 300 together define a sealing space. This sealing space is structurally located in the axial region between the seal and the annular housing 100, serving to isolate it from the external environment. This ensures that the sliding contact area between the piston rod 20 and the housing is in a relatively clean environment during use, thereby reducing the risk of external impurities or moisture entering the sliding parts.

[0049] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2The bearing mechanism 200 is disposed within the sealed space of the annular housing 100 and is positioned and engaged with the inner ring sidewall of the housing through structural fit, thereby providing radial support for the piston rod 20. Through the above structural arrangement, the sealing mechanism 300 can prevent impurities from entering, while the bearing mechanism 200 provides stable support for the reciprocating sliding of the piston rod 20. Under the synergistic effect of the two, the support stability and sealing reliability during the guiding process can be improved to a certain extent.

[0050] To further enhance the airtightness of the sealed space, in some embodiments, the inner ring sidewall of the annular housing 100 is also provided with a raised positioning edge or stop edge structure to prevent axial displacement of the seal or bearing components during the movement of the piston rod 20, thereby enhancing the structural integrity of the entire assembly. Furthermore, to adapt to different application requirements of the magnetorheological damper, the material of the annular housing 100 can be selected from metallic materials such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, or high-strength engineering plastic materials such as polyoxymethylene or nylon, depending on the actual usage environment, to balance strength, wear resistance, and processability. The overall structure of the annular housing 100 provides a stable mounting base for the sealing mechanism 300 and the bearing mechanism 200, and together with the piston rod 20, forms a controllable guiding and supporting mating area, thereby helping to reduce friction and wear, improve guiding accuracy, and enhance the operational reliability and service life of the magnetorheological damper.

[0051] In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism 300 is mounted on the annular housing 100 and cooperates with the annular housing 100 and the piston rod 20 to form a sealed space. Specifically, the sealing mechanism 300 is mounted on the inner ring sidewall of the annular housing 100 and fits snugly against the outer wall of the piston rod 20 to define and form a sealed space. This sealed space helps to create relative isolation between the interior of the guide mechanism 10 and the external environment. The sealing mechanism 300 can take the form of an elastic sealing ring, a combined sealing assembly, or a lip seal, and can be made of materials such as nitrile rubber (NBR), fluororubber (FKM), or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) according to different application requirements to balance wear resistance, temperature resistance, and sealing performance. Through the radial elastic fit structure of the sealing mechanism 300, a certain radial preload can be applied to the outer surface of the piston rod 20 after installation, thereby forming a stable contact seal state, which helps to prevent external particulate impurities or liquid media from entering the interior space of the guide mechanism 10.

[0052] The sealing mechanism 300 is typically installed within a sealing mounting groove in the annular housing 100. This mounting groove can be formed by an annular cavity or a positioning groove, which defines the position of the sealing mechanism 300 in the axial and radial directions, preventing misalignment or detachment of the sealing mechanism 300 during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20. The structural dimensions of the sealing mechanism 300 are rationally designed to maintain appropriate elastic deformation under press-fit conditions, thereby accommodating displacement changes of the piston rod 20 due to thermal expansion, vibration, and other factors during operation, ensuring stable sealing performance.

[0053] The formation of a sealed space helps maintain the relatively sealed state of the internal lubricating oil, preventing the lubricating medium from leaking to the outside or becoming contaminated, thus providing a clean working environment for subsequent lubrication supply. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the sealing mechanism 300 may also be provided with a dustproof lip or auxiliary sealing section to further improve its ability to isolate dust, moisture, or other impurities, thereby delaying the adverse effects of impurities on the sliding pair. With the above structural combination, the sealing mechanism 300 can not only stabilize the lubrication state between the guide mechanism 10 and the piston rod 20 to a certain extent, but also reduce the interference of external environmental changes on the system's sealing performance, which is beneficial to improving the service life and operational stability of the magnetorheological damper.

[0054] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 The bearing mechanism 200 is installed in the sealed space and is used to form a sliding fit with the piston rod 20. The bearing mechanism 200 provides radial support and guidance during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20, thereby contributing to improving the fitting accuracy and structural stability of the guide mechanism 10 to a certain extent. Exemplarily, the bearing mechanism 200 includes a bearing housing and a bearing body, wherein the bearing is preferably a sliding bearing, its structure adapted to form a sliding pair structure in surface contact with the outer wall of the piston rod 20, so as to limit the radial offset of the piston rod 20 while allowing it to reciprocate freely in the axial direction.

[0055] The bearing housing has an annular structure and is located in the inner ring mounting area of ​​the annular housing 100. It can be securely positioned in a preset position through interference fit, slot fixing, or threaded connection. The inner annular surface of the bearing housing has a positioning groove for accommodating the bearing body. The groove's structural dimensions are adapted to the bearing's outer diameter to achieve bearing positioning and axial support. The outer annular surface of the bearing housing fits snugly against the annular housing 100, and its structural stability has a significant impact on the support effect of the entire guide mechanism 10.

[0056] The fit clearance between the bearing inner bore and the piston rod 20 is optimized so that an oil film layer can be formed during the operation of the piston rod 20, thereby lubricating the inner wall of the bearing, reducing sliding friction resistance and delaying wear of the mating surfaces to a certain extent.

[0057] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 The annular housing 100 is provided with an oil reservoir 110 communicating with the sealed space. The oil reservoir 110 is used to store lubricating oil, and the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 lubricates the piston rod 20 through the gap between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20. The lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 provides a continuous lubrication source for the reciprocating sliding of the piston rod 20 in the guide mechanism 10. The oil reservoir 110 is preferably arranged on the inner ring side wall of the annular housing 100. Its specific structure can be an annular groove opened in the circumferential direction, a blind hole-type oil cavity distributed in the wall thickness of the annular housing 100, or a longitudinal oil storage channel extending in the axial direction. Different structural forms can be flexibly selected according to the actual spatial layout and lubrication requirements.

[0058] The opening of the oil reservoir 110 faces the sealed space or bearing mechanism 200, allowing the lubricating oil stored therein to seep into or flow into the gap area between the piston rod 20 and the bearing by means of gravity, capillary action, or pressure difference during movement, thereby gradually forming an oil film layer covering the contact surface. During the reciprocating sliding process of the piston rod 20, this oil film can maintain a certain thickness in the mating area, which helps to reduce the coefficient of friction and buffer the load on the contact surface, thereby reducing wear and heat generation caused by dry friction to a certain extent.

[0059] Under specific operating conditions, the oil reservoir 110 can also serve as a buffer cavity for lubricating oil. When the temperature rises significantly or the piston rod 20 moves at high frequency, it can accommodate some of the oil volume fluctuations after thermal expansion, which helps to reduce the impact of internal pressure changes on the sealing mechanism 300 and bearing structure, and improves the structural stability of the guide mechanism 10.

[0060] Through the above structural design, the combination of the oil reservoir 110, the bearing mechanism 200, and the sealing space can achieve a certain degree of self-lubrication of the guide mechanism 10 without relying on an external lubrication system. This reduces the wear of mating parts and the decrease in guiding accuracy caused by insufficient lubrication, extends the service life of the magnetorheological damper, and improves its operational stability.

[0061] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 The bearing mechanism 200 includes a first end 210 and a second end 220, and an oil reservoir 110 is located at at least one of the first end 210 and the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. It can be understood that the bearing mechanism 200 has two ends along its axial direction, namely the first end 210 and the second end 220. The oil reservoir 110 can be located at either end, or multiple oil reservoirs 110 can be symmetrically or asymmetrically located at both ends, thereby improving the storage and supply capacity of lubricating oil.

[0062] When the oil reservoir 110 is located at the end of the bearing mechanism 200, especially near the end face of the contact area between the bearing and the piston rod 20, the lubricating oil can quickly penetrate into the mating clearance between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20 within a short path through capillary action, pressure difference, or the drainage effect generated by the movement of the piston rod 20. This arrangement helps to reduce the retention and evaporation loss of lubricating oil during transmission, improve lubrication efficiency, and enhance the continuity and stability of the oil film during sliding.

[0063] For example, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the first end 210 of the bearing mechanism 200 is the upper end face of the bearing mechanism 200 shown in the figure, and the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200 is the lower end face of the bearing mechanism 200 shown in the figure. Taking the oil reservoir 110 being disposed at the first end 210 of the bearing mechanism 200 as an example (refer to...) Figure 3 When the piston rod 20 enters from the outside of the guide mechanism 10 and begins to slide, the oil reservoir 110 at the first end 210 can quickly supply oil in the initial stage. This helps to form an initial lubricating oil film at the beginning of the piston rod 20's start-up, reducing starting resistance and mitigating the adverse effects of dry friction on the mating surfaces. At the same time, during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20, the lubricating oil can form a certain flow channel in the mating clearance, gradually conducting from the first end 210 to the second end 220, assisting in the formation of a dynamic lubrication system.

[0064] If the oil reservoirs 110 are respectively arranged at the two ends of the bearing mechanism 200 (refer to...) Figure 5 , Figure 6 This design enables uniform lubrication of both ends of the piston rod 20's sliding stroke, helping to prevent localized wear due to insufficient lubrication in certain areas. This structure positively impacts the lubrication consistency of the entire sliding contact area, thereby contributing to the stability and service life of the guide mechanism 10.

[0065] In summary, by placing the oil reservoir 110 in the end region of the bearing mechanism 200, the lubrication path can be optimized through structural layout without introducing an additional power lubrication device, effectively improving the timeliness and effectiveness of lubricant delivery, thereby reducing the risk of wear between mating parts and maintaining good guiding accuracy to a certain extent.

[0066] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2The annular housing 100 includes a first oil guide groove 120 and an oil reservoir 110 located at the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. The first oil guide groove 120 guides the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 to the first end 210 side of the bearing mechanism 200. This structure allows the lubricating oil to form a circulating flow path within the bearing mechanism 200, which is beneficial for improving lubrication. The lubricating oil flows from the second end 220 side of the bearing mechanism 200 to the first end 210 side through the gap between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20, and then flows back to the oil reservoir 110 through the first oil guide groove 120, forming a closed-loop lubrication circulation system. Compared with unidirectional flow or static lubrication, the circulating flow of lubricating oil helps maintain the freshness and uniform distribution of the lubricating oil, thereby more effectively reducing the sliding friction between the piston rod 20 and the bearing mechanism 200 and improving lubrication stability.

[0067] Furthermore, some lubricating oil can flow directly from the oil reservoir 110 at the second end 220 to the first end 210 through the first oil guide groove 120, ensuring sufficient lubricating oil coverage at both ends of the bearing mechanism 200. This further optimizes the distribution of lubricating oil, reduces localized wear, and improves the overall lubrication reliability and service life of the guide mechanism 10. This lubrication circulation structure helps maintain a clean environment for the bearing mechanism 200, prevents lubricating oil stagnation and deterioration, and enhances the long-term stable operation of the magnetorheological damper.

[0068] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 An oil reservoir 110 is located at the first end 210 of the bearing mechanism 200, and a first oil guide groove 120 guides the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 to the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. This structure allows the lubricating oil to form a circulating flow path within the bearing mechanism 200, which is beneficial for improving lubrication. The lubricating oil flows from the first end 210 to the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200 through the gap between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20, and then flows back to the oil reservoir 110 through the first oil guide groove 120, forming a closed-loop lubrication circulation system. Compared with unidirectional flow or static lubrication, this circulating flow of lubricating oil helps maintain the freshness and uniform distribution of the lubricating oil, reduces the sliding friction between the piston rod 20 and the bearing mechanism 200, and improves the stability of lubrication.

[0069] Simultaneously, some lubricating oil can also flow directly from the oil reservoir 110 at the first end 210 of the bearing mechanism 200 to the second end 220 through the first oil guide groove 120, ensuring that both ends of the bearing mechanism 200 receive sufficient lubricating oil coverage. This further optimizes the distribution of lubricating oil, reduces localized wear, enhances the overall lubrication reliability of the guide mechanism 10, and extends its service life. This lubrication circulation structure helps maintain a clean environment for the bearing mechanism 200, avoids lubricating oil retention and performance degradation, and promotes the long-term stable operation of the magnetorheological damper.

[0070] Depending on the actual working conditions and lubrication requirements, the oil reservoir 110 can be positioned at either the first end 210 or the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. This selection helps to adapt to different installation spaces and lubrication path requirements, thereby achieving effective circulation of lubricating oil and improving the lubrication effect and reliability of the guide mechanism 10.

[0071] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 4 The projection of the oil reservoir 110 along the radial direction of the annular housing 100 lies within the projection range of the bearing mechanism 200. The annular housing 100 also includes a second oil guide groove 130, which extends from the oil reservoir 110 to the end side of the bearing mechanism 200 to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 to at least one of the first end 210 and the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. This structural design helps to shorten the axial dimension of the guide mechanism 10, making the overall structure more compact and facilitating installation and use in space-constrained applications. Simultaneously, through the guiding action of the second oil guide groove 130, the lubricating oil can be more evenly and effectively distributed to the critical lubrication areas of the bearing mechanism 200, thereby improving the lubrication effect, reducing wear between the bearing and the piston rod 20, and extending the service life of the guide mechanism 10 and the magnetorheological damper. Furthermore, the compact structure helps to improve the rigidity and stability of the guide mechanism 10, thereby maintaining the guiding accuracy of the piston rod 20 to a certain extent, which is beneficial to the stable operation of the overall system.

[0072] Specifically, the oil storage tank 110 is disposed on the inner wall or middle layer of the annular shell 100 and is arranged relative to the radial outer ring of the bearing mechanism 200. That is, the oil storage tank 110 is arranged in a ring around the piston rod 20 and the bearing mechanism 200 to form a liquid storage space.

[0073] For example, the second oil guide groove 130 may be in the form of a radial through hole, or in the form of an oblique hole, a bent channel, etc., extending from the oil reservoir 110 to the first end 210 and / or the second end 220 side of the bearing mechanism 200 along the thickness direction or axial direction of the housing. There may be one or more of them, and they are preferably arranged symmetrically to achieve uniform distribution of lubricating oil.

[0074] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6The bearing mechanism 200 has at least two oil reservoirs 110, with at least one oil reservoir 110 located at the first end 210 and at least one oil reservoir 110 located at the second end 220. By providing oil reservoirs 110 at both ends of the bearing mechanism 200, multi-point storage and supply of lubricating oil can be achieved, which facilitates the uniform distribution of lubricating oil at different locations within the bearing mechanism 200, further improving the lubrication effect. This structural design helps maintain lubrication stability between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20, reduces the risk of localized wear, and promotes the overall reliability and extended service life of the guide mechanism 10. Furthermore, the multiple oil reservoir configuration 110 allows for flexible adjustment of the lubricating oil quantity and distribution according to actual working conditions, adapting to lubrication requirements under different operating environments.

[0075] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 6 The annular housing 100 also includes a third oil guide groove 140, which connects the oil reservoirs 110 located at the first end 210 and the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. Through the third oil guide groove 140, lubricating oil can form a circulation channel between the two oil reservoirs 110, enabling dynamic flow of the lubricating oil. The lubricating oil flows out from one end of the oil reservoir 110, is distributed to the sliding contact area via the gap between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20, providing lubrication support to the piston rod 20, and then flows back to the other end of the oil reservoir 110 through the third oil guide groove 140.

[0076] This structural design facilitates a continuous lubricating oil circulation path, helping to maintain the freshness and uniformity of the lubricating oil, reducing the risk of localized lubricating oil depletion, and improving the stability and reliability of lubrication performance. Simultaneously, the dynamically flowing lubricating oil can, to some extent, remove the heat generated by friction, which is beneficial for temperature control of the guide mechanism 10 and mitigates changes in guiding accuracy caused by thermal expansion and contraction. This, in turn, contributes to improving the overall operational stability and service life of the magnetorheological damper.

[0077] In some embodiments, the third oil guide groove 140 can be arranged as a closed conductive channel arranged along the axial or radial direction of the annular housing 100, with its two ends communicating with the oil storage groove 110 located on the first end 210 side and the second end 220 side of the bearing mechanism 200, respectively. Specifically, the third oil guide groove 140 can be disposed in the middle of the inner sidewall or the middle of the outer sidewall of the annular housing 100, and the channel shape of the oil guide groove can adopt an arc-shaped, spiral, or straight channel structure to adapt to the structure of the annular housing 100 and the oil distribution requirements.

[0078] The connection between the third oil guide groove 140 and the oil storage groove 110 can be achieved through an oil injection hole, a through hole, or a through groove located inside the sealed space. The groove is structurally connected to the inside of the oil storage groove 110 and forms an oil passage between the two ends of the annular shell 100.

[0079] In some embodiments, refer to Figures 3 to 6 The first oil guide groove 120, the second oil guide groove 130, or the third oil guide groove 140 of the annular housing 100 extend axially along the piston rod 20. The axially extending first oil guide groove 120 helps to shorten the lubricating oil flow path, reduce oil flow resistance, and enable the lubricating oil to flow stably from one end to the other during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20. This, in turn, facilitates the formation of a dynamic lubricating film over the entire length of the bearing mechanism 200, improving sliding smoothness and wear resistance.

[0080] The axially extending second oil guide groove 130 helps to reduce the axial dimension of the annular housing 100, making the housing structure more compact, and also facilitates the arrangement of the oil storage groove 110 when the space at both ends of the bearing mechanism 200 is limited.

[0081] The axially extending third oil guide groove 140 enables dynamic balanced flow of lubricating oil at both ends of the bearing mechanism 200, which to a certain extent suppresses the generation of lubrication dead zones. At the same time, it allows the lubricating oil to continuously flow dynamically between the inner wall of the bearing mechanism 200 and the outer surface of the piston rod 20, thereby forming a stable and uniform lubrication state.

[0082] In some embodiments, the annular housing 100 has multiple first oil guide grooves 120, second oil guide grooves 130, or third oil guide grooves 140, which are distributed circumferentially around the annular housing 100. By providing multiple circumferentially distributed first oil guide grooves 120, lubricating oil can enter the gap between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20 from multiple directions, which is beneficial for the uniform distribution of lubricating oil on the sliding interface, avoids insufficient local lubrication, and thus improves the lubrication reliability of the bearing mechanism 200 to a certain extent.

[0083] Multiple second oil guide grooves 130 are distributed circumferentially along the annular housing 100, providing lubricating oil supply to the bearing mechanism 200 from multiple directions. This allows the lubricating oil to disperse more quickly throughout the entire contact interface after entering the bearing mechanism 200 at the end. This distribution helps improve oil guiding efficiency and enhances the adaptability of the lubrication system under various conditions, making it suitable for sliding fit lubrication under complex working conditions such as tilted or lateral loading environments.

[0084] Multiple third oil guide grooves 140 are distributed circumferentially along the annular shell 100, enabling more efficient oil scheduling and uniform distribution. Especially in applications with frequent sliding processes or long sliding lengths, multiple oil guide grooves can improve the system's response to temperature rise, friction, and oil film rupture, making it suitable for operating conditions with high requirements for lubrication continuity.

[0085] In some embodiments, the oil reservoir 110 is disposed around the piston rod 20. Exemplarily, the oil reservoir 110 is arranged in a ring shape outside the piston rod 20, forming a contact-facing lubrication interface between the oil reservoir 110 and the piston rod 20. The oil reservoir 110 has an opening structure that opens towards the piston rod 20, allowing the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 to be directly exposed to the outer surface of the piston rod 20, achieving direct contact between the lubricating oil and the piston rod 20. Thus, during the axial movement or relative sliding of the piston rod 20, a lubricating oil film is continuously formed between the sliding contact surfaces.

[0086] The circumferential arrangement of the oil reservoir 110 and its opening facing the piston rod 20 allow for contact with the piston rod 20 surface over a larger circumferential range, providing a greater lubrication contact area. Compared to point-like or linear oil supply methods, this structure is more conducive to the formation of a continuous and stable oil film on the piston rod 20 surface, making it particularly suitable for high-speed reciprocating or long-stroke sliding scenarios. This, in turn, can improve the lubrication uniformity of the guide mechanism 10 to a certain extent, reduce wear between the piston rod 20 and the housing, and extend the structural service life.

[0087] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 The sealing mechanism 300 includes a first oil seal 310 disposed within the annular housing 100. The first oil seal 310 is used to form a sliding seal with the piston rod 20. The first oil seal 310 is disposed within the annular housing 100 and on one end side of the bearing mechanism 200. It can maintain stable contact with the outer surface of the piston rod 20 during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20, thereby preventing the leakage or infiltration of lubricating oil or external impurities in the axial direction and maintaining the cleanliness and lubrication stability of the sealing space.

[0088] For example, the first oil seal 310 can be a lip seal, including an inner lip and an elastic sealing body. The inner lip fits against the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod 20 and maintains a continuous radial preload under elastic action to form a reliable sliding seal. This type of oil seal has the characteristics of simple structure and stable sealing performance, and is suitable for high-speed or medium-speed reciprocating sliding sealing conditions.

[0089] In some embodiments, the first oil seal 310 can be a combined oil seal structure, such as a double-lip or multi-lip oil seal consisting of a dust lip, a main sealing lip, and a reinforcing skeleton. The dust lip faces outward to prevent external dust and particles from entering the sealed space, while the main sealing lip conforms to the surface of the piston rod 20 to prevent lubricating oil leakage within the sealed space. The reinforcing skeleton provides axial and radial support to ensure that the oil seal does not overturn or shift during high-frequency sliding. This combined structure is beneficial for improving the overall seal life and is suitable for harsh environments with high levels of dust or impurities.

[0090] From a material selection perspective, the first oil seal 310 can be made of wear-resistant rubber (such as nitrile rubber NBR, fluororubber FKM, etc.), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or composite polymer materials to balance sealing performance and service life. For example, oil seals using PTFE materials can operate stably in high-temperature, high-speed, and lubricant compatibility conditions.

[0091] In some embodiments, for ease of assembly and replacement, the first oil seal 310 may adopt a snap-fit ​​installation structure, which achieves positioning and pre-tightening through an annular groove in the housing, thereby improving assembly efficiency and facilitating later maintenance and replacement, and is suitable for the needs of modular structural design.

[0092] The first oil seal 310 forms an effective sliding seal structure, which prevents external impurities from entering the sealing space and prevents lubricating oil from leaking out of the sealing space. This, to a certain extent, helps to improve the working stability of the guiding system, reduce the wear of the friction pair, and extend the service life of the piston rod 20 and the bearing mechanism 200.

[0093] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 The first oil seal 310 is located on the first end 210 side of the bearing mechanism 200. This arrangement serves two purposes: firstly, it helps to seal the passage between the bearing mechanism 200 and the outside during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20, preventing lubricating oil from leaking from the first end 210 side of the bearing mechanism 200 to the external environment; secondly, it also prevents external air, dust, or other impurities from entering the bearing mechanism 200 along the surface of the piston rod 20, thereby helping to maintain the stability of the lubrication state inside the bearing and avoiding wear or abnormal operation caused by impurities.

[0094] In some embodiments, the sealing mechanism 300 includes a second oil seal 320 disposed within the annular housing 100, the second oil seal 320 being used to form a sliding seal with the piston rod 20. The second oil seal 320 is typically located on the inner ring sidewall portion of the annular housing 100, arranged axially along the piston rod 20, and serves to seal the piston rod 20 and the annular housing 100, preventing lubricating oil and working medium from leaking from the sealed space, while also blocking external impurities from entering the sealed space.

[0095] The second oil seal 320 can be a single-lip or double-lip seal. Its material is generally a wear-resistant, high-temperature-resistant, and corrosion-resistant elastomer, such as fluororubber (FKM) or hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), to adapt to the complex working environment and sealing requirements of the magnetorheological damper. The second oil seal 320 is fixed within the annular housing 100 by clamping, press-fitting, or combining with a sealing seat structure, ensuring stable sealing contact during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20 and reducing frictional wear.

[0096] In some embodiments, the second oil seal 320 is typically positioned to form a complementary sealing structure with the first oil seal 310 or other sealing elements, thereby achieving multiple sealing guarantees and improving the overall sealing performance and lubrication effect of the guide mechanism 10. The arrangement of the second oil seal 320 helps maintain the flexibility of the sliding fit between the piston rod 20 and the annular housing 100 while preserving a clean environment in the sealed space, promoting stable operation of the bearing mechanism 200. This arrangement is suitable for applications requiring high-precision, long-life sealing guidance, such as magnetorheological dampers.

[0097] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 The guide mechanism 10 also includes a mounting base 400, which is mounted on the annular housing 100, and the second oil seal 320 is mounted on the mounting base 400. The mounting base 400 simplifies the installation process of the second oil seal 320. By pre-installing the second oil seal 320 on the mounting base 400 and then assembling the mounting base 400 as a whole into the annular housing 100, the ease and reliability of assembly can be improved. Furthermore, the design of the mounting base 400 allows the annular housing 100 to form a larger installation opening, which facilitates the subsequent installation of the bearing mechanism 200 and other internal components, helping to reduce assembly difficulty and time.

[0098] The mounting base 400 is typically connected to the annular housing 100 via interference fit or welding, ensuring a stable and secure connection between the mounting base 400 and the annular housing 100. Once fixed, the mounting base 400 effectively restricts and positions components such as the bearing mechanism 200 within the annular housing 100, helping to maintain the relative stability of the components within the guide mechanism 10, thereby improving the overall structural stability and operational reliability of the guide mechanism 10.

[0099] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 , Figure 3 The second oil seal 320 is located on the second end 220 side of the bearing mechanism 200. The second oil seal 320 can maintain a clean environment for the bearing mechanism 200 and the sealing space, which helps to delay lubricant contamination and wear of the seals, thereby improving the service life and stability of the guide mechanism 10.

[0100] Furthermore, the second oil seal 320 forms a sliding seal with the piston rod 20, which can limit the leakage of lubricating oil to a certain extent. This helps to maintain a sufficient supply of lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 and the lubrication path, supporting the continuous lubrication effect of the bearing mechanism 200. This arrangement plays a positive role in the reliable operation of the magnetorheological damper under complex working conditions.

[0101] In some embodiments, the mounting base 400 is disposed on the second end 220 side of the bearing mechanism 200. This second end 220 is typically located inside the cylinder. Since the inside of the cylinder is generally under high pressure during use, the mounting base 400 can achieve a more secure fixation by means of this pressure. Specifically, the mounting base 400 is installed into the annular housing 100 from the second end 220 side of the bearing mechanism 200. The cylinder pressure along the installation direction helps to press the mounting base 400 tightly against the inner cavity of the annular housing 100, thereby reducing the risk of loosening or falling off the mounting base 400 and improving the stability and reliability of the overall structure.

[0102] In addition, this configuration helps to simplify the assembly process of the guide mechanism 10, facilitates the overall installation and maintenance of the bearing mechanism 200 and the sealing mechanism 300, and promotes the long-term stable operation of the guide mechanism 10.

[0103] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 , Figure 5 The oil reservoir 110 is located between the first oil seal 310 of the sealing mechanism 300 and the first end 210 of the bearing mechanism 200. This arrangement allows the oil reservoir 110 to be located in the area between the bearing mechanism 200 and the sealing mechanism 300, so that during actual operation, the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 can lubricate the sliding contact parts between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20, as well as the sealing contact parts between the first oil seal 310 and the piston rod 20.

[0104] Specifically, at the first oil seal 310, lubricating oil can form a lubricating film, reducing contact wear between the first oil seal 310 and the piston rod 20, and improving the stability and service life of the sealing performance. This arrangement facilitates multi-point lubrication of the guide mechanism 10, improving the overall operational stability and reliability.

[0105] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 The oil reservoir 110 is located between the second oil seal 320 of the sealing mechanism 300 and the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200. This arrangement allows the oil reservoir 110 to be located in the area between the second end 220 of the bearing mechanism 200 and the second oil seal 320. Thus, during actual operation, the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir 110 can provide lubrication to the mating area between the bearing mechanism 200 and the piston rod 20, and can also lubricate the sliding contact area between the second oil seal 320 and the piston rod 20.

[0106] Specifically, the lubricating oil can form an oil film of a certain thickness between the second oil seal 320 and the piston rod 20, which helps to reduce the wear of the second oil seal 320, extend the oil seal life, and improve the reliability of the sealing performance to a certain extent. In addition, this position is usually close to the inside of the cylinder. Under high pressure, the lubricating oil is effectively retained in this area, which is more conducive to continuous lubrication, thereby improving the overall lubrication efficiency and sealing stability of the guide mechanism 10.

[0107] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 3 , Figure 5 The sealing mechanism 300 also includes a dust seal 330, which is installed in the annular housing 100 and contacts the outer wall of the piston rod 20. The dust seal 330 is used to prevent external dust from entering the gap between the guide mechanism 10 and the piston rod 20. By providing the dust seal 330, a preliminary barrier can be formed against external particles, mud, water vapor, and other impurities during the reciprocating motion of the piston rod 20, preventing them from entering the interior of the guide mechanism 10, especially the critical parts where the sealing structure and bearing structure are located. The dust seal 330 and the piston rod 20 typically form an elastic contact, providing effective protection without significantly increasing the resistance to movement.

[0108] For example, the dust seal 330 can be made of a lip-type rubber sealing ring, a polyurethane dust scraper ring, or a metal skeleton with an outer rubber structure, etc., to adapt to the protection requirements of different working environments, and has good wear resistance and environmental aging resistance. The dust seal 330 is generally installed in the port area on the outside of the annular housing 100, close to the protruding end of the piston rod 20, which helps to achieve protection before the contaminant comes into contact, thereby extending the service life of the entire guide mechanism 10 and improving its long-term reliability and stability.

[0109] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a magnetorheological damper is provided, including the guide mechanism 10 in the above embodiment. This magnetorheological damper possesses all the beneficial effects of the guide mechanism 10 described above, which will not be repeated here.

[0110] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a suspension system is provided, including the guiding mechanism described above, or the magnetorheological damper described above. This suspension system possesses all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned guiding mechanism 10 or magnetorheological damper, which will not be elaborated further herein.

[0111] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle is provided, including the guide mechanism 10 of the above embodiments, or the magnetorheological damper of the above embodiments, or the suspension system of the above embodiments. This vehicle has all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned guide mechanism 10, magnetorheological damper, or suspension system, which will not be elaborated further herein.

[0112] The vehicle may be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a new energy vehicle, etc., and this disclosure does not make any specific restrictions.

[0113] In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0114] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0115] The embodiments, implementation methods, and related technical features of this application can be combined and substituted for each other without conflict.

[0116] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application in any way. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this application without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this application.

Claims

1. A guiding mechanism, characterized in that, include: Annular shell; A sealing mechanism is installed on the annular housing and is used to cooperate with the annular housing and the piston rod to form a sealed space; and A bearing mechanism is installed in the sealed space and is used to form a sliding fit with the piston rod; The annular housing is provided with an oil storage tank that communicates with the sealed space. The oil storage tank is used to store lubricating oil, and the lubricating oil in the oil storage tank lubricates the piston rod through the gap between the bearing mechanism and the piston rod.

2. The guiding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bearing mechanism includes a first end and a second end, and the oil reservoir is located at at least one of the first end and the second end of the bearing mechanism.

3. The guiding mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that, The annular housing includes a first oil guide groove; wherein... The oil reservoir is located at the second end of the bearing mechanism, and the first oil guide groove is used to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the first end side of the bearing mechanism. Alternatively, the oil reservoir is located at the first end of the bearing mechanism, and the first oil guide groove is used to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to the second end of the bearing mechanism.

4. The guiding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projection of the oil reservoir in the radial direction along the annular housing is located within the projection range of the bearing mechanism. The annular housing also includes a second oil guide groove that extends from the oil reservoir to the end side of the bearing mechanism to guide the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to at least one of the first end and the second end of the bearing mechanism.

5. The guiding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of oil storage tanks is at least two, with at least one oil storage tank located on the first end side of the bearing mechanism and at least one oil storage tank located on the second end side of the bearing mechanism.

6. The guiding mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that, The annular housing also includes a third oil guide groove, which is used to connect the oil storage groove located at the first end side and the second end side of the bearing mechanism.

7. The guiding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first, second, or third oil guide groove of the annular housing extends along the axial direction of the piston rod.

8. The guiding mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular shell has multiple first, second, or third oil guide grooves, which are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the annular shell.

9. The guiding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The oil reservoir is arranged around the piston rod.

10. The guiding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The sealing mechanism includes a first oil seal disposed within the annular housing, the first oil seal being used to form a sliding seal with the piston rod.

11. The guiding mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that, The first oil seal is disposed on the first end side of the bearing mechanism.

12. The guiding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The sealing mechanism includes a second oil seal disposed within the annular housing, the second oil seal being used to form a sliding seal with the piston rod.

13. The guiding mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The guiding mechanism further includes a mounting base, which is mounted on the annular housing, and the second oil seal is mounted on the mounting base.

14. The guiding mechanism according to claim 12, characterized in that, The second oil seal is disposed on the second end side of the bearing mechanism.

15. The guiding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The oil storage tank is located between the first oil seal of the sealing mechanism and the first end of the bearing mechanism; And / or, the oil reservoir is located between the second oil seal of the sealing mechanism and the second end of the bearing mechanism.

16. The guiding mechanism according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The sealing mechanism also includes a dust seal, which is installed on the annular housing and contacts the outer wall of the piston rod to prevent external dust from entering the gap between the guide mechanism and the piston rod.

17. A magnetorheological damper, characterized in that, Includes the guiding mechanism described in any one of claims 1-16.

18. A suspension system, characterized in that, Includes the guiding mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-16, or the magnetorheological damper as described in claim 17.

19. A vehicle, characterized in that, It includes the guiding mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-16, the magnetorheological damper as described in claim 17, or the suspension system as described in claim 18.

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