Abstract: A damper obtaining damping force by the frictional resistance imparted by the viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid is disclosed. The damper is provided with a seal not only on one (lower side) of the axial outer sides of the yoke but also on the other (upper side) of the axial outer sides of the yoke to trap the magnetic viscous fluid within the magnetic viscous fluid filling portion at both axial outer sides of magnetic viscous fluid filling portion. Because the leakage of the magnetic viscous fluid can be prevented, no air is introduced into the magnetic viscous fluid filling portion, to allow the density of the magnetic viscous fluid within magnetic viscous fluid filling portion to be maintained at a favorable level and prevent degradation of damping force.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine having a suspension supporting a water tub in a vibration isolated manner and including a cylinder, a magnetic field generator fixed in the cylinder, a pair of magnetic members located at both axial sides of the field generator respectively, a smart fluid including a magneto-rheological fluid retained on an inner surface of the generator, a sealing member which is fixed in the cylinder so as to be located below the generator to prevent leakage of the smart fluid so that the smart fluid is retained, and a shaft which is supported so as to be axially reciprocable relatively along the generator, magnetic members, smart fluid, and sealing member such that reciprocation of the shaft does not substantially displace the smart fluid. The generator generates a magnetic circuit including the cylinder and the shaft.

Abstract: A damper obtaining damping force by the frictional resistance imparted by the viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid is disclosed. The damper is provided with a seal not only on one (lower side) of the axial outer sides of the yoke but also on the other (upper side) of the axial outer sides of the yoke to trap the magnetic viscous fluid within the magnetic viscous fluid filling portion at both axial outer sides of magnetic viscous fluid filling portion.

Abstract: A suspension for a drum type washing machine includes a cylinder, a magnetic field generator fixed in the cylinder and generating a magnetic field in a variable manner, a pair of magnetic members located at both axial sides of the generator respectively, a shaft supported so as to be axially reciprocable relatively between the generator and the magnetic member and so as to extend through the generator and the magnetic member, a smart fluid including a magneto-rheological fluid filling a first space defined between the shaft and the magnetic field generator and a second space defined between the shaft and the magnetic members and located near the first space, and a sealing member which is fixed in the cylinder so as to be located below the generator and is in close contact with a periphery of the shaft thereby to prevent leak of the smart fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid-operated valve which hardly brings a plunger into a lock and is capable of improving its responsivety. In the solenoid-operated valve, the plunger slidably guided in an inner bore formed in a yoke and a core aligned axially is moved by energizing an electromagnetic coil, and a spool in a valve section is moved through a rod portion which protrudes from an end of the plunger to pass through a center hole of the core. An electromagnetic section fluid chamber defined by a forward end surface of the plunger and the inner bore of the core communicates with an intermediate fluid chamber defined between the core and a valve sleeve, through a clearance between the center hole and rod portion. The spool is provided at one end thereof with a land portion whose end surface defines a part of the intermediate fluid chamber.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive device for lineally reciprocatilvely moving an operating member like a spool of a spool valve is reduced in the manufacturing cost without being degraded in its operational performance. In the electromagnetic drive device, a stator body is excited by an electromagnetic coil to axially move a plunger guided in an inner bore of the stator body, against the resilient force of a spring. The stator body is constituted by arranging a plurality of core portion annular plate elements made of a magnetic material, a plurality of yoke portion annular plate elements made of a magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic portion annular plate elements made of a non-magnetic material and placed between the core portion annular plate elements and the yoke portion annular plate elements and by piling up and bodily joining these annular plate elements in axial alignment with one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid-operated valve which hardly brings a plunger into a lock and is capable of improving its responsivety. In the solenoid-operated valve, the plunger slidably guided in an inner bore formed in a yoke and a core aligned axially is moved by energizing an electromagnetic coil, and a spool in a valve section is moved through a rod portion which protrudes from an end of the plunger to pass through a center hole of the core. An electromagnetic section fluid chamber defined by a forward end surface of the plunger and the inner bore of the core communicates with an intermediate fluid chamber defined between the core and a valve sleeve, through a clearance between the center hole and rod portion. The spool is provided at one end thereof with a land portion whose end surface defines a part of the intermediate fluid chamber.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive device for lineally reciprocatilvely moving an operating member like a spool of a spool valve is reduced in the manufacturing cost without being degraded in its operational performance. In the electromagnetic drive device, a stator body is excited by an electromagnetic coil to axially move a plunger guided in an inner bore of the stator body, against the resilient force of a spring. The stator body is constituted by arranging a plurality of core portion annular plate elements made of a magnetic material, a plurality of yoke portion annular plate elements made of a magnetic material and a plurality of non-magnetic portion annular plate elements made of a non-magnetic material and placed between the core portion annular plate elements and the yoke portion annular plate elements and by piling up and bodily joining these annular plate elements in axial alignment with one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid-operated valve which hardly brings a plunger into a lock and is capable of improving its responsivety. In the solenoid-operated valve, the plunger slidably guided in an inner bore formed in a yoke and a core aligned axially is moved by energizing an electromagnetic coil, and a spool in a valve section is moved through a rod portion which protrudes from an end of the plunger to pass through a center hole of the core. An electromagnetic section fluid chamber defined by a forward end surface of the plunger and the inner bore of the core communicates with an intermediate fluid chamber defined between the core and a valve sleeve, through a clearance between the center hole and rod portion. The spool is provided at one end thereof with a land portion whose end surface defines a part of the intermediate fluid chamber.