Abstract: A damping device for use with a rotatably-mounted steering shaft. The damping device comprises a magnetorheological material that can be embedded in an open-network carrier and is directly or indirectly in contact with the steering shaft, a coil arranged in effective proximity to the magnetorheological material, and a body indirectly in contact with the steering shaft through the magnetorheological material, which does not rotate with the steering shaft. A voltage can be applied the coil to activate the magnetorheological material, increasing a viscosity of the magnetorheological material to inhibit relative rotation of the steering shaft and the body.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 2, 2010
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Clay Maranville, Dieter Giese, John Ginder, Joe Schmidt