Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically variable spring/mass vibrating force coupler with variable damping, electrically adjustable spring characteristic curves and electrically adjustable, variable natural frequencies using electro-rheological or magneto-rheological fluids in its coupling elements to couple masses and springs

Abstract: The invention relates to a controllable adjustment and damping device comprising at least one pressure chamber (4) filled with hydraulic fluid, a fluid container (11), a pump (5) connecting the pressure chamber to the fluid container, a compensating volume (8) and a return line (13) with a passthrough valve (7). An electro-rheological fluid or magneto-rheological fluid is used as a hydraulic fluid (6) which exerts pressure upon a piston (3) that juts out into the pressure chamber or on a membrane (17), the intensity thereof being controlled by the passthrough valve.

Abstract: A valve and a shock absorber based on electrorheological liquids A valve and a shock absorber are described which are based on electrorheological liquids and which contain a valve aperture between two chambers, wherein the boundary faces of the valve aperture consist of electrically conductive material and are insulated from each other, and which comprise a source of high voltage, each of the voltage terminals of which can be connected to one of the boundary faces, with the characterising feature that the valve aperture has a meander-shaped cross-section.

Abstract: In a pressure motor for electro-rheological fluids comprising a housing (1) surrounding two operating chambers (A, B), a piston (3) moveable in the housing (1), an inlet channel (22) for supplying, and an outlet channel (23) for discharging an electro-rheological fluid, and electro-rheological valves (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) comprising an annular gap (8) which in each case connects an operating chamber (A and B) to the inlet channel (22) or the outlet channel (23) and whose boundary surfaces form electrodes for the generation of an electric field, the electro-rheological valves (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b) are formed by bores (6) which penetrate through the housing wall in the longitudinal direction and by mandrels (7) which are arranged in the bores (6) and are insulated from the housing (1), where the bores (6) and the mandrels (7) co-define annular gaps (8) of a constant gap width and the mandrels (7) can be connected to a high voltage and the housing (1) can be connected to earth potential.