Abstract: A magnetostrictive force sensor universally usable in any environment with similar signals unaffected by the surrounding material. To this end, a sensor comprising a shaft of magnetostrictive material with an inductance coil wound around the shaft is provided with a magnetic shell enclosing the coil only or both the coil and the shaft. Upon application of the magnetic field, the resultant flow of magnetic flux is confined to a path through the shaft and the magnetic shell. By confining the magnetic flux path, the dependency of the sensor signal on the surrounding material and environment is essentially eliminated.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive force sensor universally usable in any environment with similar signals unaffected by the surrounding material. To this end, a sensor comprising a shaft of magnetostrictive material with an inductance coil wound around the shaft is provided with a magnetic shell enclosing the coil only or both the coil and the shaft. Upon application of the magnetic field, the resultant flow of magnetic flux is confined to a path through the shaft and the magnetic shell. By confining the magnetic flux path, the dependency of the sensor signal on the surrounding material and environment is essentially eliminated.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine mount includes opposed mounting members secured to an elastomeric body and a base, respectively, with an orifice plate assembly interposed the body and the base to define a pumping chamber and a reservoir for hydraulic fluid to flow therebetween through an orifice track formed by the orifice plate assembly. An elastomeric decoupler disk is secured in a recess formed between two orifice plates of the orifice plate assembly and defines a gas spring or cushion space which may be filled or vented by a removable plug in one of the orifice plates. Improved dynamic rate and damping at low amplitude inputs to the mount are provided by the gas cushion biased decoupler as compared with a decoupler type mount without the gas cushion bias. The mount provides an advantage over conventional decoupled hydraulic mounts in that very strict dimensional tolerances are relaxed and performance characteristics, as well as ease of manufacturing, are improved.

Abstract: An adaptive hydraulic engine mount for mounting an engine to a frame of a motor vehicle includes a pumping chamber and reservoir filled with damping fluid and an orifice track or damping channel communicating the pumping chamber with the reservoir. A decoupling diaphragm responds to pressure level in a control cavity to control pumping of damping fluid through the damping channel, thereby controlling the dynamic stiffness of the mount. Upon actuation of a control valve, the pressure level in the control cavity is changed to achieve a level of damping greater than the low damping level. According to another embodiment of the invention, the control cavity can be communicated with engine vacuum to achieve maximum damping, or air may be trapped in the control cavity to achieve an intermediate level of damping, or the control cavity may be communicated to atmosphere to provide low levels of damping.

Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid damper is provided which permits effective control of damping while minimizing assembly size and costs by including a thin-walled insert in a flow gap formed between a flux ring and a piston body. The insert may include a thin-walled tubular insert having a generally smooth cylindrical shape for increasing the shear surface area. Alternatively, a corrugated insert may be provided having corrugations formed by edges extending axially along the insert. The corrugations may be formed in a variety of locations, sizes, shapes and spacings along the axial extent of the insert and the circumference of the insert. The corrugations advantageously effectively align the insert within the flow gap and also function to securely connect the flux ring to the piston body without the use of other devices such as plates thereby reducing the size and cost of the assembly.