Abstract: Electrorheological fluid is loaded in a shock absorber (1) as hydraulic fluid (2). The shock absorber (1) controls a generated damping force by causing a potential difference to be generated in an electrode passage (19) and controlling a viscosity of the electrorheological fluid passing through this electrode passage (19). A plurality of partition walls (20) is provided between an inner cylinder (3) and an electrode cylinder (18). By being configured in this manner, the shock absorber (1) forms a plurality of helical flow passages (21) between the inner cylinder (3) and the electrode cylinder (18). In this case, an inclination angle of each of the partition walls (20) is not constant, and each of the partition walls (20) includes a sharply inclined portion (20A) inclined at a large angle on at least an entrance side of an extension-side flow passage (21).

Abstract: Electrorheological fluid is loaded in a shock absorber (1) as hydraulic fluid (2). The shock absorber (1) controls a generated damping force by causing a potential difference to be generated in an electrode passage (19) and controlling a viscosity of the electrorheological fluid passing through this electrode passage (19). A plurality of partition walls (20) is provided between an inner cylinder (3) and an electrode cylinder (18). By being configured in this manner, the shock absorber (1) forms a plurality of helical flow passages (21) between the inner cylinder (3) and the electrode cylinder (18). In this case, an inclination angle of each of the partition walls (20) is not constant, and each of the partition walls (20) includes a sharply inclined portion (20A) inclined at a large angle on at least an entrance side of an extension-side flow passage (21).

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder is disposed between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The intermediate cylinder forms a passage between the inner cylinder and itself, through which a hydraulic fluid as an electrorheological fluid flows. The intermediate cylinder is supplied (applied) with a voltage through an electrode connector. The intermediate cylinder includes a ring member. The ring member is provided with an extending portion which extends toward the outer cylinder. The extending portion of the ring member is inserted with an electrode pin as an imparting unit for imparting a voltage to the intermediate cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder device includes: an inner cylinder in which a functional fluid, a fluid property of which is changed due to an electric field or a magnetic field, is encapsulated; an outer cylinder provided outside the inner cylinder; an intermediate cylinder provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to serve as an electrode or a magnetic pole; a rod guide provided to close the one end side end portions of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; a spacer having one end located at the rod guide side and the other end located at the one end side of the intermediate cylinder, and fitted to the inner cylinder; and an elastic seal member disposed in a portion of the other end of the spacer, and configured to seal the one end side end portion of the passage between the intermediate cylinder and the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A space between an inner surface of a cover and a housing is set to be wider on a spaced-apart side from a cylinder than on a cylinder side. Therefore, the cover is generally integrated with the housing at the moment that the cylinder side abuts against the housing, which can improve stiffness. This can prevent the cover from contacting a solenoid located on the spaced-apart side of the housing that is spaced apart from the cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder device that enables both prevention of leakage from a flow channel and improvement of assemblability. A shock absorber is filled with an electrorheological fluid as a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber generates a potential difference within an electrode path and controls viscosity of the electrorheological fluid passing through the electrode path, thus controlling a generated damping force. A plurality of partition walls are disposed between an inner cylinder and an electrode tube. A plurality of spiral flow channels are formed between the inner cylinder and the electrode tube. The partition walls are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder. The partition walls have a sectional shape in which an electrode tube side is smaller in wall thickness than an inner cylinder side. The partition walls include a pointed tip on the non-attached side, which is oriented to a high pressure side of the flow channels.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder is disposed between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The intermediate cylinder forms a passage between the inner cylinder and itself, through which a hydraulic fluid as an electrorheological fluid flows. The intermediate cylinder is supplied (applied) with a voltage through an electrode connector. The intermediate cylinder includes a ring member. The ring member is provided with an extending portion which extends toward the outer cylinder. The extending portion of the ring member is inserted with an electrode pin as an imparting unit for imparting a voltage to the intermediate cylinder.

Abstract: Provided is a cylinder device including: an inner cylinder in which a functional fluid, a fluid property of which is changed due to an electric field or a magnetic field, is encapsulated; an outer cylinder provided outside the inner cylinder; and a flow path forming unit provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder so as to define a flow path through which the functional fluid flows by advancing and retracting movements of the rod from a first end side to a second end side in an axial direction, and configured to he relatively non-rotatable relative to the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder. The flow path obliquely extends around the inner cylinder or the flow path forming unit, and the flow path has a first portion extending m a first oblique direction and a second portion extending in a second oblique direction opposite to the first oblique direction.

Abstract: A cylinder device includes: an inner cylinder in which a functional fluid, a fluid property of which is changed due to an electric field or a magnetic field, is encapsulated; an outer cylinder provided outside the inner cylinder; an intermediate cylinder provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to serve as an electrode or a magnetic pole; a rod guide provided to close the one end side end portions of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder; a spacer having one end located at the rod guide side and the other end located at the one end side of the intermediate cylinder, and fitted to the inner cylinder; and an elastic seal member disposed in a portion of the other end of the spacer, and configured to seal the one end side end portion of the passage between the intermediate cylinder and the inner cylinder.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a reservoir between a cylinder and an outer tube, in which hydraulic liquid and gas are sealed; a middle tube between the cylinder and the outer tube; a connecting pipe in the lateral wall of the middle tube, which includes a tip end extending toward the outside of the outer tube; an opening in the outer tube, allowing hydraulic liquid to flow from the outside of the outer tube into the reservoir through the outer side of the connecting pipe; and a partition member in the reservoir, which includes a partition wall that configured to regulate hydraulic liquid's upward flow from the opening in the reservoir. The partition member is made of flexible resin or rubber, provided with a fitting hole, and fitted to the connecting pipe with interference with the connecting pipe inserted through the hole.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a reservoir between a cylinder and an outer tube, in which hydraulic liquid and gas are sealed; a middle tube between the cylinder and the outer tube; a connecting pipe in the lateral wall of the middle tube, which includes a tip end extending toward the outside of the outer tube; an opening in the outer tube, allowing hydraulic liquid to flow from the outside of the outer tube into the reservoir through the outer side of the connecting pipe; and a partition member in the reservoir, which includes a partition wall that configured to regulate hydraulic liquid's upward flow from the opening in the reservoir. The partition member is made of flexible resin or rubber, provided with a fitting hole, and fitted to the connecting pipe with interference with the connecting pipe inserted through the hole.

Abstract: A space between an inner surface of a cover and a housing is set to be wider on a spaced-apart side from a cylinder than on a cylinder side. Therefore, the cover is generally integrated with the housing at the moment that the cylinder side abuts against the housing, which can improve a stiffness. This can prevent the cover from contacting a solenoid located on the spaced-apart side of the housing that is spaced apart from the cylinder.

Abstract: A foreign object discharge hole is provided at a position that is located on a lowermost side of the cover when a shock absorber is in a mounted state, and a size of the foreign object discharge hole is set to be similar to or larger than a size of a space between an outlet port and a harness. This can ensure that a foreign object introduced into the cover is discharged out of the cover via the foreign object discharge hole.