Abstract: Provided is a damper mount (1, 101, 201) configured to be interposed between a damper (11) of a wheel suspension device and a vehicle body (9). The damper mount includes: an annular outer member (22) fixed to the vehicle body; an annular inner member (21) fixed to the damper, one of the outer member and the inner member being received in another of the outer member and the inner member; a first magneto-elastic member (24) radially interposed between the inner member and the outer member; and a coil (25) configured to apply a magnetic flux to the first magneto-elastic member.

Abstract: When forces are input to a mount in a plurality of directions, an ECU changes the magnitude of a coil excitation current to change the strength of a magnetic field. At this moment, the elastic force of the mount can be changed in directions in response to the plurality of directions in which the forces are input using a plurality of magnetorheological elastomers (a brim-shaped MRE portion and a cylindrical MRE portion) in which magnetic particles are arranged in different manners.

Abstract: An active damper is disclosed which includes: an elastic support body; a first wall section provided at the elastic support body and defines a first liquid chamber; a second wall section provided on an opposite side and defines a second liquid chamber; a partition wall section which separates the first liquid chamber from the second liquid chamber; an orifice in the partition wall section for communication between the first and second liquid chambers; and a damping unit to attenuate the vibrations transmitted from a vibrating source to the vibration-receiving part. The damping unit includes: a coil to generate a magnetic field according to a current supplied; magnetic members forming a closed magnetic circuit for the magnetic field; and a magneto-viscoelastic elastomer having a viscoelasticity changes depending on the magnetic field. At least one of the first and second wall sections, and the partition wall section has the damping unit.

Abstract: A variable stiffness vibration damping device includes a first support member, a second support member, a pair of main elastic members, a partition elastic member, a first communication passage, a pair of first radial walls, a second communication passage, a coil, a yoke, and a magnetic fluid. The second support member includes an axial portion. The first communication passage is provided in one of the first support member and the axial portion such that a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber communicate via the first communication passage. The pair of first radial walls partition one of the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber into a pair of third liquid chambers. The second communication passage is provided in the one of the first support member and the axial portion such that the pair of third liquid chambers communicate via the second communication passage.

Abstract: A variable stiffness vibration damping device includes a first support member, a second support member, a main elastic member, a diaphragm, a partition elastic member, a first communication passage, a coil, a yoke, and a magnetic fluid. The first communication passage is provided in one of the first support member and the second support member such that a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber communicate with each other via the first communication passage. The first communication passage includes a first circumferential passage. The coil is wound coaxially with the one of the first support member and the second support member. The yoke is included in the one of the first support member and the second support member and forms a first magnetic gap overlapping at least partially with the first circumferential passage.

Abstract: A variable stiffness vibration damping device includes a first support member, a second support member, a pair of main elastic members, a partition elastic member, a communication passage, a coil, a yoke, and a magnetic fluid. The second support member includes an axial portion and a pair of outer flanges. The communication passage is provided in one of the first support member and the axial portion such that a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber communicate with each other via the communication passage. The communication passage includes a circumferential passage. The coil is wound coaxially with the one of the first support member and the axial portion. The yoke is included in the one of the first support member and the axial portion and forms a magnetic gap overlapping at least partially with the circumferential passage.

Abstract: A variable stiffness bushing assembly includes: an inner tubular member; an outer tubular member coaxially surrounding the inner tubular member; and an elastic member connected between the inner and outer tubular members. The inner tubular member includes a tubular inner yoke, a coil coaxially wound around the inner yoke, and a pair of outer yokes each attached to the inner yoke at an axially outer end thereof and opposing the other outer yoke at an axially inner end thereof so as to define an annular gap therebetween, and the elastic member internally defines a pair of first liquid chambers which communicate with each other via a first communication passage provided by the annular gap. The first liquid chambers and the first communication passage are filled with a magnetic fluid having a viscosity that changes in dependence on an intensity of a magnetic field applied thereto.

Abstract: A variable stiffness bushing includes: inner and outer tubular members; an elastic member connecting these tubular members. At least one pair of circumferentially separated liquid chambers is defined in the elastic member such that first axial ends and second axial ends of the liquid chambers are defined by first and second end walls of the elastic member, respectively. The liquid chambers of each pair communicate with each other by a corresponding communication passage including a circumferential passage provided in one of the tubular members, which includes a coil wound coaxially therewith and a yoke provided with at least one gap constituting the circumferential passage. A magnetic fluid fills the liquid chambers and the communication passage(s). The first and second end walls are configured such that when the tubular members are axially displaced relative to each other, a difference is created between volumes of the liquid chambers of each pair.

Abstract: Provided is a torque rod (1, 101, 202, 301) configured to be connected between a vehicle body (2) and an engine (3) to restrict a movement of the engine relative to the vehicle body. The torque rod includes a rod main body (11, 211, 307), and a bushing assembly provided at one end (14) of the rod main body. The bushing assembly includes a mounting bracket (21, 203, 303) configured to be mounted to the vehicle body or the engine via a bolt (22) passed therethrough in an axial direction, a magneto-elastic member (31, 204, 322) made of magneto-elastic material axially interposed between the one end of the rod main body and the mounting bracket, and a coil (32, 205, 323) configured to apply a magnetic flux to the magneto-elastic member.

Abstract: A variable stiffness bushing assembly includes an inner tubular member, an outer tubular member coaxially surrounding the inner tubular member, and an elastic member connecting the inner and outer tubular members. The elastic member defines a pair of first liquid chambers that are on opposite sides of an axial line of the inner tubular member and communicate with each other via a first circumferentially extending communication passage defined between one of the outer yokes and the annular large diameter portion, and a pair of second liquid chambers that are on opposite sides of the axial line and communicate with each other via a second circumferentially extending communication passage defined between another one of the outer yokes and the annular large diameter portion. The magnetic fields generated by the two coils are selectively applied to a magnetic fluid flowing through the first communication passage and the second communication passage.

Abstract: A liquid filled bushing assembly includes an inner tubular member (11), an outer tubular member (12) disposed in a coaxial relation to the inner tubular member, and an elastic member (13) interposed between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member, wherein not only the stiffness of the liquid filled bushing assembly in the lateral directions can be freely selected but also the stiffness of the liquid filled bushing assembly in the rotational direction and/or the axial direction can be freely selected.

Abstract: A variable stiffness bushing includes: inner and outer tubular members; and an elastic member connecting these tubular members. At least one pair of liquid chambers axially separated from each other is defined in the elastic member. The liquid chambers are connected by a communication passage including a circumferential passage provided in one of the inner and outer tubular members. The one of the inner and outer tubular members includes a coil wound coaxially therewith and a yoke provided with a gap constituting the circumferential passage. A magnetic fluid fills the liquid chambers and the communication passage. Upper and lower end walls and an axially intermediate partition wall of the elastic member are configured such that when the tubular members are axially displaced relative to each other, a difference is created between volumes of the axially separated liquid chambers.

Abstract: Provided is a damper mount (1, 101, 201) configured to be interposed between a damper (11) of a wheel suspension device and a vehicle body (9). The damper mount includes: an annular outer member (22) fixed to the vehicle body; an annular inner member (21) fixed to the damper, one of the outer member and the inner member being received in another of the outer member and the inner member; a first magneto-elastic member (24) radially interposed between the inner member and the outer member; and a coil (25) configured to apply a magnetic flux to the first magneto-elastic member.

Abstract: When forces are input to a mount in a plurality of directions, an ECU changes the magnitude of a coil excitation current to change the strength of a magnetic field. At this moment, the elastic force of the mount can be changed in directions in response to the plurality of directions in which the forces are input using a plurality of magnetorheological elastomers (a brim-shaped MRE portion and a cylindrical MRE portion) in which magnetic particles are arranged in different manners.

Abstract: An active damper is disclosed which includes: an elastic support body; a first wall section provided at the elastic support body and defines a first liquid chamber; a second wall section provided on an opposite side and defines a second liquid chamber; a partition wall section which separates the first liquid chamber from the second liquid chamber; an orifice in the partition wall section for communication between the first and second liquid chambers; and a damping unit to attenuate the vibrations transmitted from a vibrating source to the vibration-receiving part. The damping unit includes: a coil to generate a magnetic field according to a current supplied; magnetic members forming a closed magnetic circuit for the magnetic field; and a magneto-viscoelastic elastomer having a viscoelasticity changes depending on the magnetic field. At least one of the first and second wall sections, and the partition wall section has the damping unit.