In one aspect, there is provided a damper control system for a reciprocating pump assembly according to which control signals are sent to electromagnets. In another aspect, there is provided a method of dampening vibrations in a pump drivetrain according to which a beginning of torque variation is detected and at least a portion of the torque variation is negated. In another aspect, signals or data associated with pump characteristics are received from sensors, torque characteristics and damper response voltages per degree of crank angle are calculated, and control signals are sent to electromagnets. In another aspect, a damper system includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a magnetorheological fluid; a flywheel disposed at least partially within the fluid chamber and adapted to be operably coupled to a fluid pump crankshaft; and a magnetic device proximate the flywheel. The magnetic device applies a variable drag force to the flywheel.

A magnetorheological transmission device and a method for influencing the coupling intensity of two components, which can be coupled and whose coupling intensity can be influenced. To influence the coupling intensity, a channel is provided, which contains a magnetorheological medium with magnetically polarizable particles. A magnetic field generating unit generates a magnetic field in the channel in order to influence the magnetorheological medium in the channel. An outer component encloses an inner component. At least one of the two components is mounted via a separate bearing. A distance between the outer and inner components at least 10 times as great as a typical mean diameter of the magnetically polarizable particles in the magnetorheological medium. The magnetic field of the magnetic field generating unit can be applied to the channel in order to selectively chain together the particles and/or release them.

A magnetorheological fluid brake and a control method therefor. When braking is not required, the brake does not work, and no field coils are energized. When braking is required and the brake receives a retarding braking signal, a field coil module is energized, the current is gradually increased, an oil port is gradually closed, and a back pressure inside the brake is also gradually increased, thereby gradually increasing a braking force so as to achieve a braking effect. By using the characteristics of a pump and the characteristics of a valve for the magnetorheological fluid, the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid is adjusted, such that a back pressure is generated in a pump body, which in turn imposes a braking torque on a shaft, thereby performing braking.

A method for controlling a hydrodynamic retarder in a motor vehicle that can be mechanically disengaged via a disconnect clutch, whereby at least one of the rotational speed of a revolving bladed rotor and the speed of a motor vehicle is monitored and a disconnect clutch is engaged below at least one of a pre-specified rotational speed of the revolving bladed rotor and a pre-specified speed of the motor vehicle, regardless of a request made by a driver assist system or by operation of an input device by the operator of the motor vehicle to turn on the hydrodynamic retarder.

A damper (10) includes a housing (11) and a rotor (16) combined with the housing (11) so as to be capable of rotating relative to the housing (11). The damper (10) includes an attenuating medium (90) filled in a rotation area inside the housing (11) wherein the rotor (16) rotates, and added with viscoelasticity by a viscoelasticity treatment; and an enclosure portion (80) provided outside the rotation area of the rotor (16), and communicating with the rotation area.

Outer plates have a doughnut-like disk shape and are attached to the inner circumferential surface of a case member. On the other hand, inner plates have a substantially arc shape and are swingably supported about a position at a distance from the center of rotation of a shaft. The inner plates are held at a first position, at which the interlocking area between the outer plates and the inner plates is small, by a tension coil spring when the relative rotational speed between the case member and the shaft is small, and, when the relative rotational speed between the case member and the shaft exceeds a predetermined value are pivotally moved toward the outer plates by the shearing force of a viscous fluid and held at a second position at which the interlocking area between the movable plates and the first plates is large.

A magnetorheological braking device for braking rotational movements, with an axle unit and a rotary body which is rotatable about the axle unit. The rotatability of the rotary body can be braked in a targeted manner by means of a magnetorheological braking apparatus having a coil unit. A receiving space is formed between the axle unit and the rotary body, which receiving chamber is provided with a magnetorheological medium, the magnetorheological medium comprising magnetorheological particles and gas as a filling medium. The receiving space with the magnetorheological medium is sealed between the axle unit and the rotating body by a sealing device with a sealing unit having a contacting sealing lip.

A controllable vibration damper with damping force control may include a damper tube housing that is filled with damping medium. The controllable vibration damper may also include a damping valve element that is structurally and fluidically connected to the damper tube housing for damping force control. The damping valve element may be configured as a pilot-controlled pressure-limiting valve having a pilot valve. Further, a two-stage pre-throttle valve assembly placed in front of the pilot valve. The damping valve element may be arranged internally with respect to the damper tube housing in some cases. In other cases, the tamping valve element may be arranged externally with respect to the damper tube housing.

A resistance device applied to relative rotations between a flywheel and an axis includes an inner stator, an outer rotor, a conductive wire and a magneto-rheological fluid. The inner stator is fixedly joined with the axis and includes an accommodating space surrounding the axis at a position away from the axis. The outer rotor, fixedly joined with the flywheel, encloses and rotates relative to the inner stator. An accommodating gap is formed between the outer rotor and the inner stator at a position away from the axis. The conductive wire is wound in the accommodating space, and generates a magnetic line passing the accommodating gap when applied by an electric current. The magneto-rheological fluid is filled in the accommodating gap. Thus, the outer rotor is disposed at the outer most region of the resistance device to increase the braking torque, and the magneto-rheological fluid is away from the axis to increase the braking moment.

A braking system, including a damper and a brake controller. The damper includes: a sealed gearbox including an inner chamber, at least one pair of engaged gears mated with the inner chamber of the gearbox, and a brake fluid storage box. The at least one pair of engaged gears include a driving gear. A first flowing channel and a second flowing channel are provided on both sides of the gearbox of the at least one pair of engaged gears, respectively. The first flowing channel and the second flowing channel include a first extracting outlet and a second extracting outlet, respectively, which are both disposed on the gearbox. The brake fluid storage box includes a first joint adapting to communicate with the first extracting outlet and a second joint adapting to communicate with the second extracting outlet. The brake controller includes at least one braking switch valve.