A rotary damper assembly comprises a housing extending along a center axis. The housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion defines a fluid chamber. The upper portion defines a compartment in communication with the fluid chamber. The magnetic field generator includes a magnetic core located between the upper portion and the lower portion. The magnetic core extends along the center axis between the upper portion and the lower portion. At least one coil extends about the magnetic core. A shaft extends along the center axis through the upper portion and the magnetic core and into the fluid chamber to facilitate magnetorheological fluid flow from the compartment to the fluid chamber. The magnetic field generator includes an insert, containing a permanent magnetic material, for generating a permanent magnetic field to change viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

A damper is provided which can more reliably prevent malfunction and breakdown and which enables efficiently performing repair and inspection operations. This damper, provided with a casing linked to a first object and a rotating part linked to a second object rotatably attached to the first object, damps rotation in either the direction closing or the direction opening the second object, and is provided with a sensor which detects prescribed change in the external environment in the damper or around the damper, and a control unit which externally communicates, over a communication network, information relating to the change in the external environment detected by the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured from at least one of: a rotation sensor for detecting the number of revolutions of the rotating part; a sound sensor for detecting sound during rotations of the rotating part; a temperature sensor for detecting temperature; and a torque sensor for detecting torque on the basis of friction during rotation of the rotating part.

A damper is provided which can more reliably prevent malfunction and breakdown and which enables efficiently performing repair and inspection operations. This damper, provided with a casing linked to a first object and a rotating part linked to a second object rotatably attached to the first object, damps rotation in either the direction closing or the direction opening the second object, and is provided with a sensor which detects prescribed change in the external environment in the damper or around the damper, and a control unit which externally communicates, over a communication network, information relating to the change in the external environment detected by the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured from at least one of: a rotation sensor for detecting the number of revolutions of the rotating part; a sound sensor for detecting sound during rotations of the rotating part; a temperature sensor for detecting temperature; and a torque sensor for detecting torque on the basis of friction during rotation of the rotating part.

A manipulation device has a manipulation body rotationally operated by the manipulator, a support body rotatably supporting the manipulation body, and a rotational load imparting mechanism. The rotational load imparting mechanism has a movable member engaged with the rotational axis of the manipulation body, a magnetism generating mechanism facing the movable member with a gap intervening, and a magnetic viscous fluid, its viscosity changing according to the strength of a magnetic field. The magnetism generating mechanism has a coil generating a magnetic field and a first yoke provided so as to enclose the coil. The first yoke has a first opposing part and second opposing part, which are separated by slits, on a side facing the movable member. The magnetic viscous fluid is filled in the gap, which is between the first opposing part and the movable member and between the second opposing part and the movable member.

A manipulation device has a manipulation body rotationally operated by the manipulator, a support body rotatably supporting the manipulation body, and a rotational load imparting mechanism. The rotational load imparting mechanism has a movable member engaged with the rotational axis of the manipulation body, a magnetism generating mechanism facing the movable member with a gap intervening, and a magnetic viscous fluid, its viscosity changing according to the strength of a magnetic field. The magnetism generating mechanism has a coil generating a magnetic field and a first yoke provided so as to enclose the coil. The first yoke has a first opposing part and second opposing part, which are separated by slits, on a side facing the movable member. The magnetic viscous fluid is filled in the gap, which is between the first opposing part and the movable member and between the second opposing part and the movable member.

Provided is a damper wherein viscous fluid which fills a circular cylinder chamber is more reliably prevented from leaking. A rotary damper (1) includes: a first seal ring (8a) of an elastic body, arranged between a through-hole (23) of a circular cylinder chamber (21) in a case (2) and a lower end of a rotor body of a rotor (3); and a second seal ring (8b) of an elastic body, arranged between a through-hole (60) in a lid (6) and an upper end of the rotor body. The first seal ring (8a) has: an outer peripheral surface with a width in a direction of a center axis of the circular cylinder chamber (21), which is pressed against an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole (23); and an inner peripheral surface with a width in the direction of the center axis of the circular cylinder chamber (21), which is pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the rotor body, and also a second seal ring (8b) has: an outer peripheral surface with a width in the direction of the center axis of the circular cylinder chamber (21), which is pressed against an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole (60); and an inner peripheral surface with a width in the direction of the center axis of the circular cylinder chamber (21), which pressed against an outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the rotor body.

A reel damper includes a base, a cap, a ring gear, a torsion spring, and a sun gear. The cap is secured to the base, and the ring gear is rotatably engaged with the base. The torsion spring is engaged with the base and the ring gear. The sun gear is disposed in and meshed with the ring gear.

A liquid damper system for restraining vibrations generated in a rotating body includes: a liquid damper which is coaxially rotatable with the rotating body and includes a collision member, the collision member being provided in a casing in which liquid is enclosed and the liquid colliding with the collision member when moving in the circumferential direction; and a relative rotation unit configured to cause the liquid damper to rotate relative to the rotating body. Vibrations of a rotating body are effectively suppressed when a rotating body steadily rotates at a main resonance frequency, in the liquid damper system.

A liquid damper system for restraining vibrations generated in a rotating body includes: a liquid damper which is coaxially rotatable with the rotating body and includes a collision member, the collision member being provided in a casing in which liquid is enclosed and the liquid colliding with the collision member when moving in the circumferential direction; and a relative rotation unit configured to cause the liquid damper to rotate relative to the rotating body. Vibrations of a rotating body are effectively suppressed when a rotating body steadily rotates at a main resonance frequency, in the liquid damper system.

The rotary inertial mass damper has a configuration in which the rotary shaft of the oil-pressure motor rotates due to oil pressure of operating oil that is extruded from an oil chamber through reciprocating movement of the piston rod, and viscosity resistance is produced in operating oil that circulates in the connection pipes.