A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a fluid flow response from fluid flow sensors to produce a piston velocity and a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a variable partition positioned within the chamber between the piston and a closed end of the chamber to dynamically affect volume of the chamber based on activation of the variable partition. The method further includes determining a shear force based on the piston velocity and the piston position. The method further includes determining a desired response for the STF based on the shear force, the piston velocity, and the piston position. The method further includes activating the variable partition using the desired response for the STF to adjust the volume of the chamber.

A suspension mount assembly for coupling a first component and a second component of a vehicle comprises a housing including a bore and a first shoulder. The housing is adapted to be coupled to the first component of the vehicle. An elastomeric bushing includes a bore adapted to receive the second component of a vehicle. The elastomeric bushing includes a first portion, a spaced apart ring portion, and a web portion interconnecting the ring portion of the first portion. The ring portion, the web portion and the first portion are integrally formed with one another. A cap includes a peripheral portion having a second shoulder. The elastomeric bushing is positioned within the housing bore with the ring portion being engaged with the first shoulder. The first shoulder cooperates with the second shoulder to trap the ring portion between the housing and the cap and provide a seal and vibration isolator therebetween.

A device component has a magnetorheological brake device with a static holder and with two brake components. A first brake component is rotationally fixedly to the holder and extends in an axial direction. A second brake component has a hollow, rotary part which is rotatable about the first brake component. An encircling gap between the first and second brake components is filled with a magnetorheological medium. The first brake component has a core of magnetically conductive material which extends in the axial direction. An electrical coil is wound axially around the core and spans a coil plane. A magnetic field of the coil extends transversely through the first brake component. A maximum outer diameter of the electrical coil in a radial direction within the coil plane is greater than a minimum outer diameter of the core in a radial direction transversely to the coil plane.

A head unit device for controlling motion of an object includes shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF. The chamber further includes a piston compartment and an auxiliary compartment. The head unit device further includes an auxiliary bypass configured within the chamber, and a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the auxiliary bypass to adjust the STF flow between the piston compartment and the auxiliary compartment to cause selection of one of a first range of shear rates or a second range of shear rates for the STF within the piston compartment.

A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a magnetic response from a set of magnetic field sensors to produce a piston velocity and a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) that includes a multitude of magnetic nanoparticles. The method further includes determining a shear force based on the piston velocity and the piston position. The method further includes determining a desired response for the STF based on the shear force, the piston velocity, and the piston position. The method further includes generating a magnetic activation based on the desired response for the STF and outputting the magnetic activation to a set of magnetic field emitters positioned proximal to the chamber.

A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one opening between the first chamber and second chamber to provide restricted fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An adsorptive material is disposed within the first chamber or the second chamber and works in conjunction with the at least one opening to provide damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

A power transmission device of a steering system. A first connector includes a cylindrical first support coupled to one of coaxial first and second shafts and first coupling portions extending axially from inner circumferential portions of the first support. A second connector includes a second support coupled to the other of the first and second shafts and fitted into the first support and second coupling portions extending axially from outer circumferential portions of the second support. A damper includes outer support recesses provided in outer circumferential portions thereof, with the first coupling portions being fitted into the outer support recesses, and inner support recesses provided in inner circumferential portions thereof, with the second coupling portions being fitted into the inner support recesses, wherein the damper is coupled between the first connector and the second connector.

A head unit device for controlling motion of an object includes shear thickening fluid (STF), an alternative STF (ASTF), and a chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF and the ASTF. The chamber further includes a piston compartment and an alternative reservoir. The head unit device further includes a reservoir injector configured within the chamber, and a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the reservoir injector to adjust flow of the ASTF from the alternative reservoir to the piston compartment to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for a mixture of the STF and the STF within the piston compartment.

Some examples of rotating shaft damping with electro-rheological fluid can be implemented as a method. At least a portion of a circumferential surface area of a portion of a rotorcraft rotating shaft is surrounded with multiple hollow members. Each hollow member includes an electro-rheological fluid having a viscosity that changes based on an electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid. A vibration of the rotorcraft rotating shaft is controlled by changing the viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid in response to the electric field applied to the electro-rheological fluid.

The invention relates to the novel usage of shear-thickening and rheopectic non-Newtonian fluids as shock absorbers intended absorbing acceleration or impact via submergence of an object to be protected entirely into non-Newtonian fluid. Additionally, this invention relates to the novel usage of shear-thickening and rheopectic non-Newtonian fluids as shock absorbers capable of absorbing the force of impact or acceleration and effectively dissipating the force away from the object to be protected over an extended duration (greater than an instantaneous impact) more effectively than traditional shock absorbers.