A device component has a magnetorheological braking apparatus with a stationary holder and at least two brake components. One of the two brake components is connected to the holder for conjoint rotation and extends in the axial direction. The two brake components can be rotated relative to each other. The second brake component has a hollow sleeve part and surrounds the first brake component. A closed chamber is formed between the brake components. The second brake component is rotatably accommodated on the first brake component at a first end of the closed chamber. The closed chamber is substantially filled with a magnetorheological medium. A magnetic-field generator forms a magnetic field to influence the medium in the closed chamber. The second brake component is axially slidable on the first brake component to change a volume of the closed chamber to compensate for temperature-related and/or leakage-related volume changes.

A torque generation apparatus includes a magnetic disc rotatable about a rotation axis, a first yoke, a second yoke, a magnetic viscous fluid placed between the magnetic disc and the first yoke and the second yoke, a coil, and a third yoke. The coil overlaps with the magnetic disc as viewed along the rotation axis. The third yoke constitutes a magnetic path of a magnetic field generated by the coil together with the first yoke and the second yoke. The magnetic disc includes a torque increasing portion at at least one of a surface facing the first yoke and a surface facing the second yoke. The torque increasing portion is provided in an outer circumferential area of the magnetic disc in a radial direction and causes a shearing force to a cluster of the magnetic viscous fluid to become larger than that in the inner circumferential area.

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.

Provided are a one-way clutch and a rotary damper device equipped with the one-way clutch, in which size reduction can be achieved. A claw of a slide member has a retreat surface that abuts against an internal tooth of an outer member when the outer member turns toward one side with respect to an inner member and an engagement surface that abuts against the internal tooth when the outer member turns toward the other side with respect to the inner member. When the internal tooth and the retreat surface abut against each other, the slide member slides in a sliding direction, thus causing the claw to retreat from the internal tooth, and the outer member turns independently of the inner member. When the internal tooth and the engagement surface abut against each other, the internal tooth and the engagement surface are engaged, and the outer member and the inner member integrally turn.

Provided are a one-way clutch and a rotary damper device equipped with the one-way clutch, in which size reduction can be achieved. A claw of a slide member has a retreat surface that abuts against an internal tooth of an outer member when the outer member turns toward one side with respect to an inner member and an engagement surface that abuts against the internal tooth when the outer member turns toward the other side with respect to the inner member. When the internal tooth and the retreat surface abut against each other, the slide member slides in a sliding direction, thus causing the claw to retreat from the internal tooth, and the outer member turns independently of the inner member. When the internal tooth and the engagement surface abut against each other, the internal tooth and the engagement surface are engaged, and the outer member and the inner member integrally turn.

A magnetorheological braking device for setting operating states by way of rotational movements has an axle unit and a rotary body rotatable about the axle unit. The rotatability of the rotary body can be decelerated and/or blocked by a magnetorheological braking apparatus. A sensor apparatus has a magnetic ring unit and a magnetic field sensor for sensing a magnetic field of the magnetic ring unit. A shielding apparatus at least partially shields the sensor apparatus from a magnetic field of a coil unit of the braking apparatus. The shielding apparatus includes a shielding body surrounding the magnetic ring unit and a separating unit between the shielding body and the magnetic ring unit, and having a magnetic conductivity multiple times lower than the shielding body. A holding apparatus connects the shielding apparatus to the rotary body in an at least partially rotationally fixed manner.

A hinge assembly for a door, the hinge assembly including a hinge pin arranged to be fixed to the door at one end and having a pin connector part at an opposite second end. A rotation damper connected to a damper connector part arranged to cooperate with the pin connector part for transferring torque around an axis of rotation between the damper connector part and the pin connector part throughout an opening angle of the door, such that a rotational movement of the damper connector part about the axis of rotation in at least a first rotational direction is dampened by the rotation damper. The pin connector part and the damper connection part allow an initial closing angle of rotation of the door before the damper acts on the rotation of the hinge pin, the initial closing angle being at least 2°.

A hinge assembly for a door, the hinge assembly including a hinge pin arranged to be fixed to the door at one end and having a pin connector part at an opposite second end. A rotation damper connected to a damper connector part arranged to cooperate with the pin connector part for transferring torque around an axis of rotation between the damper connector part and the pin connector part throughout an opening angle of the door, such that a rotational movement of the damper connector part about the axis of rotation in at least a first rotational direction is dampened by the rotation damper. The pin connector part and the damper connection part allow an initial closing angle of rotation of the door before the damper acts on the rotation of the hinge pin, the initial closing angle being at least 2°.

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.