A closing system for use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper. The closing
system
provides lubrication for a piston rod without a need for periodic replenishment.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a lubrication chamber of the
closing system utilizes a carrier fluid portion of MR fluid present in a fluid
reservoir of the damper as lubricant for a piston rod guide and the piston rod.
A seal retainer comprised of a porous material acts as a selective barrier to the
micro-particles in the MR fluid in the fluid reservoir, allowing the MR carrier
fluid portion to pass through the porous seal retainer to the lubrication chamber
while restraining the micro-particles in the fluid reservoir. The seal retainer
thus acts as a filter to segregate the abrasive particles of the MR fluid and allows
the MR carrier fluid portion of the MR fluid to continuously replenish the lubrication
chamber and lubrication passage to lubricate the piston rod guide and piston rod.
