Vehicle engine mount

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus for controlling relative movement of parts.
The apparatus comprises means defining a fluid chamber filled with a field responsive fluid.
The means includes a first flexible wall for connection with one of the parts.
The fluid chamber has a control chamber portion defined by a first portion of the flexible wall and a main chamber portion defined by a second portion of the flexible wall.
The apparatus further includes means defining a gap (orifice) for fluid to move between the control chamber portion and the main chamber portion upon relative movement of the parts.
A field producing means energizeable through an energization range controls the shear strength of the field responsive fluid in the gap to thereby control flexing of the first portion of the flexible wall and thus relative movement of the parts.
The field producing means is energizeable at a predetermined energization level to stop movement of the field responsive fluid in the gap to thereby prevent flexing of the first portion of the first flexible wall.
The second portion of the flexible wall flexes when the parts move relative to each other and the first portion of the flexible wall is prevented from flexing.
The apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use as a vehicle engine mount for damping movement between a vehicle engine and a vehicle chassis.
The engine mount comprises a housing connectable to the chassis and a hub connectable to the engine.
The hub is movable toward and away from the housing.
The fluid chamber is located between the housing and hub and has a fluid responsive to a magnetic field such as a ferro fluid or magnetic fluid contained therein.
The engine mount further includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder concentric with the inner cylinder.
The inner and outer cylinders are movable in the field responsive fluid in the fluid chamber.
An outer electromagnetic assembly is fixedly connected to the housing and is located between the housing and the outer cylinder