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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

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.

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1. For use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper wherein MR fluid in the damper comprises a carrier fluid portion and micro-particles in suspension in the carrier fluid, a closing system comprising:a) a body having an outer diameter, an O-ring gland in the outer diameter, a receptacle, a channel, a

1. For use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper wherein MR fluid in the damper comprises a carrier fluid portion and micro-particles in suspension in the carrier fluid, a closing system comprising:a) a body having an outer diameter, an O-ring gland in the outer diameter, a receptacle, a channel, and a lip; b) an O-ring seal adapted to connect with the O-ring gland; c) a retaining ring adapted to connect with the body and with an inner diameter of a housing of the damper, the housing having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain MR fluid; d) a first piston rod seal adapted to connect with the receptacle of the body; e) a piston rod guide having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the receptacle, and having an inner diameter shaped to slidably couple with a piston rod of the damper; f) a seal assembly including: i) a seal retainer having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the lip of the body to form a lubrication chamber, an inner diameter, and a cavity located coaxial to the inner diameter, wherein the seal retainer allows MR carrier fluid from the fluid reservoir to replenish the lubrication chamber while restraining MR micro-particles, ii) a second piston rod seal located in the cavity, and iii) a seal cover placed over the second piston rod seal, the seal cover being adapted to connect with the seal retainer and captively hold the second piston rod seal, and g) a lubrication passage delimited by the body and the seal assembly, the lubrication passage communicating lubricant from the lubrication chamber to the inner diameter of the piston rod guide. 2. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the seal retainer is made of a porous material compatible with MR fluid.3. The closing system of claim 2 wherein the seal retainer is made of powdered metal.4. The closing system of claim 3 wherein the powdered metal is compacted to a relative density of at least 70% of that of the solid base metal.5. The closing system of claim 3 wherein the powdered metal is compacted to a relative density of about 70-90% of that of the solid base metal.6. The closing system of claim 3 wherein the powdered metal is iron.7. The closing system of claim 3 wherein the powdered metal is bronze.8. The closing system of claim 3 wherein the powdered metal is heat treated.9. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the piston rod guide is made of metal.10. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the piston rod guide is made of composite materials.11. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the piston rod guide further includes a PTFE coating.12. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the first seal is made of an elastomeric material.13. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the second seal is made of an elastomeric material.14. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the O-ring is made of an elastomeric material.15. For use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper wherein MR fluid in the damper comprises a carrier fluid portion and micro-particles in suspension in the carrier fluid, a closing system comprising:a) a body having an outer diameter, an O-ring gland in the outer diameter, a receptacle, a channel, and a lip; b) an O-ring seal adapted to connect with the O-ring gland; c) a retaining ring adapted to connect with the body and with an inner diameter of a housing of the damper, the housing having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain MR fluid; d) a first piston rod seal adapted to connect with the receptacle of the body; e) a piston rod guide having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the receptacle, and having an inner diameter shaped to slidably couple with a piston rod of the damper, the inner diameter further including a PTFE coating; f) a seal assembly including: i) a seal retainer the seal retainer having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the lip of the body to form a lubrication chamber, an inner diameter, and a cavity located coaxial to the inner diameter, wherein the seal retainer allows MR carrier fluid from the fluid reservoir to replenish the lubrication chamber while restraining MR micro-particles, ii) a second piston rod seal located in the cavity, and iii) a seal cover placed over the second piston rod seal, the seal cover being adapted to connect with the seal retainer and captively hold the second piston rod seal, and g) a lubrication passage delimited by the body and the seal assembly, the lubrication passage communicating lubricant from the lubrication chamber to the inner diameter of the piston rod guide. 16. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the seal assembly is connected to the body by means of a press fit.17. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the seal assembly is connected to the body by means of staking.18. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the seal cover is connected to the seal retainer by means of a press fit.19. The closing system of claim 1 wherein the seal assembly is connected to the body by means of staking.20. For use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper wherein MR fluid in the damper comprises a carrier fluid portion and micro-particles in suspension in the carrier fluid, a closing system comprising:a) a body having an outer diameter, an O-ring gland in the outer diameter, a receptacle, a channel, and a lip; b) an O-ring seal adapted to connect with the O-ring gland; c) a retaining ring adapted to connect with the body and with an inner diameter of a housing of the damper, the housing having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain MR fluid; d) a first piston rod seal adapted to connect with the receptacle of the body, the first piston rod seal being made of an elastomeric material; e) a piston rod guide having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the receptacle, and having an inner diameter shaped to slidably couple with a piston rod of the damper, the inner diameter further including a PTFE coating; f) a seal assembly including: i) a seal retainer having an outer diameter adapted to connect with the lip of the body to form a lubrication chamber, an inner diameter, and a cavity located coaxial to the inner diameter, wherein the seal retainer allows MR carrier fluid from the fluid reservoir to replenish the lubrication chamber while restraining MR micro-particles, ii) a second piston rod seal located in the cavity, the second piston rod seal being made of an elastomeric material, and iii) a seal cover placed over the second piston rod seal, the seal cover being adapted to connect with the seal retainer and captively hold the second piston rod seal, and g) a lubrication passage delimited by the body and the seal assembly, the lubrication passage communicating lubricant from the lubrication chamber to the inner diameter of the piston rod guide. 21. For use with a magneto-rheological (MR) damper wherein MR fluid in the damper comprises a carrier fluid portion and micro-particles in suspension in the carrier fluid, a closing system comprising:a) a body adapted to couple to a housing of the damper, the housing having a fluid reservoir adapted to contain MR fluid; b) a seal assembly including: i) a piston rod seal, and ii) a seal retainer-adapted to connect with the body to form a lubrication chamber, wherein the seal retainer allows MR carrier fluid from the fluid reservoir to replenish the lubrication chamber while restraining MR micro-particles, and c) a lubrication passage delimited by the body and the seal assembly, the lubrication passage communicating lubricant from the lubrication chamber to a piston rod of the damper.