An electric vehicle power train includes a vehicle engine and a vehicle transmission. One example of a conventional vehicle power train mounting system includes five mounts each attached to the vehicle power train and to one or more vehicle weight-supporting members (such as a vehicle frame, a vehicle sub frame, or a vehicle body). The first mount is a conventional hydraulic mount attached to a rear portion of the power train. The second mount is a conventional hydraulic mount attached to a front portion of the power train. The third mount is an elastomeric mount attached to a side portion of the power train. A fourth mount is an upper torque strut (restrictor) attached to the power train above the center of gravity of the power train. A fifth mount is a lower torque strut (restrictor) attached to the power train below the center of gravity of the power train. The first through third mounts carry loads and the fourth through fifth mounts react engine torque caused by a change in rotational speed of the vehicle engine.
[0003] It is known to replace a conventional hydraulic mount with a magnetorheological (MR) hydraulic mount (also called an MR-fluid hydraulic mount) to carry loads. MR hydraulic mount systems, which involve various designs and which are well known in the art, include an MR fluid whose damping effect is varied by changing the electric current to an electric coil which is positioned to magnetically influence the MR fluid and hence the damping effect of the MR fluid.
What is needed is an improved vehicle power train mounting system including a magnetorheological hydraulic mount and to a method for controlling such a mount in such a system.
In a first embodiment of the invention, a vehicle powe rtrain mounting system includes a vehicle powertrain and a first magnetorheological (MR) mount. The vehicle power train includes a vehicle engine. The first MR hydraulic mount operatively connects the vehicle power train to a vehicle weight-supporting member. The first MR hydraulic mount is positioned to carry load and is positioned to react vehicle engine torque during a change in rotational speed of the vehicle engine.
In a second embodiment of the invention, a vehicle power train mounting system includes a vehicle power train, a first magnetorheological (MR) mount, and a controller. The vehicle powertrain includes a vehicle engine. The first MR hydraulic mount operatively connects the vehicle power train to a vehicle weight-supporting member. The first MR hydraulic mount is positioned to carry load and is positioned to react vehicle engine torque during changes in rotational speed of the vehicle engine. The first MR hydraulic mount includes a first electric coil. The controller controls electric current to the first electric coil. The controller supplies electric current to the first electric coil during bounce of the vehicle engine, and/or the controller supplies electric current to the first electric coil during a change in rotational speed of the vehicle engine.
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March 20th, 2012
Starton