US 12,331,807 B2
Shear thickening fluid based object movement control method and mechanism
Timothy John Boundy, Deer Park, IL (US); Steven Michael Barger, Bartlett, IL (US); Terence Michael Lydon, Westmont, IL (US); Richard Michael Lang, Howey In The Hills, FL (US); Wilfredo Gonzalez, Jr., Plainfield, IL (US); Darren Michael Boundy, Long Grove, IL (US); Eric McHugh, Naperville, IL (US); David Schuda, Wheaton, IL (US); George L. Wilson, IV, Kalamazoo, MI (US); Gary W. Grube, Barrington Hills, IL (US); Jason K. Resch, Warwick, RI (US); Mario F. DeRango, Cary, IL (US); John Edward Buchalo, South Barrington, IL (US); Richard A. Herbst, Clarendon Hills, IL (US); Kurt Estes, Lake Zurich, IL (US); and Evan Anderson, Naples, FL (US)
Assigned to Moshun, LLC, Oak Brook, IL (US)
Filed by Moshun, LLC, Oak Brook, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/616,081.
Application 18/616,081 is a continuation of application No. 18/375,463, filed on Sep. 30, 2023, granted, now 12,169,013.
Application 18/375,463 is a continuation of application No. 17/539,092, filed on Nov. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,802,605, issued on Oct. 31, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/273,230, filed on Oct. 29, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271680 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16F 9/30 (2006.01); F16F 9/19 (2006.01); F16F 9/32 (2006.01); F16F 9/516 (2006.01); F16F 9/53 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 9/53 (2013.01) [F16F 9/19 (2013.01); F16F 9/30 (2013.01); F16F 9/3292 (2013.01); F16F 9/516 (2013.01); F16F 2222/12 (2013.01); F16F 2224/04 (2013.01); F16F 2224/041 (2013.01); F16F 2228/066 (2013.01); F16F 2230/08 (2013.01); F16F 2230/18 (2013.01); F16F 2232/08 (2013.01); F16F 2236/103 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A head unit system for controlling motion of an object, comprising:
a head unit device, wherein the head unit device includes:
shear thickening fluid (STF), wherein the STF is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates, wherein the second range of shear rates are greater than the first range of shear rates;
a chamber, the chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF, wherein the chamber includes a front channel and a back channel;
a piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber and separating the back channel and the front channel, the piston configured to exert pressure against the shear thickening fluid in response to movement of the piston from a force applied to the piston from the object, wherein the movement of the piston includes one of traveling through the chamber in an inward direction or traveling through the chamber in an outward direction, wherein the piston travels toward the back channel and away from the front channel when traveling in the inward direction, wherein the piston travels toward the front channel and away from the back channel when traveling in the outward direction, wherein the piston includes:
a first piston bypass between opposite sides of the piston that controls flow of the STF between the opposite sides of the piston from the back channel to the front channel when the piston is traveling through the chamber in the inward direction to cause the STF to react with a first shear threshold effect, and
a second piston bypass between the opposite sides of the piston that controls flow of the STF between the opposite sides of the piston from the front channel to the back channel when the piston is traveling through the chamber in the outward direction to cause the STF to react with a second shear threshold effect;
a set of fluid manipulation emitters positioned proximal to the chamber, wherein the set of fluid manipulation emitters provide a fluid activation to at least one of the STF, the first piston bypass, and the second piston bypass to control the motion of the object; and
a set of fluid flow sensors positioned proximal to the chamber, wherein the set of fluid flow sensors provide a fluid response from the STF, wherein the set of fluid flow sensors includes one or more of:
a valve opening detector associated with one or more of the first piston bypass and the second piston bypass,
a mechanical position sensor,
an image sensor,
a light sensor,
an audio sensor,
a microphone,
an ultrasonic sound sensor,
an electric field sensor,
a magnetic field sensor, and
a radio frequency wireless field sensor.