Electromagnetic flywheel damper and method therefor

1. An electromagnetic rotary shock absorber for damping a wheel suspension component associated with a motor vehicle, the electromagnetic rotary shock absorber comprising:

a flywheel; and

at least one damper including an electric motor having a rotor operably associated with the flywheel via a first gearbox for driving the flywheel rotationally, and a stator operably associated with the wheel suspension component via a second gearbox, the damper operating to dampen relative movement of the wheel suspension component using an inertia of the flywheel.

2. The electromagnetic rotary shock absorber of claim 1 , wherein the flywheel is operatively coupled to the first gearbox via a clutch.

3. The electromagnetic rotary shock absorber of claim 1 , wherein the wheel suspension component comprises a suspension link of the vehicle.

4. The electromagnetic rotary shock absorber of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic controller for controlling the damper.

5. A method for damping a wheel suspension component associated with a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a damper in the form of an electric motor having a rotor and a stator;

operatively coupling a flywheel to the rotor to enable the flywheel to be driven rotationally by the rotor;

operatively coupling the stator to the wheel suspension component;

using a mass of the rotating flywheel to dampen movement of the wheel suspension component;

using a first gearbox to operatively couple the rotor to the flywheel; and

using a second gearbox to operatively couple the stator to the wheel suspension component.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

using an electronic controller to control operation of the electric motor, and thus a rotational speed of the flywheel.