Active material based seal assemblies and methods for varying seal force

• US 20050198907A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Henry, Christopher P., McKnight, Geoffrey P., Barvosa-Carter, William, Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Massey, Cameron, Keefe, Andrew C., Herrera, Guillermo A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,109,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/475.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/15 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/16 consisting of two or more plastic materials having different physical or chemical properties B60J10/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/244 inflatable or deflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/40 characterised by contact between two or more cooperating sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/50 characterised by means for prevention or reduction of noise, e.g. of rattling or vibration of windows
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/16 Use of special materials for parts of locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/1607 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0011 with piezoelectric actuators piezoelectric devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/00 Power-actuated vehicle locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/001 with bolts extending over a considerable extent, e.g. nearly along the whole length of at least one side of the wing movable sealing strips E06B7/18
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/166 electromagnetic
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/00 Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/43 Motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/614 charging thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/67 Materials; Strength alteration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/531 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/2314 : characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 : characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/025 : and with at least one flexible lip
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/027 : and with a hollow profile
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/028 : the packing being mechanically expanded against the sealing surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/061 : with positioning means F16J15/0831 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/064 : the packing combining the sealing function with other functions
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/0806 : characterised by material or surface treatment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/921 : Closure or weather strip seal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 : Emergency or safety
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 : Magnetic

Abstract

Active seal assemblies employing active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active seal assemblies actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, shape orientation, and the like. In this manner, in seal applications such as a vehicle door application, door opening and closing efforts can be minimized yet seal effectiveness can be maximized.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing a force to close a door in a doorframe, comprising:

attaching an active material based seal assembly to a selected one of the door or the doorframe, wherein the active material based seal assembly comprises an active material;

activating the active material and changing at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one attribute changes a modulus property and/or shape of the active material based seal assembly;

closing and latching the door against the door frame; and

deactivating the active material and increasing a seal pressure between the door and the doorframe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the active material reduces seal pressure and contact area of the active material based seal assembly against the door and the door frame upon closing and latching the door.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the active material comprises shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, magnetic materials, electrorheological fluids, electrorheological elastomers, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, dielectric elastomers, ionic polymer metal composites, piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric ceramics, various combinations of the foregoing materials.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation signal comprises an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, a loading or applied stress, a thermal signal, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the change in the at least one attribute is reversible.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the active material is an actuator externally disposed relative to and in operative communication with an elastic seal body.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the active material comprises increasing a dimension of the active material based seal assembly.

8. A method for decreasing a force to close a door in a doorframe, comprising:

attaching an active material based seal assembly to a selected one of the door or the doorframe, wherein the active material based seal assembly comprises an active material;

closing and latching the door against the door frame; and

activating the active material and changing at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one attribute increases a seal pressure of the active material based seal assembly against the door and the doorframe.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the active material comprises shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, magnetic materials, electrorheological fluids, electrorheological elastomers, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, dielectric elastomers, ionic polymer metal composites, piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric ceramics, various combinations of the foregoing materials.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the activation signal comprises an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, a loading or applied stress, a thermal signal, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the change in the at least one attribute is reversible.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the active material is an actuator externally disposed relative to and in operative communication with an elastic seal body.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein activating the active material comprises increasing a dimension of the active material based seal assembly.

14. A method for decreasing a force to opening a door in a doorframe, comprising:

attaching an active material based seal assembly to a selected one of the door or the doorframe, wherein the active material based seal assembly comprises an active material;

activating the active material and changing at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one attribute increases a seal pressure of the active material based seal assembly against the door and the door frame;

unlatching and positioning the door away from the door frame; and

deactivating the active material.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the active material comprises shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, magnetic materials, electrorheological fluids, electrorheological elastomers, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, dielectric elastomers, ionic polymer metal composites, piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric ceramics, various combinations of the foregoing materials.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the activation signal comprises an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, a loading or applied stress, a thermal signal, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in the at least one attribute is reversible.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the active material is an actuator externally disposed relative to and in operative communication with an elastic seal body.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein activating the active material comprises increasing a dimension of the active material based seal assembly.