Active material based seal assemblies and methods for varying seal force
First Claim
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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.
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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.
106 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for decreasing a force to close a door in a doorframe, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for decreasing a force to close a door in a doorframe, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for decreasing a force to opening a door in a doorframe, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification