Discrete active seal assemblies

• US 7,258,347 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• 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 Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Henry, Christopher P., Barvosa-Carter, William, Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Keefe, Andrew C., Mc Knight, Geoffrey P., Herrera, Guillermo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Engle; Patricia
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, GILBERT Y
• Application Number:
  US11/074,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 277/630, 277/637, 277/639, 277/644, 277/648, 277/650, 277/651, 277/921, 494/751, 494/801, 494/841, 494/951
• US Class Current: 277/628
• 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. An active seal assembly, comprising:

at least one seal body formed of an elastic material integrated with a seal base to define at least one finger projection;

a selected one of a wire and a strip partially embedded within the seal body having an end that exits the seal body, wherein the partially embedded selected one of the wire and the strip is positioned within the seal body such that a shape of the seal body changes in response to a force exerted on the selected one of the wire and the strip;

an active material in operative communication with the end of the selected one of the wire and the strip, wherein the active material is effective to undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in the at least one attribute exerts the force on the selected one of the wire and the strip;

an activation device in operative communication with the active material adapted to provide the activation signal; and

a controller in operative communication with the activation device.

2. The active seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the active material comprises shape memory alloys, ferromagnetic shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, magnetorheological elastomers, piezoelectric materials, composites of one or more of the foregoing materials with non-active materials, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing materials.

3. The active seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hollow interior channel extending along a length of the seal base.

4. The active seal assembly of claim 3, wherein the channel is a frictionless channel.

5. The active seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a channel in the seal base for receiving the end of the selected one of the wire and the strip that exits the seal body.

6. The active seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the wire and the strip is the active material, and wherein the active material is selected to be a bimorph.

7. The active seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pulley in operative communication with the end of the selected one of the wire and the strip that exits the seal body and the active material.

8. The active seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising a channel in the seal base for receiving the end of the selected one of the wire and the strip that exits the seal body.