Volume-filling mechanical assemblies and methods of operating the same
First Claim
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1. A volume filling mechanical assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein at least a portion of the open celled material comprises a shape memory alloy; and
an activation mechanism regulating expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to an activation signal.
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Abstract
A volume-filling mechanical structure comprising a honeycomb celled material expandable from a compact state to an expanded state and methods for operating the same.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A volume filling mechanical assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein at least a portion of the open celled material comprises a shape memory alloy; and an activation mechanism regulating expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to an activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a volume filling structure, comprising:
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sensing an impact event; producing an activation signal; and expanding the volume filling structure from a non-expanded state to an expanded state upon the sensed impact event, wherein the volume filling structure comprises an open celled material, wherein at least a portion of the open celled material comprises a shape memory alloy, and an activation mechanism regulating expansion of the volume filling structure from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to the activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification