Variable resistance strut assemblies and articles containing the same

• US 8,069,963 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Mankame, Nilesh D., Ulicny, John C., Jones, Gary L., O'Kane, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sy, Mariano
• Application Number:
  US12/788,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20100236881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 188/322.15, 188/322.14, 188/322.22, 188/267.276, 188/282.1, 188/317, 188/319.1, 251/324, 251/325, 251/4, 251/7, 251/11, 138/45, 138/46
• US Class Current: 188/322.15
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2015/0493 Overcenter springs
• 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 51/005 by a bimetallic or memory-shape element heated by electricity E05B47/0009; for panic door actuation E05B65/104
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/204 Control means for piston speed or actuating force without external control, e.g. control valve inside the piston F15B11/02, F15B15/22 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/26 Locking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/065 Use of electro- or magnetosensitive fluids, e.g. electrorheological fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/025 Elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/0258 Shape-memory metals, e.g. Ni-Ti alloys
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/0283 piezoelectric; electro- or magnetostrictive
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/045 magnetorheological
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/368 Sealings in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/46 allowing control from a distance , i.e. location of means for control input being remote from site of valves, e.g. on damper external wall attachment of valve units to cylinders F16F9/325
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/466 Throttling control, i.e. regulation of flow passage geometry F16F9/464, F16F9/465 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/54 Arrangements for attachment grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/56 Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/17 Bendable securers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 : Motor controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5093 : For closures

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a strut assembly that comprises a piston that is in slideable communication with a housing. The piston comprises a piston head having a channel in operative communication with a fluid that is disposed in the housing. An elastic member and an active element are disposed in the channel. The active element is in operative communication with the elastic member and is operative to change the shape of the elastic member.

Claims

1. A strut assembly comprising:

a piston in slideable communication with a housing, wherein the piston comprises a piston head having a channel in operative communication with a fluid disposed in the housing, wherein the channel is characterized by a cross-sectional area;

an elastic member disposed in the channel; and

an active element disposed in the channel and in operative communication with the elastic member, wherein the active element is operative to change the shape of the elastic member, and wherein changing the shape of the elastic member varies an effective cross-sectional area of the channel;

wherein the elastic member includes at least one flat surface that is disposed parallel to at least one inner surface of the channel prior to activation.

2. The strut assembly of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel is one of square and rectangular.

3. The strut assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second elastic member and a second active element each disposed in the channel, wherein each elastic member is in operative communication with each active element respectively.

4. The strut assembly of claim 3, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are secured to the piston head on opposing sides of the channel from one another.

5. The strut assembly of claim 3, wherein the first active element and the second active element are operative independently of one another to change the shape of the respective first elastic member and second elastic member.

6. The strut assembly of claim 3, wherein the first active element and the second active element are operative in opposition to each other to change the shape of the respective first elastic member and second elastic member.

7. The strut assembly of claim 1, wherein the active element is a shape memory alloy.

8. An article employing the strut assembly of claim 1.

9. The strut assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member provides a first level of resistance when the active element is at a first temperature and wherein the elastic member provides an increased level of resistance greater than the first level of resistance when the active element is at an increased temperature greater than the first temperature.

10. The strut assembly of claim 9, wherein the increased level of resistance of the elastic member is proportional to the increased temperature of the active element.

11. The strut assembly of claim 1, wherein the elastic member extends from one end of the channel to an opposing end of the channel.

12. The strut assembly of claim 11, wherein opposing ends of the active element are secured to the elastic member.

13. The strut assembly of claim 11, wherein the active element is disposed between the elastic member and a side of the channel defined by the piston head.

14. A strut assembly comprising:

a piston in slideable communication with a housing, wherein the piston comprises a piston head having a channel in operative communication with a fluid disposed in the housing;

a first elastic member and a second elastic member each disposed in the channel; and

a first active element and a second active element each disposed in the channel and in operative communication with each elastic member respectively;

wherein the first active element and the second active element are operative independently of one another to change the shape of the respective first elastic member and second elastic member.

15. A strut assembly comprising:

a piston in slideable communication with a housing, wherein the piston comprises a piston head having a channel in operative communication with a fluid disposed in the housing, wherein the channel is characterized by a cross-sectional area;

an elastic member disposed in the channel; and

an active element disposed in the channel and in operative communication with the elastic member, wherein the active element is operative to change the shape of the elastic member, and wherein changing the shape of the elastic member varies an effective cross-sectional area of the channel;

wherein the cross-sectional area of the channel is one of square and rectangular.

16. The strut assembly of claim 15, wherein the elastic member comprises at least one flat surface that is disposed parallel to at least one inner surface of the channel prior to activation.

17. The strut assembly of claim 15, further comprising a second elastic member and a second active element each disposed in the channel, wherein each elastic member is in operative communication with each active element respectively.

18. The strut assembly of claim 17, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are secured to the piston head on opposing sides of the channel from one another.

19. The strut assembly of claim 15, wherein the active element is a shape memory alloy.