Active seals for vehicles
First Claim
1. An active seal system for a vehicle comprising:
- a first vehicle structure;
a second vehicle structure, the second vehicle structure being selectively movable relative to the first vehicle structure, an interface being defined between the first vehicle structure and the second vehicle structure when the second vehicle structure is in a closed position;
a seal operatively connected to the first vehicle structure or the second vehicle structure, the seal including an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing, the actuator including;
a bladder, the bladder including a flexible casing and defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber including a dielectric fluid; and
a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder,the actuator being configured such that;
when electrical energy is supplied to the actuator, the actuator is in an activated condition, whereby the actuator has a reduced cross-sectional profile, whereby the interface is not sealed, andwhen electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the actuator is in a non-activated condition, whereby the interface is substantially sealed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interface between two vehicle structures can be selectively sealed using an active seal. The active seal can include an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing. The actuator can include a bladder. The bladder can define a fluid chamber, which can contain a dielectric fluid. The actuator can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The actuator can be activated and deactivated by selectively supplying electrical energy to the actuator. When electrical energy is supplied to the actuator, the actuator can have a reduced cross-sectional profile such that the interface is not sealed and movement of the second vehicle structure is not impeded by the seal. When electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the actuator can be in a non-activated condition in which the interface is substantially sealed.
37 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An active seal system for a vehicle comprising:
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a first vehicle structure; a second vehicle structure, the second vehicle structure being selectively movable relative to the first vehicle structure, an interface being defined between the first vehicle structure and the second vehicle structure when the second vehicle structure is in a closed position; a seal operatively connected to the first vehicle structure or the second vehicle structure, the seal including an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing, the actuator including; a bladder, the bladder including a flexible casing and defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber including a dielectric fluid; and a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder, the actuator being configured such that; when electrical energy is supplied to the actuator, the actuator is in an activated condition, whereby the actuator has a reduced cross-sectional profile, whereby the interface is not sealed, and when electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the actuator is in a non-activated condition, whereby the interface is substantially sealed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of actively managing an interface between a first vehicle structure and a second vehicle structure, the second vehicle structure being selectively movable relative to the first vehicle structure, the interface being formed when the second vehicle structure is in a closed position, a seal being operatively connected to the first vehicle structure or the second vehicle structure, the seal including an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing, the actuator including a bladder, the bladder including a flexible casing and defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber including a dielectric fluid, the actuator including a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder, the actuator being configured such that actuator is in an activated condition when electrical energy is supplied to the actuator and such that the actuator is in a deactivated condition when electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the method comprising:
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detecting an activation condition; and responsive to detecting the activation condition, causing the actuator to be in the activated condition, whereby the actuator has a reduced cross-sectional profile, and whereby the interface is not sealed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification