Reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible seal assemblies

• US 20060125188A1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L., Verbrugge, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,484,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 277/319
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/00 Sealing arrangements
• 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 10/24 having tubular parts
• 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: B60J 10/80 specially adapted for opening panels, e.g. doors for non-fixed roofs B60J10/90
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/022 characterised by structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/102 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/104 characterised by structure
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/164 the sealing action depending on movements; pressure difference, temperature or presence of leaking fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/933 Chemical reaction or physical change of state

Abstract

Seal assemblies employing reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the seal assemblies actively change dimensional and/or 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. A seal assembly, comprising:

a seal membrane formed of an elastic material, the seal membrane comprising a sealed interior region;

a reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material disposed in the interior region; and

at least one electrically conductive element in thermal communication with the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises paraffin.

3. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a percent volume change between a liquid state and a solid state of at least 5 percent within an operating temperature between about −

30 to 200°

C.

4. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a Coefficient of Cubic Expansion greater than 4×

10<sup>−

4</sup> (°

C.)<sup>−

1</sup> within an operating temperature of about −

30 to about 200°

C.

5. The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising an activation device in electrical communication with the at least one electrically conductive element.

6. The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising an activation device in electrical communication with the at least one electrically conductive element, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an electrical signal to the at least one electrically conductive element and effectuate a phase change in the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material.

7. The seal assembly of claim 1, further comprising an activation device in electrical communication with the at least one electrically conductive element, the activation device being operable to selectively provide an electrical signal to the at least one electrically conductive element and effectuate a phase change in the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material.

8. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material contracts in response to the activation signal.

9. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material expands in response to the activation signal.

10. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises a shape memory polymer.

11. A seal assembly, comprising:

a seal membrane formed of an elastic material, the seal membrane comprising a sealed interior region;

a reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material disposed-in the interior region; and

at least one conduit in thermal communication with the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material, wherein the conduit is in fluid communication with a fluid effective to heat and/or cool the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material.

12. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises paraffin.

13. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a percent volume change between a liquid state and a solid state of at least 5 percent within an operating temperature between about −

30 to 200°

C.

14. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a Coefficient of Cubic Expansion greater than 4×

10<sup>−

4</sup> (°

C.)<sup>−

1</sup> within an operating temperature of about −

30 to about 200°

C.

15. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material contracts in response to the activation signal.

16. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material expands in response to the activation signal.

17. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises a shape memory polymer.

18. A method for selectively sealing a first surface against a second surface, comprising:

attaching a seal assembly to a selected one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the seal assembly comprises a seal membrane formed of an elastic material comprising a sealed interior region, a reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material disposed in the interior region; and

at least one electrically conductive element in thermal communication with the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material, wherein the seal membrane contacts the selected one of first surface and the second surface; and

selectively expanding and/or contracting the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material with a thermal activation signal to selectively increase or decrease a sealing force of the seal membrane against the first surface and the second surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises paraffin.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a percent volume change between a liquid state and a solid state of at least 5 percent within an operating temperature between about −

30 to 200°

C.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a Coefficient of Cubic Expansion greater than 4×

10<sup>−

4</sup> (°

C.)<sup>−

1</sup> within an operating temperature of about −

30 to about 200°

C.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material contracts in response to the activation signal.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material expands in response to the activation signal.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises a shape memory polymer.

25. A method for selectively sealing a first surface against a second surface, comprising:

attaching a seal assembly to a selected one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the seal assembly comprises a seal membrane formed of an elastic material comprising a sealed interior region, a reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material disposed in the interior region; and

at least one fluid conduit in thermal communication with the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material, wherein the seal membrane contacts the selected one of first surface and the second surface; and

flowing a fluid through the conduit to selectively expand and/or contract the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material and increase or decrease a sealing force of the seal membrane against the first surface and the second surface.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein flowing the fluid through the conduit comprises flowing coolant from a radiator and into the conduit.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein flowing the fluid through the conduit comprises flowing heated or cooled air into the conduit.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises paraffin.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a percent volume change between a liquid state and a solid state of at least 5 percent within an operating temperature between about −

30 to 200°

C.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material has a Coefficient of Cubic Expansion greater than 4×

10<sup>−

4</sup> (°

C.)<sup>−

1</sup> within an operating temperature of about −

30 to about 200°

C.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material contracts in response to the activation signal.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material expands in response to the activation signal.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible material comprises a shape memory polymer.