Methods for varying seal force in active seal assemblies for doors

• US 8,109,042 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• 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 LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McKnight, Geoffrey P., Massey, Cameron, Barvosa-Carter, William, Henry, Christopher P., Herrera, Guillermo A., Keefe, Andrew C., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strimbu, Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US11/076,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20050198907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,526 Days
• Field of Search: 494/751, 494/771, 495/06, 494/801, 296/146.9
• US Class Current: 49/506
• 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

Methods for varying seal force in active seal assemblies for doors employ active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active materials actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, or a combination of modulus and shape in response to an activation signal. 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 method for decreasing a force vector necessary to close a vehicular door in a doorframe, wherein the door defines a surface, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching an active material based seal assembly to a selected one of the door and doorframe, wherein the active material based seal assembly comprises an active material and an elastic body, the active material abuts an exterior surface of the elastic body and is drivenly coupled to the elastic body, the elastic body engages the non-selected one of the door and doorframe when the door is closed and comprises a barrier intermediate the door and doorframe;

closing and latching the door against the door frame, such that the door and doorframe engage the seal assembly and the seal assembly imparts a seal pressure against the surfaced; and

activating the active material to cause a change in a modulus and a shape of the active material in response to an activation signal, wherein the change urges the elastic body towards the surface, and thereby increases the seal pressure exerted by the seal assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, a stress, a thermal signal, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the active material increases a dimension of the active material.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of dielectric elastomers, shape memory polymers, piezoelectric material, electroactive polymers, magnetorheological elastomers, and electrorheological elastomers.

5. A method for decreasing a force vector necessary to open a vehicular vehicle door in a doorframe, wherein the door defines a surface, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching an active material based seal assembly to a selected one of the door and doorframe, wherein the active material based seal assembly includes an active material and an elastic body, the active material abuts an exterior surface of the elastic body and is drivenly coupled to the elastic body, the elastic body engages the non-selected one of the door and doorframe when the door is closed and comprises a barrier intermediate the door and doorframe;

activating the active material to cause a change in a modulus and a shape of the active material in response to an activation signal, wherein the change urges the elastic body towards the surface, and thereby increases a seal pressure exerted by the seal assembly against the surface;

is predominately in a direction opposite the force vector;

unlatching and positioning the door away from the door frame; and

deactivating the active material.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the activation signal is selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, an applied stress, a thermal signal, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein activating the active material increases a dimension of the active material.