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US 11,808,396 B2Granted
High thermal tolerance flexible supports
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsArturo Alberto Garcia Ramirez, Ricardo Daniel Sanchez Lugo, Cindy Barrera-Martinez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a flexible support for a vehicle. In one example, the flexible support is formed of a composite material and configured to surround a vehicle component and absorb oscillations generated by the vehicle. The composite material may be a mixture of aluminum particles dispersed in an elastomer matrix.
Claims18
A flexible support for a vehicle, comprising:
- a composite material forming the flexible support, the flexible support configured to at least partially surround a vehicle component and absorb oscillations generated by the vehicle, wherein the composite material is a mixture of aluminum particles dispersed in an elastomer matrix, and wherein the aluminum particles partially replace another filler of the composite material having a different thermal absorptivity and/or electrical resistivity than the aluminum particles and being a different material than aluminum, the replacement of the another filler modifying an abrasion resistance and/or electrical resistivity of the flexible support.
A supporting device, comprising:
- a composite material formed of aluminum particles dispersed in an elastomer, the elastomer having a higher thermal absorptivity than the aluminum particles, wherein the supporting device is configured for one or more of maintaining a position of an electrical component and shielding an object from surrounding objects, wherein the aluminum particles partially replace other fillers of the composite material having a different thermal absorptivity and/or electrical resistivity than the aluminum particles to modify an abrasion resistance and/or electrical resistivity of the composite material, and wherein the aluminum particles are a filler in addition to the other fillers of the aluminum particles, the other fillers being carbon black and ground calcium carbonate.
A vehicle, comprising:
- an under-hood region and an underbody region;
- one or more components extending through one or more of the under-hood region and the underbody region within a heating radius of a heat-generating device;
- and
- at least one flexible support formed of an aluminum particle/elastomer composite and coupled to the one or more components to maintain a position of the one or more components and shield the one or more components from direct contact with adjacent components, wherein aluminum particles of the aluminum particle/elastomer composite partially replace another filler of the aluminum particle/elastomer composite having a different thermal absorptivity and/or electrical resistivity than the aluminum particles to modify an abrasion resistance and/or electrical resistivity of the at least one flexible support, and wherein the aluminum particle/elastomer composite is a filler in addition to the another fillers of the aluminum particle/elastomer composite, the another filler being carbon black or ground calcium carbonate.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.