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US 2006/0032715 A1Published application
Reversibly expandable energy absorbing assembly utilizing actively controlled and engineered materials for impact management and methods for operating the same
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsWilliam Barvosa-Carter, Nancy Johnson, Alan Browne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reversibly expandable energy absorbing assemblies that utilize an actively controlled and engineering material to reversibly change a shear stress or a flexural modulus property. The actively controlled and engineering materials include magnetorheological fluids, electrorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, and electrorheological elastomers. Methods of operating the energy absorbing assemblies are also disclosed.
Claims31
An energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
- a rigid support structure comprising a fluid reservoir;
- a flexible covering engaged with the rigid support structure to define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of elastic tubular structures disposed in the expandable interior region, wherein each one of the elastic tubular structures comprises an elongated hollow interior region, an open end in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a closed end in contact with the flexible covering;
- a coil in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein the coil is wound about each one of the plurality of tubular structures;
- a magnetorheological fluid disposed in the fluid reservoir and the hollow interior region of the tubular structures, wherein the magnetorheological fluid is adapted to provide a change in fluid viscosity shear stress in response to a magnetic field provided by the coil;
- and
- means for selectively increasing a pressure within the fluid reservoir.
4 more elements
An energy absorbing assembly comprising:
- a rigid support structure comprising a fluid reservoir;
- a flexible covering engaged with the rigid support structure to define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of elastic tubular or rectangular cross section disposed in the expandable interior region, wherein each one of the elastic tubular or rectangular cross section structures comprises an elongated hollow interior region, an open end in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a closed end in contact with the flexible covering;
- a coaxial pair of electrodes in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein the coaxial pair of electrodes are in operative communication with each one of the plurality of tubular structures;
- an electrorheological fluid disposed in the fluid reservoir and the hollow interior region of the tubular structure, wherein the electrorheological fluid is adapted to provide a change in fluid shear stress in response to an applied electric field generated by the coaxial or parallel pair of electrodes;
- and
- means for selectively increasing a pressure within the fluid reservoir.
4 more elements
An energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
- a flexible covering engaged with a rigid support structure define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of flexible cylindrical structures disposed in he expandable interior region, wherein each one of the flexible cylindrical structures comprises a magnetorheological elastomer,
- a coil in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein the coil is wound about each one of the plurality of flexible cylindrical structures;
- and
- means for selectively compressing the assembly into a stowed configuration and releasing the compressive means to provide a deployed configuration.
2 more elements
An energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
- a flexible covering engaged with a rigid support structure to define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of flexible cylindrical or rectangular cross section structures disposed in the expandable interior region, wherein each one of the flexible cylindrical or rectangular cross section structures comprises an electrorheological elastomer;
- a coaxial or parallel pair of conductors in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein the conductors are in electrical communication with each one of the plurality of flexible cylindrical structures;
- and
- means for selectively compressing the assembly into a stowed configuration and releasing the compressive means to provide a deployed configuration.
2 more elements
An energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
- a flexible covering engaged with a rigid support structure to define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of flexible cylindrical structures disposed in the expandable interior region, wherein each one of the flexible cylindrical structures comprises a magnetorheological elastomer or an elastic tube, jellyroll, or multiple coaxial geometry filled with an magnetorheological fluid;
- at least one permanent magnet placed between the bottom of the rigid support structure and the flexible cylindrical structure;
- a coil wound around the at least one permanent magnet in electrical in communication with a power supply, wherein the coil is adapted to generate a second magnetic field opposing a fist magnetic field of the permanent magnet;
- and
- means for selectively compressing the assembly into a stowed configuration and releasing the compressive means to provide a deployed configuration.
3 more elements
A method of operating an energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
- attaching the energy absorbing assembly to a rigid support structure including a fluid reservoir, wherein the energy absorbing assembly comprises a flexible covering engaged with the rigid support structure to define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of elastic tubular structures disposed in the expandable interior region, wherein each one of the elastic tubular structures comprises an elongated hollow interior region, an open end in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a closed end in contact with the flexible covering;
- a coil in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein the coil is wound about each one of the plurality of tubular structures;
- an actively controlled and engineered fluid disposed in the fluid reservoir and the hollow interior region of the tubular structures;
- and means for selectively increasing a pressure within the fluid reservoir,
- increasing a pressure within the fluid reservoir and expanding the expandable interior region;
- and
- applying a current to the coils and simultaneously increasing a viscosity of the actively controlled and engineered fluid and a yield stress of the plurality of tubular structures.
5 more elements
The method of operating the energy absorbing assembly of claim 23, wherein the actively controlled and engineered fluid is selected from the group consisting of magnetorheological fluids and electrorheological fluids.
A method of operating an energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
- attaching the energy absorbing assembly to a rigid support structure in a stowed position, wherein the energy absorbing assembly comprises a flexible covering engaged with the rigid support structure to define an expandable interior region;
- a plurality of flexible cylindrical structures disposed in the expandable interior region, wherein each one of the flexible cylindrical structures comprises a magnetorheological elastomer;
- a coil in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein the coil is wound about each one of the plurality of flexible cylindrical structures;
- and means for selectively compressing the assembly into a stowed configuration and releasing the compressive means to provide a deployed configuration;
- deploying the energy absorbing assembly by releasing the compressive means and expanding the expandable interior region;
- and
- applying a current to the coils and simultaneously increasing a flexural modulus property and a yield stress of the plurality of flexible cylindrical structures.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.