Reversible thermally expandable and/or contractible seal assemblies
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsMark Verbrugge, Alan Browne, Nancy Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims33
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.
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.