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US 2006/0186701 A1Published application
Volume-filling mechanical assemblies and methods of operating the same
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlan Browne, Nancy Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A volume-filling mechanical structure comprising a honeycomb celled material expandable from a compact state to an expanded state and methods for operating the same.
Claims21
A volume filling mechanical assembly for a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein at least a portion of the open celled material comprises a shape memory alloy;
- and
- an activation mechanism regulating expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to an activation signal.
A method of operating a volume filling structure, comprising:
- sensing an impact event;
- producing an activation signal;
- and
- expanding the volume filling structure from a non-expanded state to an expanded state upon the sensed impact event, wherein the volume filling structure comprises an open celled material, wherein at least a portion of the open celled material comprises a shape memory alloy, and an activation mechanism regulating expansion of the volume filling structure from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to the activation signal.
1 more element
A method of stiffening and/or reinforcing a vehicle member, comprising
- disposing a volume filling structure comprising a shape memory alloy within a vehicle member, wherein the volume filling structure is in an unexpanded state;
- thermally activating the shape memory alloy;
- and
- expanding the volume filling structure within the vehicle member, wherein expanding the volume filling structure stiffens and/or reinforces the vehicle member.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.