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US 2019/0195427 A1Published application
Inflatable structural member
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsPaul W. Alexander, Nilesh D. Mankame
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structural member includes an inflatable bladder. The structural member may include a fabric shell disposed about an exterior surface of the bladder, or a spacer element attached to an interior surface of the bladder. The fabric shell or spacer element restrains the shape of the bladder to contour the bladder into a desired shape and increase the load carrying capacity of the bladder.
Claims20
A structural member comprising:
- a bladder having a wall defining a pressure chamber, wherein the wall includes an interior surface facing the pressure chamber;
- a spacer element disposed within the pressure chamber and attached to the interior surface of the wall;
- and
- wherein the spacer element is operable to restrain expansion of the bladder in response to an internal fluid pressure within the pressure chamber that is greater than atmospheric pressure.
1 more element
A structural member comprising:
- a bladder having a wall forming a pressure chamber, wherein the wall includes an interior surface facing the pressure chamber, and an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface;
- a fabric shell disposed adjacent to the exterior surface of the bladder, and having a first region and a second region;
- wherein the first region of the fabric shell provides a first restraining force to the bladder in response to a pre-defined outward pressure force from the bladder, and the second region of the fabric shell provides a second restraining force to the bladder in response to the pre-defined outward pressure force from the bladder;
- and
- wherein the wall of the bladder includes a motion control feature, such that the first restraining force and the second restraining force in combination with the motion control feature cause the fabric shell and the bladder to exhibit a pre-defined shape in response to the pre-defined outward pressure force from the bladder.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.