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US 7,140,478 B2Granted
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 L. Johnson, Alan L. Browne
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims14
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;
- coils in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein each one of the coils is wound about a selected 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 coils;
- and
- means for selectively increasing a pressure within the fluid reservoir.
4 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;
- coils in electrical communication with a power supply, wherein each one of the coils is wound about a selected 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
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.