IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
| 출원번호 |
US-0913691
(2004-08-06)
|
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Brei,Diann
- Redmond,John
- Wilmot,Nathan A.
- Browne,Alan L.
- Johnson,Nancy L.
- Jones,Gary L.
|
| 출원인 / 주소 |
- General Motors Corporation
- University of Michigan
|
| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
40 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic sha
A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle closure lift mechanism comprising: a vehicle closure having one end pivotably attached to a stationary structure and a free end extensive from the pivotably attached end; an active material in operative communication with the free end, wherein the active mater
The invention claimed is: 1. A vehicle closure lift mechanism comprising: a vehicle closure having one end pivotably attached to a stationary structure and a free end extensive from the pivotably attached end; an active material in operative communication with the free end, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in at least one property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle closure and an underlying component by directly exerting a force on the free end. 2. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vehicle closure and the underlying component form a vehicle passenger door and jam, an engine lid and vehicle body, a storage compartment lid and jam, a fuel tank filler lid and vehicle body, a cargo hatch and vehicle body, a tail gate and vehicle body, trunk lid and vehicle body, and a lift gate and vehicle body. 3. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one property undergoing reversible change comprises a dimension, a shape, a shear force, a shape orientation, a flexural modulus, a phase of matter, or combinations comprising one or more of the foregoing properties. 4. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the increased clearance distance comprises a change in closure geometry, a change in closure location, a change in closure orientation, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing changes. 5. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active material directly acts on the vehicle hood to provide the increased clearance distance. 6. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vehicle hood comprises the active material. 7. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active material indirectly acts on the vehicle hood to provide the increased clearance distance. 8. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 7, further comprising a leveraging material to indirectly provide the increased clearance distance. 9. The vehicle hood lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the active material releases a stored energy to provide the increased clearance distance. 10. The vehicle closure lift mechanism of claim 1, wherein the vehicle closure lift mechanism comprises a linear rod active closure lift mechanism, a buckling active closure lift mechanism, a bowing outer surface active closure lift mechanism, a spring sandwich active closure lift mechanism, a lever active closure lift mechanism, a wedge active closure lift mechanism, a cam active closure lift mechanism, a coil spring passive closure lift mechanism, a leaf spring passive closure lift mechanism, or an end latch passive closure lift mechanism. 11. A method comprising: providing a vehicle closure in a rest position having one end pivotably attached to a stationary structure and a free end extensive from the pivotably attached end, wherein the rest position comprises a minimum clearance distance between a vehicle closure and an underlying component; applying an activation signal to an active material and causing a change in at least one property of the active material, wherein the active material is in operative communication with the free end; and changing a closure geometry, orientation, location, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing changes by the change in the at least one property of the active material effective to move the free end from the rest position to a lift position, wherein the clearance distance between the vehicle closure and an underlying component is increased by directly exerting a force on the free end. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle closure has an increased energy absorption capability when in the lift position. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the activation signal comprises sensing an impact event. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing is accomplished with a pre-impact sensor. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensing is accomplished with an impact sensor. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the activation signal comprises manual activation, electronic activation by a built-in logic system, or turning on or off the ignition. 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the activation signal comprises a thermal activation signal, a magnetic activation signal, an electric activation signal, a chemical activation signal, a mechanical load, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing activation signals. 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials. 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the change in the at least one property comprises a dimension, a shape, a shear force, a shape orientation, a flexural modulus, a phase of matter, or combinations comprising one or more of the foregoing properties. 20. The method of claim 11, wherein the change is reversible. 21. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the activation signal comprises activating more than one active material. 22. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle closure may return to the rest position upon discontinuation of the activation signal. 23. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle closure and the underlying component form a vehicle passenger door and jam, an engine lid and vehicle body, a storage compartment lid and jam, a fuel tank filler lid and vehicle body, a cargo hatch and vehicle body, a tail gate and vehicle body, trunk lid and vehicle body, and a lift gate and vehicle body.
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