Active seal architectures
View Patent ↗Active seal architectures adapted for producing a variable sealing and/or closing force between a closure panel and perimeter, includes a mounting clip, a flexible outer layer fixedly connected to the clip, defining an interior space, and longitudinally extending along the perimeter; and an interior structure comprising and reconfigurable by an active material disposed within the space, and operable to impart differing first and second forces upon the layer and panel when the material is activated and deactivated respectively.
1. An active seal strip producing a variable sealing force, the seal strip being adapted for placement on a vehicle opening structure defining a vehicle opening perimeter in a vehicle body in which a vehicle closure panel is configured to engage the perimeter of the vehicle opening structure so as to close the opening, the active seal strip being adapted to produce a variable sealing force between the vehicle opening structure and the vehicle closure panel, the active seal strip comprising:
a mounting clip for placement of the active seal strip on the perimeter of the vehicle opening structure, the clip comprising a support surface; and
a flexible, hollow member fixedly connected to the clip support surface, the flexible hollow member having two, lateral, substantially parallel, flexible walls directly connected to and extending from the mounting clip, the walls each having a length and being substantially perpendicular to the clip support surface, the hollow member further having a flexible top surface connecting the walls and defining an interior space, the flexible hollow member having a length and extending longitudinally along the perimeter of a vehicle body opening, the top surface of the flexible, hollow member being adapted to be engaged in a sealing mode by the vehicle closure panel when the vehicle closure panel is moved to a closed position, the flexible top surface then being compressed toward the mounting clip and the substantially parallel, flexible walls cooperating with the flexible top surface by expanding laterally into opposing, outwardly-bowed configurations with respect to the longitudinal path of the seal along the perimeter of the vehicle body opening, such compression providing a sealing force between the vehicle closure panel and the flexible hollow member; and
an interior structure located within the flexible, hollow member and extending along the length of the flexible, hollow member, the interior structure comprising one or more active material elements transitionable between an activated and a deactivated state, each active material element, in its activated state, expanding and outwardly bowing the lateral walls of the hollow member and lowering the top surface of the hollow member for reduced sealing force and, in its deactivated state, permitting the top surface of the hollow member to rise to engage the vehicle closure panel with increased sealing force and enable the lateral walls of the hollow member to contract inwardly, wherein the two substantially parallel, flexible walls are substantially perpendicular to the clip support surface along the entire length of each substantially parallel, flexible wall when the one or more active material element are in their deactivated state.
2. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interior structure includes a plurality of active material elements stacked in face-to-face relationship, and each active element material is formed of material selected from the group consisting of electroactive polymers, piezoelectric materials, and thin films of composites formed between poly(vinylidene fluoride) and lead zirconium titanate and the stacked elements are arranged and adapted to laterally expand the substantially parallel, felxible walls when activated.
3. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interior structure includes at least one cantilevered arch extending upwardly from the clip and presenting a first curvature and reduced sealing force when the one or more active material elements are activated and a second curvature and increased sealing force when the one or more active material elements are deactivated.
4. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the seal strip comprises first and second laterally extending and mirrored arches comprising the one or more active material elements, and each arch extends from the clip to engage a respective substantially parallel, flexible wall.
5. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the structure includes a plurality of axially oriented arches.
6. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the structure presents a bistable configuration.
7. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more active material element; and
a sensor communicatively coupled to the controller and operable to detect a first condition, said controller and sensor being cooperatively configured to activate the one or more active material elements, when the condition is detected.
8. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the condition is a door opening or closing event.
9. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the condition is a door locking or unlocking event.
10. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the condition is a handle pulling or releasing event.
11. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the controller further includes a timer, and the one or more active material element is activated when a period elapses after the condition is detected.
12. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 in which the active material element is connected to the flexible top surface.
13. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 in which the one or more active material elements are connected to one or both of the substantially parallel, flexible walls.
14. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 in which the flexible hollow member has an interior surface and the interior structure is adapted to lower and raise the top surface of the hollow member by selectively contacting one or more suitable regions of the interior surface.
15. The active seal strip as claimed in claim 1 in which the flexible hollow member has an interior volume divided into two more chambers, the chambers extending along the length of the seal.