Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Geoffrey P Mc Knight

Nancy L Johnson

Alan L Browne

Guillermo A Herrera

William B Barvosa-Carter

Christopher Paul Henry

Cameron G Massey

Andrew C Keefe

Patrick B Usoro

Paul W Alexander

Nilesh D Mankame

Alan Jon Jacobsen

Xiujie Gao

Bahram Khalighi

Marten Wittorf

John Anthony Cafeo

Douglas M Smick

An exhaust system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between an exhaust gas having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The exhaust system also includes a conduit configured for conveying the exhaust gas, a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy, and a member disposed in contact with the conduit and configured for conducting thermal energy from the conduit to the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the exhaust gas and the heat sink.

Exhaust system

A vehicle flow trip, includes a moveable body portion in physical communication with a vehicle body, and an actuator comprising an active material in operative communication with the vehicle body and the moveable body portion; wherein the active material undergoes a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in a property is effective to displace the moveable body portion from either an original position or a deployed position in an airflow stream to the other of the original or the deployed position through motion of the actuator.

Active material actuated flow trips

Active seal assemblies employing active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active seal assemblies actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, shape orientation, and the like. In this manner, in seal applications such as a vehicle door application, door opening and closing efforts can be minimized yet seal effectiveness can be maximized.

Discrete active seal assemblies

Active seal assemblies employing active materials that can be controlled and remotely changed to alter the seal effectiveness, wherein the active seal assemblies actively change modulus properties such as stiffness, shape orientation, and the like. The active seal assemblies are generally configured to reduce the noise (sound waves) that is transmitted through the seal by measuring and actively canceling and/or absorbing the noise.

Active seal assemblies for sound isolation

An airflow control device comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow to better suit changes in driving conditions such as weather, ground clearance and speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. As such, the device reduces vehicle damage due to inadequate ground clearance, while increasing vehicle stability and fuel economy. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness of the device. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal.

Airflow control devices based on active materials

A reversible energy absorbing assembly including a cellular lattice comprising a shape memory material disposed within an expandable interior region of the assembly, wherein the shape memory material is adapted to expand from a first configuration to an expanded configuration in response to fluid communication with a fluid source. Once expanded, the assembly effectively absorbs kinetic energy of an object upon impact with the assembly. The shape memory material can be thermally activated to restore the first configuration of the energy absorbing assembly. Methods of operating the energy absorbing assembly are also disclosed.

Reversibly expandable energy absorbing assembly and methods for operating the same

A reversible energy absorbing assembly including a shape memory foam disposed within an interior region, wherein the shape memory foam is adapted to expand to an expanded configuration in response to fluid communication with a fluid source. The shape memory foam is a material selected from the group consisting of shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers. Once expanded, the assembly effectively absorbs kinetic energy of an object upon impact with the assembly. The shape memory foam can be thermally activated to restore the original configuration of the energy absorbing assembly. Methods of operating the energy absorbing assembly are also disclosed.

Reversibly expandable energy absorbing assembly utilizing shape memory foams for impact management and methods for operating the same

A reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly includes a rigid support structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a flexible covering sealingly engaged with the rigid support structure to define an inflatable interior region; a gas source in fluid communication with the at least one inlet; an inlet control valve positioned intermediate the gas source and the at least one inlet; and an actively controlled pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one outlet. The inlet control valve and the pressure relief valve are adapted to provide a response suitable for use in vehicle impact management.

Reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly and methods for operating the same

Reversibly deployable energy absorbing assemblies for impact management generally include a translatable first element, a rigid support structure and a second element having one end fixedly attached to the rigid support structure and an other end fixedly attached to the translatable first element. The second elements are adapted to plastically deform along a predefined buckling path. The predefined buckling path may be uni-modal or multi-modal depending on the desired application and/or impact conditions. Also disclosed herein are methods for operating the energy absorbing assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Geoffrey P Mc Knight