Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.

Faurecia Innenraum Systeme Gmbh

Thorsten Koch

Tobias Melz

Björn Seipel

Holger Hanselka

Eric Zimmerman

Christo Gavrilov

David Flaschenträger

Johannes Käsgen

Vlad Radu Muntean

Thomas Pfeiffer

The invention is an actuator which includes at least one control element which has thermally activatable transducer material and which, in response to the supply or dissipation of energy, changes from a first shape state into a second shape state, and a mechanical energy storage, which is functionally connected to the control element. When the control element is in the second shape state, it exerts a restoring force on the control element which returns the control element to the first shape state. The mechanical energy storage includes an elastomer body, which at least in some regions is in direct physical and thermal contact with the control element. The elastomer body is connected in a spatially fixed manner to the control element in at least two spatially separated joining regions along the control element.

Actuator having at least one control element which has thermal transducer material

An activation unit is disclosed having at least one actuator having a variable length disposed around at least one first axis. The activation unit operatively interacts with an activation element mounted so that it can be bi-directionally deflected along a second axis. The front side of the actuator is indirectly or directly engaged with a first piston, which can be deflected along the first axis in a mechanically positively driven manner. The first piston has a front side facing away from the actuator which axially borders at least regions of a transfer medium on one side. The transfer medium is radially surrounded relative to a first axis by a housing radially to the first axis, and axially borders at least regionally a front side of at least one second piston. The at least second piston can be deflected in a mechanically positively driven manner, and engages the activation element directly or indirectly. An actively variable and/or passive temperature control medium is provided on and/or in the housing that is in indirect or direct thermal contact with the transfer medium.

Activation unit with an actuator

The invention relates to a device for a motor vehicle for protecting vehicle occupants when there is an impact of energy directed laterally at a motor vehicle door due to a collision, having a connecting structure which has at least two parts with a first part permanently connected with the motor vehicle door and a second part permanently connected with an energy-absorbing region of the motor vehicle body located in the vehicle interior. Both parts via at least one common joint region can be operationally connected with each other to conducting-away of at least part of the energy input laterally acting on the motor vehicle door in the region of the motor vehicle body. The energy impact acting on the motor vehicle door is conducted away from the pivot bearing by a force acting linearly and horizontally via the first and the second part to the first end of the second part permanently connected with the motor vehicle body.

Device for a motor vehicle for protecting vehicle occupants when there is an impact of energy directed at a motor vehicle door due to a collision

Growing community of inventors

Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany

Thorsten Koch