公开(公告)号：US09957748B2

公开(公告)日：2018-05-01

申请号：US15061569

申请日：2016-03-04

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC: E06B3/80 ,  E06B7/20 ,  E06B9/08 ,  B60J10/15 ,  E06B9/06

CPC classification number: E06B3/80 ,  B60J10/15 ,  E06B7/20 ,  E06B9/0692 ,  E06B9/08 ,  E06B2007/202

Abstract: A sealing assembly includes a door and a seal. The door includes a flexible body that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The seal is movable between an engaged position in which the seal is positioned in engagement with a portion of the flexible body when the flexible body is in the closed position and a disengaged position in which the seal moves away from the portion of the flexible body as the flexible body moves from the closed position to the open position such that the flexible body is spaced from the seal to minimize frictional engagement with the seal.

公开(公告)号：US09953781B2

公开(公告)日：2018-04-24

申请号：US15134550

申请日：2016-04-21

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Dorel M. Sala ,  Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Xiujie Gao

IPC: H01H37/32 ,  G01D11/24

CPC classification number: H01H37/323 ,  G01D11/245

Abstract: A resettable sensor assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining a cavity therein. The assembly includes a divider disposed within the cavity and in contact with the housing, at least one electrical contact disposed within the cavity and extending through the divider, and a pin reversibly translatable within the cavity along the axis. The assembly includes at least one actuator element disposed within the cavity and abutting the housing. The element is configured for translating the pin along the axis between a first position wherein the pin contacts the electrical contact and a second position wherein the pin is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The actuator element is formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal activation signal to thereby translate the pin between the first and second positions.

公开(公告)号：US09822551B2

公开(公告)日：2017-11-21

申请号：US14812666

申请日：2015-07-29

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Shivaram Ac ,  Vidyashankar R. Buravalla ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  E05B47/00 ,  E05B83/30

CPC classification number: E05B47/0009 ,  E05B83/30 ,  F03G7/065

Abstract: A device for cycling a component between a first condition and a second condition includes an element and a reset apparatus connected to and driven by the element. The element is formed from a shape memory alloy, wherein the alloy is transitionable between a martensite crystallographic phase and an austenite crystallographic phase in response to a thermal energy source. The apparatus is actuatable by the element from an initial state in which the alloy has the martensite phase and the component is in the first condition, to an actuated state in which the alloy has the austenite phase and the component is in the second condition. The apparatus is resettable from the actuated state to a reset state in which the alloy transitions from the austenite to the martensite phase while the component is in the first condition, and further resettable from the reset state to the initial state.

公开(公告)号：US09346345B2

公开(公告)日：2016-05-24

申请号：US14328149

申请日：2014-07-10

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC ,  DYNALLOY, INC.

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Mark A. Voss ,  Derek L. Patterson ,  Lei Hao ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  James Holbrook Brown ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  John N. Owens ,  Alexander Millerman ,  Kevin B. Rober ,  Suresh Gopalakrishnan ,  Sanjeev M. Naik

IPC: B24D13/00 ,  B60H1/00 ,  B61D27/00 ,  B63J2/00 ,  B60J9/04 ,  B60H1/24

CPC classification number: B60J9/04 ,  B60H1/00735 ,  B60H1/241 ,  B60H1/249

Abstract: A vent assembly is disposed within an interior space of a vehicle for opening and closing fluid communication between the interior space and an exterior of the vehicle. The vent assembly includes a housing defining a plurality of openings and a plurality of vanes disposed in the openings. An actuator mechanism moves the vanes between an open position and a closed position, and includes a shaped memory alloy (SMA) member for actuating the vanes between the open and closed positions. The SMA member is activated when a hatch of the vehicle is opened to move the vanes into the open position and thereby open fluid communication between the interior space and the exterior to alleviate excessive air pressure buildup during closure of the hatch.

Abstract translation: 排气组件设置在车辆的内部空间内，用于打开和关闭内部空间和车辆外部之间的流体连通。 通气组件包括限定多个开口的壳体和设置在开口中的多个叶片。 致动器机构使叶片在打开位置和关闭位置之间移动，并且包括用于在打开位置和关闭位置之间致动叶片的成形记忆合金（SMA）构件。 当车辆的舱口被打开以使叶片移动到打开位置并且由此打开内部空间和外部之间的流体连通时，SMA构件被激活，以减轻在舱口闭合期间累积过大的空气压力。

公开(公告)号：US20160076294A1

公开(公告)日：2016-03-17

申请号：US14487185

申请日：2014-09-16

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC ,  THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Jonathan E. Luntz ,  Alan W. Moyer ,  Diann Brei ,  Suhant Ranga ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC: E05F5/02

CPC classification number: E05F5/022 ,  E05Y2800/678 ,  E05Y2800/68

Abstract: An adjustable bumper, adapted for supporting closure panels on a vehicle, is described. The bumper incorporates a shape memory polymer portion, which may be readily permanently reshaped by the steps of: heating above its transition temperature, deforming by application of a load, and cooling, while still under load, below its transition temperature. This behavior is exploited to enable adjustment of the adjustable bumper so that it may provide the desired closure panel support while accommodating vehicle to vehicle variations in the fit of the closure panel and the vehicle body.

Abstract translation: 描述了一种可调节的保险杠，适用于支撑车辆上的关闭面板。 保险杠结合了形状记忆聚合物部分，其可以通过以下步骤容易地永久地重新形成：加热超过其转变温度，通过施加负载变形，并且在仍处于负载状态下的冷却低于其转变温度。 这种行为被利用来实现可调整的缓冲器的调整，使得它可以提供所需的闭合面板支撑件，同时容纳车辆对车辆在闭合面板和车体的配合中的变化。

公开(公告)号：US20150300058A1

公开(公告)日：2015-10-22

申请号：US14686065

申请日：2015-04-14

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC ,  Dynalloy, Inc.

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Roger Herbert Culver ,  Robert Dallos, JR. ,  Aragorn Zolno ,  James Holbrook Brown

IPC: E05C5/02

CPC classification number: E05B47/0009 ,  E05B83/28 ,  E05C19/022 ,  F03G7/065

Abstract: A lockable latching device includes a body defining a cavity therein and having a central longitudinal axis, and a plunger disposed within the cavity. The plunger has a first end and a second end and is translatable with respect to the body along the axis between an open position and a closed position. The device also includes an annular rotator spaced apart from the body along the axis and configured for rotating the plunger about the axis. The device includes an annular latch abutting the rotator that is transitionable between an unlocked state and a locked state. The device also includes an element attached to the latch and formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between an austenite crystallographic phase and a martensite crystallographic phase in response to an activation signal to thereby transition the latch from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Abstract translation: 可锁定的锁定装置包括在其中限定空腔并具有中心纵向轴线的主体和设置在腔内的柱塞。 柱塞具有第一端和第二端，并且在打开位置和关闭位置之间可沿着轴线相对于主体平移。 该装置还包括环形旋转器，该环形旋转体沿着轴线与主体间隔开并且被配置为用于围绕轴线旋转柱塞。 该装置包括邻接旋转器的环形闩锁，其可在解锁状态和锁定状态之间转换。 该装置还包括附接到闩锁并由形状记忆合金形成的元件，该形状记忆合金响应于激活信号在奥氏体晶相和马氏体晶相之间可转变，从而将闩锁从锁定状态转换到解锁状态。

公开(公告)号：US20150192215A1

公开(公告)日：2015-07-09

申请号：US14664504

申请日：2015-03-20

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Craig A. Kollar ,  Xiu Jie Gao ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC: F16K31/02

CPC classification number: F16K31/025

Abstract: A drain plug assembly that has particular application for sealing a drain hole in a battery compartment on a vehicle. The plug assembly includes a plug that inserted into the drain hole and a cover covering the plug. The plug assembly also includes a first shape memory alloy (SMA) wire having ends attached to the cover and a middle portion attached to the plug and a second SMA wire having ends attached to the cover and a middle portion attached to the plug. The plug assembly also includes a mechanical hinge attached to the plug and the cover, wherein the first SMA wire is actuated to flip the hinge to position the plug in a closed position to close the drain hole and the second SMA wire is actuated to flip the hinge to position the plug in an open position to open the drain hole.

Abstract translation: 一种排水塞组件，其特别用于密封车辆上的电池舱中的排水孔。 插头组件包括插入到排水孔中的插头和覆盖插头的盖子。 插头组件还包括具有附接到盖的端部的第一形状记忆合金（SMA）线和附接到插头的中间部分和具有附接到盖的端部的第二SMA线和附接到插头的中间部分。 插头组件还包括附接到插头和盖的机械铰链，其中第一SMA线被致动以翻转铰链以将插头定位在关闭位置以关闭排水孔，并且第二SMA线被致动以翻转 铰链以将塞子定位在打开位置以打开排水孔。

公开(公告)号：US20150052728A1

公开(公告)日：2015-02-26

申请号：US14464043

申请日：2014-08-20

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Robert Dallos, JR. ,  Roger Herbert Culver ,  Nancy L. Johnson

IPC: E05B79/02

CPC classification number: E05B83/34 ,  B60K2015/0576 ,  E05B47/0009 ,  E05C3/12 ,  Y10S292/04 ,  Y10T29/49826

Abstract: A method includes assembling a first latching device and a second latching device. The first latching device includes a first support housing and a first sliding assembly. The first sliding assembly is selectively movable, relative to the first support housing, between a latched position and an unlatched position. The second latching device includes a second support housing, a second sliding assembly, and an actuating mechanism. The second support housing is substantially identical to the first support housing. The second sliding assembly is selectively movable, relative to the second support housing, between a latched position and an unlatched position. The actuating mechanism is operatively disposed in the second support housing and is configured to selectively maintain the sliding assembly in the latched position until the actuating mechanism is selectively actuated. The first latching device does not include the actuating mechanism.

Abstract translation: 一种方法包括组装第一闭锁装置和第二闭锁装置。 第一闭锁装置包括第一支撑壳体和第一滑动组件。 第一滑动组件相对于第一支撑壳体可选择性地在锁定位置和解锁位置之间移动。 第二闭锁装置包括第二支撑壳体，第二滑动组件和致动机构。 第二支撑壳体基本上与第一支撑壳体相同。 第二滑动组件相对于第二支撑壳体可选择性地在锁定位置和解锁位置之间移动。 所述致动机构可操作地设置在所述第二支撑壳体中并且构造成选择性地将所述滑动组件保持在所述闩锁位置，直到所述致动机构被选择性地致动。 第一闭锁装置不包括致动机构。

公开(公告)号：US20140026555A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-30

申请号：US14014778

申请日：2013-08-30

Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

Inventor： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Patrick B. Usoro

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F16G1/26

CPC classification number: F03G7/065 ,  F02G5/04 ,  F16G1/26 ,  F16H7/02 ,  Y02T10/166

Abstract: An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.

Abstract translation: 能量收集系统包括热机和部件。 热机包括皮带，第一部件和第二部件。 带包括一条材料条和至少部分地沿纵向地嵌入材料条中的线。 导线包括形状记忆合金材料。 所述至少一根导线的局部区域被配置为改变马氏体和奥氏体之间的结晶相，并且响应于暴露于第一温度或第二温度而纵向收缩或膨胀，使得对应于局部区域的材料条也收缩 或扩展。 第一构件可操作地连接到带并响应于带的膨胀或收缩而与带一起移动。 组件可操作地连接到第一构件，使得第一构件的移动驱动构件。