公开(公告)号：US20090084646A1

公开(公告)日：2009-04-02

申请号：US11864107

申请日：2007-09-28

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  John C. Ulicny ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Norman M. Wereley ,  Young Tai Choi ,  Wei Hu ,  Min Mao

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  John C. Ulicny ,  Chandra S. Namuduri ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Norman M. Wereley ,  Young Tai Choi ,  Wei Hu ,  Min Mao

IPC分类号： F16F9/53

CPC分类号： F16F9/537

摘要： An energy absorbing device is provided that includes a damper assembly having inner and outer concentric tubes and a piston movable within the inner tube. The damper assembly is configured to form bi-fold valve-type cavities to operatively connect an inner chamber of the inner tube with an outer chamber formed between the inner and outer tubes. A magnetorheological fluid fills the chambers and the bi-fold valve-type cavities. The magnetorheological fluid preferably contains coated magnetic particles at about 10 to 60 percent by volume. Electrical coils adjacent the bi-fold valves are selectively energizable to such that the energy absorbing device provides a tunable damping force, preferably over the entire range of velocities of the piston, especially in automotive applications.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种能量吸收装置，其包括具有内部和外部同心管的阻尼器组件和可在内部管内移动的活塞。 阻尼器组件被构造成形成双重阀型腔，以将内管的内腔与形成在内管和外管之间的外室可操作地连接。 磁流变流体填充腔室和双折阀型空腔。 磁流变液优选含有约10至60体积％的涂覆磁性颗粒。 邻近双重阀的电气线圈选择性地被激励，使得能量吸收装置优选地在活塞的整个速度范围内提供可调谐阻尼力，特别是在汽车应用中。

公开(公告)号：US20090061188A1

公开(公告)日：2009-03-05

申请号：US12116371

申请日：2008-05-07

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Ukpai I. Ukpai ,  Mark A. Kramarczyk ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Gary L. Jones ,  John C. Ulicny

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Ukpai I. Ukpai ,  Mark A. Kramarczyk ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Gary L. Jones ,  John C. Ulicny

IPC分类号： B32B7/02

CPC分类号： B32B7/045 ,  B32B25/04 ,  B32B2307/20 ,  B32B2307/51 ,  B32B2479/00 ,  Y10T428/24983

摘要： A device for concealing a seam between a first surface and a second surface, the device includes a seam concealment body fixedly attached to a selected one or both of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the seam concealment body comprises an active material, wherein the active material is configured to transition between a first stiffness and a second stiffness upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the transition permits movement of a selected one or both of the first surface and the second surface such that the seam concealment body deforms with the movement of the surface to maintain concealment of the seam.

摘要翻译： 一种用于在第一表面和第二表面之间隐藏接缝的装置，所述装置包括固定地连接到所述第一表面和所述第二表面中的所选择的一个或两者的接缝隐蔽体，其中所述接缝隐藏体包含活性材料，其中 所述活性材料构造成在接收到激活信号时在第一刚度和第二刚度之间转变，其中所述转变允许所述第一表面和所述第二表面中选定的一个或两者的移动，使得所述接缝隐蔽体随着 表面的移动以保持接缝的隐蔽。

公开(公告)号：US20090032353A1

公开(公告)日：2009-02-05

申请号：US11833286

申请日：2007-08-03

申请人： Mark A. Golden ,  John C. Ulicny ,  Yang T. Cheng

发明人： Mark A. Golden ,  John C. Ulicny ,  Yang T. Cheng

IPC分类号： F16D35/00

CPC分类号： F16D37/008 ,  F16D37/02 ,  F16D2037/005

摘要： An apparatus is provided having an active material forming a surface thereof in contact with a rheological fluid. The active material is controllable to vary a surface geometry thereof between a rough or nonsmooth surface geometry to increase drag, and achieve an increase in stress transmitted through the fluid, when a field is applied, while allowing a smooth surface geometry and an associated reduction in stress transmitted through the fluid when the field is removed. A method of enhancing performance of an apparatus that includes a rdeological fluid is also provided.

摘要翻译： 提供一种装置，其具有形成与流变液接触的表面的活性材料。 活性材料可控制以在粗糙或非平滑表面几何形状之间改变其表面几何形状以增加阻力，并且当施加场时实现通过流体传递的应力的增加，同时允许光滑表面几何形状和相关联的减少 当场被去除时通过流体传递的应力。 还提供了一种提高包括血液流体的装置性能的方法。

公开(公告)号：US07147269B2

公开(公告)日：2006-12-12

申请号：US11436315

申请日：2006-05-18

申请人： Jan H. Aase ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  John C. Ulicny

发明人： Jan H. Aase ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  John C. Ulicny

IPC分类号： B60J1/00

CPC分类号： B60K11/085 ,  B60H2001/00092 ,  B62D35/00 ,  B64C23/00 ,  B64C2027/7288 ,  F15D1/10 ,  Y02T10/88 ,  Y02T50/34

摘要： An airflow control device comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as a 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 the need for increased airflow through the radiator due to increases in engine coolant temperature. As such, the device improves vehicle fuel economy while maintaining proper engine cooling. 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.

摘要翻译： 气流控制装置包括与主体可操作地连通的主体和活动材料。 诸如形状记忆材料的活性材料可操作以响应于激活信号改变至少一个属性。 活性材料可以改变其形状，尺寸和/或刚度，从而产生气流控制装置的至少一个特征的变化，例如形状，尺寸，位置，取向和/或刚度，以控制车辆气流，以更好地适应驾驶中的变化 因为由于发动机冷却液温度升高，需要增加通过散热器的气流。 因此，该装置在保持适当的发动机冷却的同时提高了车辆燃料经济性。 可以使用激活装置，控制器和传感器来进一步控制气流控制装置的至少一个特征的变化，例如装置的形状，尺寸，位置，取向和/或刚度。 用于控制车辆气流的方法选择性地引入激活信号以启动在停止激活信号时可以反转的装置的至少一个特征的改变。

公开(公告)号：US07013536B2

公开(公告)日：2006-03-21

申请号：US10409666

申请日：2003-04-08

申请人： Mark A. Golden ,  John C. Ulicny ,  Alan Lampe Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  William Barvosa-Carter ,  Thomas B. Stanford ,  Leslie A. Momoda

发明人： Mark A. Golden ,  John C. Ulicny ,  Alan Lampe Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  William Barvosa-Carter ,  Thomas B. Stanford ,  Leslie A. Momoda

IPC分类号： A44B18/00

CPC分类号： F16B5/07 ,  A44B18/0061 ,  A44B18/0096 ,  B64C33/02 ,  C08L2201/12 ,  F16B1/0014 ,  F16B2001/0028 ,  F16B2001/0035 ,  F16F2224/045 ,  Y10T24/27 ,  Y10T428/24017

摘要： A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof. The hook portion generally includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof. A selected one of the hook elements or the loop material is formed from a thermally and/or electrically conductive material. The other one is formed of a material adapted to melt, flow or volatize at a defined temperature. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. Introducing an activation signal to the thermally and/or electrically conductive hook elements or loop material, causes the opposing material to melt, flow, soften, or volatize upon contact therewith. Also disclosed herein are processes for operating the releasable fastener system.

摘要翻译： 可释放的紧固件系统包括环部分和钩部分。 环路部分包括支撑件和设置在其一侧的环形材料。 钩部通常包括支撑件和从其一侧延伸的多个紧密间隔的直立钩元件。 钩形元件或环形材料中的所选择的一种由热和/或导电材料形成。 另一个由适于在限定温度下熔化，流动或挥发的材料形成。 当钩部和环部被压在一起时，它们互锁以形成可释放的接合。 通过接合产生的所得到的接头相对于剪切力和拉力相对地抵抗并且剥离强度力弱。 向热导电和/或导电的钩元件或环材料引入激活信号时，使相对的材料在与其接触时熔化，流动，软化或挥发。 本文还公开了用于操作可释放紧固件系统的方法。