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公开(公告)号:US20210070381A1
公开(公告)日:2021-03-11
申请号:US16566683
申请日:2019-09-10
Inventor: Wonhee M. KIM , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Jonathan E. LUNTZ , Diann BREI , Noah LUNTZLARA , Yun Ju KIM , Zining ZHANG , Laura Alejandra GINER MUNOZ , Koray Benli
Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a plurality of tethers, and an adjustment mechanism. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and configured to hold pressurized air therebetween. The plurality of tethers are disposed within the bladder. Each tether in the plurality of tethers has a first end coupled to the top end cap and a second end coupled to the bottom end cap. When the bladder is inflated, the plurality of tethers restrict a number of degrees of freedom of the inflatable structure and a type of the degrees of freedom. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the second end of at least one tether in the plurality of tethers to adjust at least one of the number of the degrees of freedom and the type of the degrees of freedom.
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公开(公告)号:US20230235591A1
公开(公告)日:2023-07-27
申请号:US17583677
申请日:2022-01-25
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor: Nilesh D. MANKAME , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Paul E. KRAJEWSKI
CPC classification number: E04H15/20 , B01J7/00 , B32B5/02 , B32B27/12 , B32B27/281 , B32B27/40 , B32B27/283 , B32B27/34 , E04H2015/201 , E04H2015/206 , B32B2262/0261 , B32B2262/0253 , B32B2262/0276 , B32B2255/02 , B32B2419/00
Abstract: A lightweight and portable inflatable assembly includes an inflatable structural component and a chemical reaction based inflator device. The inflatable structural component includes a flexible housing defining a cavity. The inflatable structure is uninflated in a first operational mode and filled with an inflation fluid retained for at least 4 hours in a second operational mode. At least one primary and at least one secondary charge unit are in fluid communication with the cavity. The primary charge unit includes a first gas generant material configured to generate a first predetermined volume of inflation medium for filling the cavity, while the secondary charge unit includes a second gas generant material configured to generate a second predetermined volume of inflation medium for filling the cavity in the second operational mode. The second predetermined volume is ≤about 40% by volume of the first predetermined volume.
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公开(公告)号:US20210098679A1
公开(公告)日:2021-04-01
申请号:US16589657
申请日:2019-10-01
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor: Dorel M. SALA , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Nancy L. JOHNSON
Abstract: A thermal control system includes a component having a surface. A plurality of thermal generating devices include a first conductive plate, second and third conductive plates, a first semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, and a second semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the third conductive plate. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device have different types of doping. First ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the first conductive plate located adjacent to the surface of the component. Second ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the second and third conductive plates located adjacent to the surface of the component. The first ones and the second ones of plurality of thermal generating devices perform heating and cooling of the surface, respectively.
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公开(公告)号:US20220134927A1
公开(公告)日:2022-05-05
申请号:US17084796
申请日:2020-10-30
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor: Paul W. ALEXANDER , Louis D. THOLE , Conner J. STORMER , Daniel W. BOOTH , Wonhee M. KIM , David ACOSTA
Abstract: An inflatable system includes a first bladder configured to contain gas and a second bladder configured to contain gas. The first bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The second bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of its top wall, a sidewall extending between and connected to perimeter edges of its top and bottom walls, and a plurality of tethers extending between and connected to interior surfaces of its top and bottom walls. The bottom wall of the first bladder is secured to the top wall of the second bladder.
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公开(公告)号:US20210141402A1
公开(公告)日:2021-05-13
申请号:US16676985
申请日:2019-11-07
Inventor: Wonhee M. KIM , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Jonathan E. LUNTZ , Diann BREI , Laura Alejandra GINER MUNOZ , Shiyu ZHAO , Koray BENLI
IPC: G05D16/06
Abstract: A pressure regulator includes an inlet channel, an outlet channel, a bladder, a first plate, and a second plate. The bladder is connected to the outlet channel and extends alongside of the inlet channel. The first plate is disposed on one side of the inlet channel between the bladder and the inlet channel. The second plate is disposed on the other side of the bladder and is at least partially aligned with the first plate along the length of the inlet channel such that a portion of the inlet channel is disposed between the first and second plates. When the bladder is pressurized, the bladder urges the first plate toward the second plate and thereby pinches the portion of the inlet channel disposed between the first and second plates to regulate a ratio of a pressure in the outlet channel to a pressure in the inlet channel.
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公开(公告)号:US20190366892A1
公开(公告)日:2019-12-05
申请号:US15994277
申请日:2018-05-31
Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
Inventor: Daniel W. BOOTH , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Nancy L. JOHNSON , Heidi H. MCADOO-WILSON , Janet C. ROBINCHECK
IPC: B60N2/58
Abstract: A knitted seat trim cover for attachment to a vehicle seat includes a knitted trim panel configured to be installed over one or more support members of the vehicle seat and at least one fastener tube integrally knitted to the trim panel. The fastener tube is positioned on a back side of the trim panel facing the one or more support members. The knitted seat trim cover also includes an elongated fastener member positioned inside the at least one fastener tube. The elongated fastener member is configured to releasably connect to a complimentary fastener member on the vehicle seat.
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公开(公告)号:US20220135146A1
公开(公告)日:2022-05-05
申请号:US17083691
申请日:2020-10-29
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor: Louis D. THOLE , Karan MOORJANI , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Wonhee M. KIM
IPC: B62D33/027
Abstract: A pick-up truck cargo area includes a cargo floor having a forward end, a rearward end and a pair of side edges extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A pair of inflatable bedside panels extend along the pair of side edges. A pair of bed side rails extend above the cargo floor and support the pair of inflatable bedside panels.
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公开(公告)号:US20210071659A1
公开(公告)日:2021-03-11
申请号:US16566631
申请日:2019-09-10
Inventor: Wonhee M. KIM , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Jonathan E. LUNTZ , Diann BREI , Laura Alejandra GINER MUNOZ , Kunj P. PATEL , Adeline Emily WIHARDJA , Noah LUNTZLARA
IPC: F04B49/00
Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a top end cap, a bottom end cap, a bladder, a nozzle, a loop, and a first tether. The bladder is attached to the top and bottom end caps and is configured to hold pressurized fluid therebetween. The nozzle is configured to allow fluid to enter and exit the bladder. The loop is attached to one of the top and bottom end caps. A tether is disposed within the bladder, coupled to the other one of the top and bottom end caps, and extends through the at least one loop. The top end cap assumes a first position when the bladder is inflated. When the top end cap is adjusted from the first position to a second position, the first tether is configured to maintain the top end cap in the second position.
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公开(公告)号:US20140096516A1
公开(公告)日:2014-04-10
申请号:US13648307
申请日:2012-10-10
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor: Alan L. BROWNE , Paul W. ALEXANDER , Nancy L. JOHNSON , Xiujie GAO , Nilesh D. MANKAME , Guillermo A. HERRERA , Geoffrey P. MCKNIGHT
IPC: F03G7/06
CPC classification number: F03G7/06
Abstract: Some on-vehicle devices, such as air dams, air spoilers, and HVAC system baffles, may have movable components that are pulled from one position to another by shrinkage of a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. Upon an activation signal, the shrinkage of the SMA actuator occurs when it is resistance heated by an electrical current. It is found that useful information concerning the overall intended operation of the on-vehicle device may be obtained by computer analysis of the temporal variation of both current flow through the actuator and its electrical resistance as it is heated to perform its function in the device. A comparison of present current flow and variation of resistance, during activation of the device, with prescribed stored values can reveal malfunction of components of the device as it is being used, in place, on the vehicle.
Abstract translation: 一些车载设备,例如空气坝,空气扰流器和HVAC系统挡板,可以具有通过线性形状记忆合金(SMA)致动器的收缩从一个位置拉动到另一个位置的可移动部件。 在激活信号时,当SMA电阻被电流加热时,SMA致动器的收缩发生。 发现关于车载设备的总体预期操作的有用信息可以通过对通过致动器的电流的时间变化及其被加热以在其中执行其功能的电阻的计算机分析来获得。 在设备激活期间,当前电流和电阻变化与规定的存储值进行比较可以显示设备在组件被部署在车辆上时的故障。
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公开(公告)号:US20240383728A1
公开(公告)日:2024-11-21
申请号:US18319798
申请日:2023-05-18
Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Inventor: Victor WONG , Jesus Anthony BERNAL , Juan Orlando ESPANA MEDINA , Paul W. ALEXANDER
IPC: B66F3/35
Abstract: An inflatable lift system for a vehicle includes N bladders arranged vertically in a stack, where N is an integer greater than two. N pressure sensors are configured to sense pressure in the N bladders, respectively. A compressor is configured to supply pressurized gas. N valves are configured to selectively connect and disconnect the N bladders to the compressor. A controller is configured to control the N valves to inflate the N bladders sequentially in a first predetermined order and to deflate the N bladders sequentially in reverse.
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