Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A non-corrosive metallic sealing assembly (310) is disclosed having a super-elastic component (314) made of, e.g., nitinol. The super-elastic component can expand or contract to form a seal, preferably upon mechanical stress activation using interference fit with one or more other components (312, 320) of the assembly. The improved seal is useful in fluid connectors such as hoses, electrical connectors, torque transmission devices, in vibration-dampening devices, and hinge or ball and socket joints. The assembly can seal against other components having different coefficients of thermal expansion or contraction, offering reduced temperature sensitivity during seal formation and at high performance operating conditions.