Active material based tunable property automotive brackets

US7401845B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Paul W. Alexander · Ypsilanti, US
• Alan L. Browne · Grosse Pointe, US
• Nancy L. Johnson · Northville, US
• Nilesh D. Mankame · Ann Arbor, US
• Hanif Muhammad · Ann Arbor, US
• Thomas Wanke · Menomonee Falls, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 31, 2006
• Grant date: Jul 22, 2008
• Expiry date: Feb 7, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R19/26
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A tunable property bracket for a vehicle body, includes a support member comprising a first active material configured to provide support for static and dynamic loads during normal operation of the vehicle body, wherein the first active material undergoes a change in a property upon exposure to an activating condition during a loading event or a sensed loading event, wherein the change in the property is effective to provide a load bearing capacity change to the support member.