Airflow control devices based on active materials

US7854467B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Motors LLC · US

Inventors

• Geoffrey P. McKnight · Los Angeles, US
• Cameron Massey · Hawthorne, US
• Guillermo A. Herrera · Calabasas, US
• William Barvosa-Carter · Ventura, US
• Nancy L. Johnson · Northville, US
• Alan L. Browne · Grosse Pointe, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 16, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2010
• Expiry date: Jul 16, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T50/30
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An airflow control device comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as 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 weather, ground clearance and speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. As such, the device reduces vehicle damage due to inadequate ground clearance, while increasing vehicle stability and fuel economy. 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.