Active material based bodies for varying frictional force levels at the interface between two surfaces

US8550222B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Alan L. Browne · Grosse Pointe, US
• Nancy L. Johnson · Northville, US
• Nilesh D. Mankame · Ann Arbor, US
• William Barvosa-Carter · Ventura, US
• Norman K. Bucknor · Troy, US
• Christopher P. Henry · Thousand Oaks, US
• Geoffrey P. McKnight · Los Angeles, US
• Guillermo A. Herrera · Calabasas, US
• Andrew C. Keefe · Calabasas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 16, 2007
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 14, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/24273
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A device for selectively controlling and varying a frictional force level at an interface between two bodies, includes a first contact body having at least one surface, a second contact body having at least one surface in physical communication with the first contact body, and an active material in operative communication with a selected one or both of the first contact body and the second contact body, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in a property upon receipt of an activation signal wherein the change in a property is effective to change the frictional force level at the interface between the at least one surface of the first contact body and the at least one surface of the second contact body.