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Title:
AIRFLOW CONTROL DEVICES BASED ON ACTIVE MATERIALS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2005060476
Kind Code:
A3
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.

Inventors:
BROWNE ALAN L
JOHNSON NANCY L
MC KNIGHT GEOFFREY P
MASSEY CAMERON
HERRERA GUILLERMO A
BARVOSA-CARTER WILLIAM
Application Number:
PCT/US2004/038364
Publication Date:
December 01, 2005
Filing Date:
November 17, 2004
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GEN MOTORS CORP (US)
International Classes:
B60J1/00; B62D35/00; B62D37/02; (IPC1-7): B60J1/00
Foreign References:
US6712425B22004-03-30
US4902067A1990-02-20
US6209947B12001-04-03
US4131308A1978-12-26
US4489806A1984-12-25
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