Patent ID: 7845648
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: B60J,C08L,E05B,E05C,E05F,E05Y,E06B,F16J,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An active seal assembly, comprising: a seal body formed of an elastic material integrated with a seal base, wherein the seal body longitudinally defines a hollow interior channel and interior surface; a wire or strip predominately disposed within the hollow interior channel comprising a plurality of stiff elements fixedly attached to the interior surface and disposed within the channel; an active material in operative communication with and drivenly coupled to the end of the wire or strip, wherein the active material is effective to undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in the at least one attribute exerts a force on the wire or strip operable to change a shape of the seal body; an activation device in operative communication with the active material adapted to provide the activation signal; and a controller in operative communication with the activation device.