Patent ID: 8240677
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: B60J,C08L,E05B,E05C,E05F,E05Y,E06B,F16J,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An active material based seal assembly adapted for use with an adjacent surface, said assembly comprising: a seal structure comprising a non-active sealing member, and an active material operable to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in the at least one attribute changes a modulus property and/or shape of the seal structure, wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting essentially of shape memory polymers, electroactive polymers, magnetostrictive materials, electrorheological fluids, electrorheological elastomers, magnetorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, dielectric elastomers, ionic polymer metal composites, piezoelectric polymers, piezoelectric ceramics, and various combinations of the foregoing materials; and a controller in operative communication with the active material adapted to selectively provide the activation signal, wherein the active material is drivenly coupled to the member, and configured to cause the member to selectively engage the surface, so as to form a seal therewith.