Active Vehicle Seal with Dielectric Bladder Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seals face challenges in dynamically managing interfaces between vehicle components to optimize sealing performance based on real-time conditions, particularly in varying environmental exposures and component movements.
Innovation Solution
An active seal system featuring a bladder actuator with dielectric fluid and conductors, which changes its cross-sectional profile in response to electrical energy, allowing for controlled sealing and unsealing of interfaces between vehicle structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional seal is used to seal the interface between vehicle structures, then sealing performance is maintained, but interference with component movement increases and wear is elevated
Solution Approach 1:
The seal incorporates an actuator that can dynamically change the cross-sectional profile of the seal in response to electrical energy. When electrical energy is supplied, the actuator activates and reduces the cross-sectional profile, allowing component movement without interference. When electrical energy is not supplied, the actuator returns to its original state and the seal restores its sealing profile, effectively sealing the interface between vehicle structures.
2Reliability
If the seal maintains a constant sealing profile, then sealing efficiency is high, but interference with component movement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The seal transitions from a static sealing profile to a dynamic one controlled by an actuator. The actuator receives electrical energy to activate, changing the cross-sectional profile of the seal to reduce interference with component movement. When deactivated, the seal returns to its original sealing profile, maintaining effective sealing without requiring constant complex mechanical adjustments.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the seal is made softer to reduce wear, then wear resistance improves, but sealing capability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal uses a softer material for the sealing surface to improve wear resistance and reduce interference with component movement. The actuator compensates for the reduced sealing capability of softer material by dynamically adjusting the cross-sectional profile. When activated, the actuator enhances the sealing profile to maintain effective sealing despite the softer material, and when deactivated, it allows the softer seal to move with components without excessive wear.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables adaptive sealing that minimizes interference during component movement and enhances sealing efficiency by dynamically adjusting to operational states, reducing wear and allowing for more compact and efficient designs.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid chamber can include a dielectric fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An interface between two vehicle structures can be selectively sealed using an active seal. The active seal can include an outer casing and an actuator located within the outer casing. The actuator can include a bladder. The bladder can define a fluid chamber, which can contain a dielectric fluid. The actuator can include a first conductor and a second conductor operatively positioned on opposite portions of the bladder. The actuator can be activated and deactivated by selectively supplying electrical energy to the actuator. When electrical energy is supplied to the actuator, the actuator can have a reduced cross-sectional profile such that the interface is not sealed and movement of the second vehicle structure is not impeded by the seal. When electrical energy is not supplied to the actuator, the actuator can be in a non-activated condition in which the interface is substantially sealed.