Inventors:
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Kenneth A. Strom - Washington MI, US
Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
Jonathan E. Luntz - Ann Arbor MI, US
John Redmond - Ann Arbor MI, US
Brian M. Barnes - Ypsilanti MI, US
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/34
B62D 25/12
Abstract:
A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.