Vehicle oil pan with active noise reduction control

摘要

A vibration and noise reduction method and apparatus for a fluid reservoir containing an automotive fluid and having a bottom wall. At least a portion of the fluid reservoir is formed of or carries a shape changing material undergoing shape change at a threshold temperature. A controller detects a match between a vehicle operating vibration frequency at a measured vehicle operating characteristic and the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir and varies the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir by changing the stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir through the supply of heat to the fluid reservoir resulting in a change in the shape of at least the shape changing material in the fluid reservoir. The heat is supplied from an electrical conductor in heat transfer relation with the fluid reservoir or an elevated temperature of the automotive fluid in the fluid reservoir.

主权项

1. A method of reducing noise in a fluid reservoir of an automotive vehicle comprising:
measuring, in an automotive vehicle including a fluid reservoir formed at least in part from a shape changing material that is induced to change shape in response to stimulation, a vehicle operating characteristic; and if the measured vehicle operating characteristic indicates a vehicle operating vibration frequency matching a resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir, stimulating the shape changing material to induce it to change shape, and thereby altering the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir away from the vehicle operating vibration frequency.