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US 10,370,092 B2Granted
Vehicle load-limiting suspension apparatus and control methods therefor
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAkif O. Bolukbasi, Timothy R. Gleason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle load-limiting suspension apparatus comprises at least one shear tab for controlling an amount of impact load applied to a vehicle structure when a vehicle impact event occurs. The vehicle load-limiting suspension apparatus further comprises at least one crush tube for limiting the amount of impact load applied to the vehicle structure after the at least one shear tab shears in response to occurrence of the vehicle impact event.
Claims22
A method comprising:
- controlling an amount of impact load applied to a vehicle structure during a vehicle impact event, wherein controlling the amount of impact load applied to the vehicle includes controlling an amount of load applied to at least one support tube;
- and
- limiting the amount of the impact load applied to the vehicle structure while an impact energy of the vehicle impact event is being absorbed, wherein limiting the amount of the impact load applied to the vehicle structure includes crushing at least one crush tube, the at least one crush tube comprising a composite material, wherein one of the at least one support tube and the at least one crush tube is disposed within the other of the at least one support tube and the at least one crush tube,
- wherein the at least one crush tube comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is abutted by a first surface and the second end is abutted by a second surface, and wherein the at least one crush tube is crushed by a displacement of the first surface towards the second surface.
1 more element
A vehicle load-limiting suspension apparatus comprising:
- at least one support tube and at least one shear tab for controlling an amount of impact load applied to a vehicle structure when a vehicle impact event occurs;
- and
- at least one crush tube for limiting the amount of the impact load applied to the vehicle structure after the at least one shear tab shears in response to occurrence of the vehicle impact event, the at least one crush tube comprising a composite material,
- wherein one of the at least one support tube and the at least one crush tube is disposed within the other of the at least one support tube and the at least one crush tube,
- wherein the at least one crush tube comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end is abutted by a first surface and the second end is abutted by a second surface, and wherein the at least one crush tube is crushed by a displacement of the first surface towards the second surface.
2 more elements
A vehicle load-limiting suspension apparatus comprising:
- a suspension element having a first portion connectable to a fixed portion of a vehicle structure and having a second portion connectable to a movable portion of the vehicle structure, wherein the suspension element includes a shear collar and at least two shear tabs;
- a plurality of sensors for detecting an impending vehicle impact event;
- and
- a servomotor rotating the shear collar relative to the at least two shear tabs to vary a lead setting of a load applied between the first portion and the second portion of the suspension element based upon data from the plurality of sensors.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.