# US 11,993,128 B2 · Apparatus for absorbing shock and control method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,128 B2 - Document ID: US11993128B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/839,020 - Filed: 2022-06-13 - Published: 2023-06-08 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-02 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Inventors: Jong Won Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993128B2 ## CPC - B60H 1/00271: {HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit} - B60H 1/00564: {of air ducts} - B60H 1/00592: {Add-on devices, e.g. heat/cooling boxes, compartment dividers, upgrade sets} - B64D 9/00: Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like - B64D 13/08: the air being heated or cooled - B64D 47/00: Equipment not otherwise provided for - B64U 10/13: Flying platforms - F25B 41/20: Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves (expansion valves F25B41/31) - F25B 45/00: Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant - F25B 49/005: {of safety devices (F25B49/02 and F25B49/04 take precedence)} - B60H 2001/003: {Component temperature regulation using an air flow} - B64D 2013/0625: {comprising means for distribution effusion of conditioned air in the cabin} - B64D 2013/0674: {comprising liquid subsystems} - B64D 2201/00: Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use - B64U 2101/60: for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons - F25B 2400/16: Receivers - F25B 2600/2507: Flow-diverting valves - F25B 2600/2513: Expansion valves - F25B 2700/2104: of an indoor room or compartment - B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64U: UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS ## Abstract An apparatus is provided for absorbing shocks and a control method capable of protecting cargo from shocks without a separate additional system in a cargo hold of a moving object. The apparatus for absorbing shocks includes at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object, an air conditioner module installed on the moving object, and a supply pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the inflatable member and providing a refrigerant of the air conditioner module to the inflatable member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for absorbing shocks, the apparatus comprising: at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object; an air conditioner module installed in the moving object having a refrigerant; and a supply pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member and providing the refrigerant of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member; wherein the air conditioner module includes a refrigerant line circulating the refrigerant; wherein the supply pipe is connected to the refrigerant line via a first valve member; and wherein the first valve member is a three-way valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflatable member is installed in a cargo hold in the moving object and is configured to be interposed in at least one of between a wall portion of the cargo hold and a cargo, between a ceiling of the cargo hold and a cargo, or between cargoes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor installed in the moving object to detect a temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air conditioner module further includes: a case fixed to the moving object and having an air flow path; an evaporator installed in the air flow path in the case to heat-exchange air passing therethrough with the refrigerant flowing within the evaporator; a compressor applying pressure to the refrigerant introduced after heat-exchange in the evaporator; a condenser condensing the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; and an expansion valve depressurizing and expanding the refrigerant passing through the condenser. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the air conditioner module includes a refrigerant tank storing at least a portion of the refrigerant in a liquid state passing through the condenser. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first valve member is disposed between the expansion valve and the evaporator in the refrigerant line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first valve member is disposed between the compressor and the condenser in the refrigerant line. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A control method of the apparatus for absorbing shocks according to claim 1, the control method comprising: determining whether a predetermined situation of the moving object has occurred; and supplying at least a portion of the refrigerant in a refrigerant line of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member installed in the moving object to inflate the at least one inflatable member, when the predetermined situation has occurred; wherein, in the determining of whether the predetermined situation has occurred, a controller installed in the moving object is configured to determine whether the predetermined situation has occurred based on at least one of a failure signal, a fall signal, and a signal received from an input unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The control method of claim 8, further comprising storing a liquid refrigerant in a refrigerant tank of the air conditioner module at a predetermined pressure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The control method of claim 8, further comprising: when the controller has determined that the predetermined situation does not occur, blocking a flow path adjacent to the supply pipe connected to the refrigerant line of the air conditioner module; and operating a cooling cycle of the air conditioner module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The control method of claim 8, further comprising: when the controller has determined that the predetermined situation has occurred, determining by the controller whether it is necessary to control temperature inside the moving object; when the controller has determined that temperature control is not required, blocking a portion of the refrigerant line and opening a flow path adjacent to the supply pipe connected to the refrigerant line; and when the controller has determined that temperature control is required, communicating the refrigerant line and the flow path adjacent to the supply pipe with each other. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A control method of the apparatus for absorbing shocks according to claim 1, the control method comprising: operating a cooling cycle of the air conditioner module in the moving object; and supplying at least a portion of the refrigerant in a refrigerant line of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member installed in the moving object to inflate the at least one inflatable member; determining by a controller whether a pressure of the refrigerant in the at least one inflatable member is equal to or greater than a target pressure; and when the pressure of the refrigerant in the at least one inflatable member is less than the target pressure, increasing a flow rate of the refrigerant to the supply pipe until the pressure of the refrigerant the at least one inflatable member reaches the target pressure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The control method of claim 12, further comprising: when the pressure of the refrigerant in the at least one inflatable member is equal to or greater than the target pressure, blocking the flow path to the supply pipe. ### Claim 14 An apparatus for absorbing shocks, the apparatus comprising: at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object; an air conditioner module installed in the moving object having a refrigerant; a supply pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member and providing the refrigerant of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member; and a recovery pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member to recover the refrigerant of the at least one inflatable member to the air conditioner module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the air conditioner module includes: a case fixed to the moving object and having an air flow path; an evaporator installed in the air flow path in the case to heat-exchange air passing therethrough with the refrigerant flowing within the evaporator; a compressor applying pressure to the refrigerant introduced after heat exchange in the evaporator; a condenser condensing the refrigerant co pressed by the compressor; an expansion valve depressurizing and expanding the refrigerant passing through the condenser; and a refrigerant line circulating the refrigerant; wherein the supply pipe is connected to the refrigerant line via a first valve member; and wherein one end portion of the recovery pipe is connected to an outlet of the at least one inflatable member, and an-other end portion of the recovery pipe is connected between the evaporator and the compressor in the refrigerant line. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a second valve member is provided in the recovery pipe, and the refrigerant is recovered from the at least one inflatable member through an operation of the second valve member and an operation of the compressor. ### Claim 17 An apparatus for absorbing shocks, the apparatus comprising: at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object; an air conditioner module installed in the moving object having a refrigerant; a supply pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member and providing the refrigerant of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member; and a controller installed in the moving object configured to selectively control the operation of the first valve member together with the operation of the expansion valve; wherein the air conditioner module includes a refrigerant line circulating the refrigerant; and wherein the supply line is connected to the refrigerant line via a first valve member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the controller is electrically connected to a pressure sensor of the at least one inflatable member, and is configured to adjust an opening amount of a port adjacent to the supply pipe with the first valve member by controlling an operation of the first valve member until pressure of the refrigerant in the at least one inflatable member detected by the pressure sensor reaches a target pressure.