Offset Impact Countermeasures
AssigneeKey Safety Systems, Inc.
InventorsBruce A. Kalandek, David R. Arnold, Joseph Massa, Mutaz Shkoukani, Martin Specht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ramp deflector mechanism (50) for attachment to a vehicle frame (20) has a metal housing (52) having a first wall or plate (54), a second wall or plate (56), a hinge (58) and an articulated third wall or plate (60); an inflatable member (70) situated in the housing (52); an inflator (72) operatively connected between the first wall or plate (54) and the inflatable member (70); and wherein the inflation of the inflation member (70) causes the articulated wall (60) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident.
Claims31
A ramp deflector mechanism (50) for attachment to a vehicle frame (20) comprises:
- a metal housing (52) having a first wall or plate (54), a second wall or plate (56), a hinge (58) and an articulated third wall or plate (60);
- an inflatable member (70) situated in the housing (52);
- an inflator (72) operatively connected between the first wall or plate (54) and the inflatable member (70);
- and
- wherein the inflation of the inflation member (70) causes the articulated wall (60) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident.
A ramp deflector mechanism (50) for attachment to a vehicle frame (20) comprises:
- a metal housing (52) having a first wall or plate (54), a hinge (58) and an articulated wall or plate (60), wherein the first wall (54) and the articulated wall (60) are hinged together by hinge (58);
- an inflatable member (70) situated in the housing (52);
- an inflator (72) operatively connected between the first wall or plate (54) and the inflatable member (70);
- and
- wherein the inflation of the inflation member (70) causes the articulated wall (60) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident.
An offset collision steering control arm assembly for attachment to a front wheel (31) and a frame (20) of a vehicle (18) comprises:
- a tie rod (510);
- a steering link (512);
- a steering knuckle or pivot (514) joining the tie rod (510) to the steering link (512);
- and wherein the tie rod (510) includes a fixed cylinder (520) secured to the vehicle frame (20) at a frame rail (22) and an extendable link or piston (524) attached to the steering knuckle or pivot (514).
A diverter mechanism (700) for a vehicle (18) comprises:
- a first rotatable link (702);
- a second rotatable link (704);
- a hinge (706) pivotably joining the links (702) and (704);
- a pyrotechnic actuator 720 connected between a portion of a vehicle (18) and the hinge (706), the pyrotechnic actuator (720) includes a housing or cylinder (724) and a piston (726) movable to an actuated position, actuator (720) includes an ignition mechanism (730) of known variety which generates products of combustion within a housing or cylinder (724) causing outward movement of the piston (726);
- and
- wherein link (704) is hinged to frame (22) at hinge (732) and link (702) is pivotably attached to the bumper at hinge (734), upon impact of the vehicle (18) with barrier or vehicle (32) a signal is generated by a sensor (76) causing the activation of actuator (730), activation of actuator (730) moves the piston (726) outwardly moving the links to their activated positions locking the piston (726) and the links (702, 704) in place in their activated positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.