Safety apparatus for pivotably coupled vehicles
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorDaniel R. Sutherland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A safety device (30) is actuatable to uncouple a first vehicle (10) from a second vehicle (12) to which the first vehicle (10) is coupled by a pivotable joint. An actuating apparatus (70, 72) senses and responds to a specified vehicle crash condition by actuating the safety device (30). Preferably, an additional safety device (32) is actuatable to roll the vehicles (10, 12) relative to one another. The actuating apparatus (70, 72) further responds to the specified vehicle crash condition by actuating the additional safety device (32).
Claims16
Apparatus comprising:
- a first safety device which is actuatable to uncouple a first vehicle from a second vehicle to which the first vehicle is coupled by a pivotable joint;
- a second safety device which is actuatable to roll the vehicles relative to one another;
- and
- an actuating apparatus which is operative to sense rolling of at least one of the vehicles and to respond to said rolling by actuating said safety devices.
Apparatus comprising:
- a safety device which is actuatable to uncouple a first vehicle from a second vehicle to which the first vehicle is coupled by a pivotable joint, said safety device having a pyrotechnic source of energy for uncoupling the vehicles from one another;
- and
- an actuating apparatus which is operative to sense and respond to a specified vehicle crash condition by actuating said safety device.
Apparatus comprising:
- a safety device which is actuatable to uncouple a first vehicle from a second vehicle, the safety device including a king pin which is fastened to the second vehicle and which interlocks with a portion of the first vehicle when the vehicles are coupled to one another;
- and
- an actuating apparatus which is operative to sense and respond to a specified vehicle crash condition by actuating said safety device, when actuated said safety device unfastening the king pin from the second vehicle causing the second vehicle to become fully separated from the first vehicle.
Apparatus comprising:
- a safety device having a linear actuator which interconnects a first vehicle and a second vehicle, the linear actuator connecting to the second vehicle in a location laterally offset from a longitudinal centerline, and
- an actuating apparatus which is operative to sense and respond to a specified vehicle crash condition by actuating said linear actuator, when actuated the linear actuator either contracting or extending to cause the second vehicle to roll relative to the first vehicle about the longitudinal centerline, the linear actuator disconnecting from the second vehicle after the second vehicle begins to roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.