Connecting device arranged in a motor vehicle and a method for controlling the same
AssigneeAutoliv Development AB
InventorsMartin Östling, Mikael Fermer, Henrik Ljungqvist, Henrik Ebbinger, Henrik Olsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connecting device arranged in a motor vehicle releasably connects a structural member of the vehicle to the vehicle chassis and includes a bolt joint system. The connecting device further includes a pyrotechnical charge and an igniter. The igniter detonates the pyrotechnical charge upon receipt of an ignition signal. The pyrotechnical charge is located near the bolt joint system such that, upon detonation, it destroys the connecting function of the bolt joint system and thereby releases the structural member from the chassis.
Claims24
A connecting device arranged in a motor vehicle for releasably connecting a structural member of the vehicle to the vehicle chassis, the connecting device comprising:
- a bolt joint system no all coupling an end of he structural member to the chassis;
- a pyrotechnical charge;
- and
- an igniter adapted to detonate the pyrotechnic charge when receiving an ignition signal, the pyrotechnical charge being located near the bolt joint system such that it destroys the connecting function of the bolt joint system upon detonation for releasing the structural member from the chassis such that the chassis is completely disengaged from the end of the structural member.
A method for controlling a connecting device arranged in a motor vehicle for releasably connecting a structural member of the vehicle to the vehicle chassis, the connecting device comprising a bolt joint system, the method comprising:
- generating a crash indication signal based on information from at least one crash sensor;
- comparing the crash indication signal to a first pre-determined value;
- and
- detonating a pyrotechnical charge if the value of the crash indication signal is above the first pre-determined value, the pyrotechnical charge being located near the bolt joint system such that it destroys the connecting function of the connecting device upon detonation such that detonating the pyrotechnical charge results in completely disengaging the chassis from the structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.