Sub-frame detachment through exploding bolts
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMohammed Omar Faruque, Srinivasan Sundararajan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sub-frame in a vehicle includes a sensor, which is configured to sense an occurrence of a vehicular crash. By being connected to the sensor, a controller is adapted to receive a signal from the sensor. The controller further functions to process the signal and provide an output to at least one fastener, the fastener configured to fasten the sub-frame to the vehicle's underbody. The fastener includes at least one chamber filled with an explosive charge, where the explosive charge is configured to explode and detach the sub-frame from the vehicle's underbody, upon receiving the output.
Claims19
A sub-frame in a vehicle comprising:
- a sensor, configured to sense an occurrence of a vehicular crash;
- and
- a controller, connected to the sensor, the controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor, process the signal, and provide an output to at least one fastener, the fastener configured to fasten the sub-frame to an underbody of the vehicle, the fastener comprising:
- an elongated structural member, the structural member having two ends, and at least one chamber therein about midway between the two ends and filled with an explosive charge, the explosive charge configured to explode and detach the sub-frame from the underbody upon receiving the output.
A system of improving a crash pulse in a vehicle during a crash, the system comprising:
- a crash sensor, configured to sense the crash pulse in the vehicle;
- a controller, connected to the crash sensor, the controller configured to receive a crash signal from the crash sensor, process the crash signal through an algorithm installed within a memory in the controller, and provide an output to at least one fastener, the fastener configured to fasten a sub-frame to an underbody of the vehicle, the fastener comprising:
- an elongated structural member, the structural member having two ends, and at least one chamber therein about midway between the two ends, and filled with an explosive charge, the explosive charge configured to explode and detach the sub-frame from the underbody upon receiving the output.
A method of improving a crash pulse in a vehicle during a crash, the method comprising:
- sensing the crash pulse through a sensor;
- transmitting a crash signal, obtained through the sensor, to a controller, the controller including an algorithm;
- processing the crash signal within the controller, through the algorithm, and providing an output;
- transmitting the output obtained from the controller to a fastener, the fastener having two ends configured to fasten a sub-frame to an underbody of the vehicle through either of the two ends;
- exploding the fastener by providing the output to an explosive charge, the explosive charge configured to be stored within a chamber about midway between the two ends of the fastener;
- and
- detaching the sub-frame from the underbody.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.