Energy absorbing shield and system for small urban vehicles
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorAlan G. Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One variation includes a product including actuator system including an actuator connected to a shield; a control module for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the actuator may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position.
Claims18
A product comprising a shield, an actuator system including an actuator connected to the shield;
- a control system for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the shield may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position and the shield may be moved from the second position to the first position, wherein the control system comprises a controller or electronic control module constructed and arranged to provide an output signal to the actuator.
A product comprising a shield, an actuator system including an actuator connected to the shield;
- a control system for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the shield may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position and the shield may be moved from the second position to the first position, and further comprising a gas source connected to the actuator to deliver a flow of gas to actuate the actuator and move the shield from the first position to the second position.
A product comprising a shield, an actuator system including an actuator connected to the shield;
- a control system for selectively actuating or deploying the actuator wherein the shield may be moved from a first position to a second position in which the shield is extended a distance away from the first position and the shield may be moved from the second position to the first position, and wherein the actuator includes a piston received in a piston housing, the piston housing having a first gas chamber for receiving a flow of gas therein applying a force against the piston to move the shield from the first position to the second position.
A method comprising providing a first vehicle having an actuator connected to one or a bumper, runner or body panel, and a controller operative connected to the actuator to actuate the same, a sensor connected to the controller for sensing distance another vehicle is from the first vehicle and providing input to the controller, the controller being constructed and arranged to calculate a likelihood of a collision with another vehicle based on input from the sensor, the controller being constructed and arranged to actuate the actuator upon calculation of a high likelihood of a collision, actuating the actuator upon calculation of a high likelihood of a collision, and retracting the actuator if a collision does not occur.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.