U.S. patent application number 11/278017 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for supplemental side impact protection system for automotive vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Manoharprasad K. Rao, Rich Ruthinowski, Sean Ryan.
Application Number | 20070228748 11/278017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38557714 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070228748 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryan; Sean ; et al. |
October 4, 2007 |
SUPPLEMENTAL SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOTIVE
VEHICLE
Abstract
A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive
vehicle includes an external energy management structure having a
first position for normal vehicle operation and a second position
for deployment during an impact event. A mounting system allows
selective positioning of the energy management structure in either
the first or second position, as determined by a controller which
assesses an impact potential of the vehicle and operates the
mounting system to move the energy management structure to the
second, or deployed, position in the event that the assessed impact
potential satisfies a predetermined threshold.
Inventors: |
Ryan; Sean; (Farmington
Hills, MI) ; Ruthinowski; Rich; (Taylor, MI) ;
Rao; Manoharprasad K.; (Novi, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dickinson Wright PLLC
38525 Woodward Avenue
Suite 2000
Bloomfield Hills
MI
48304
US
|
Assignee: |
Ford Global Technologies,
LLC
Dearborn
MI
|
Family ID: |
38557714 |
Appl. No.: |
11/278017 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
293/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 19/38 20130101;
B60R 19/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
293/118 |
International
Class: |
B60R 19/38 20060101
B60R019/38 |
Claims
1. A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive
vehicle, comprising: a. an external energy management structure
having a first position for normal vehicle operation and a second
position for deployment during an impact event; b. a mounting
system for fastening said energy management structure to a vehicle
and for selectively positioning the energy management structure in
either said first position or said second position; and c. a
controller for assessing an impact potential of a vehicle and for
operating said mounting system to move said energy management
structure to said second position in the event that the assessed
impact potential satisfies a predetermined threshold.
2. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said external energy management structure comprises a beam
extending along at least a portion of the exterior of said
vehicle.
3. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting system comprises a gas device having a
pyrotechnic source for moving said energy management structure into
said second position.
4. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting system comprises an electric motor for moving
said energy management structure into said second position.
5. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said energy management structure comprises a running
board.
6. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said energy management structure comprises a step beam
having a first position in which the step beam is lowered and a
second position in which the step beam is raised.
7. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said energy management structure comprises a beam which is
movable generally vertically by said mounting system.
8. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said impact potential threshold comprises predictive
sensing of an impending impact by means of a pre-crash sensor.
9. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said impact potential threshold comprises sensing of
operation of a vehicle in a forward gear.
10. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said controller comprises at least one accelerometer for
detecting an impact directed laterally against a vehicle.
11. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said controller comprises at least a speed sensor for
determining the speed at which a vehicle is being operated and a
gear selector sensor for determining when a vehicle gear selector
has been placed in a travel gear position.
12. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said controller operates not only said energy management
structure mounting system, but also at least one supplemental
restraint device installed in an automotive vehicle.
13. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting system moves said energy management structure
into said second position by rotating the energy management
structure about pivots attached to a body of said vehicle.
14. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting system moves said energy management structure
into said second position by rotating the energy management
structure in a first direction about pivots attached to body
brackets, and by rotating the energy management structure in a
second direction about pivots extending between said body brackets
and the body of said vehicle.
15. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting system moves said energy management structure
into said second position by moving the energy management structure
outboard translationally by extending at least one slide, and by
rotating the energy management structure about pivots extending
between said slide and said energy management structure.
16. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said energy management structure comprises a guard beam
adapted to extend longitudinally along a vehicle, with the guard
beam being mounted upon rollers carried within generally vertically
extending track segments mounted to a vehicle, and with said
mounting system moving said guard beam into said second position by
pulling the energy management structure upwardly along said track
segments.
17. A supplemental impact protection system according to claim 1,
wherein said mounting system comprises a gas-powered device having
a supply of high pressure gas for moving said energy management
structure into said second position.
18. A method for operating a supplemental impact protection system
for an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. sensing at
least one vehicle operating parameter; b. assessing the impact
potential of the vehicle, based upon at least the sensed value of
said operating parameter; and c. deploying an external energy
management structure having a first position for normal vehicle
operation and a second position for deployment during an impact
event, based upon the assessed impact potential of the vehicle.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said external energy
management structure comprises a beam extending along at least a
portion of a vehicle exterior.
20. A method according to claim 18, wherein said vehicle operating
parameter is reduced proximity to another vehicle.
21. A method according to claim 18, wherein said sensing is
accomplished by means of a pre-crash sensor.
22. A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive
vehicle, comprising: a. an external energy management structure
comprising a step beam having a first, lowered position for normal
vehicle operation and a second, raised position for deployment
during an impact event; b. a mounting system for fastening said
energy management structure to a vehicle and using at least one gas
device to rotatably position the energy management structure in
said second position in real time during an impact; and c. a
controller for assessing an impact potential of a vehicle and for
operating said at least one gas device to move said energy
management structure to said second position in the event that the
assessed impact potential satisfies a predetermined threshold.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a supplemental side impact
protection system for an automotive vehicle.
[0002] The presence of bumpers at the opposite ends of conventional
passenger vehicles, coupled with the considerable crush space
afforded by an engine compartment, generally located in the front
of a vehicle, and a luggage compartment, generally located in the
rear, have greatly facilitated the energy management required
during impact events directed to the front and rear portions of
conventional vehicles. At the sides of most vehicles, however, the
crush distances are much less than those typically available for
the front and rear of the vehicle. Moreover, the doors and rocker
panels of most vehicles do not readily lend themselves to
incorporation of the structures typically used for energy
management in the front and rear bumpers of such vehicles.
[0003] The present invention provides supplemental side impact
protection by means of a deployable energy management structure
which is deployed by an electronic system controller according to a
predetermined logic sequence. Although it is known in the art to
have nerf bars which are raised manually to protect the sides of a
vehicle, such bars are neither automatically deployed, nor, for
that matter, are they deployable in real time in response to an
assessment performed in real time either prior to, or during an
impact. The present system solves problems associated with prior
art deployable side safety beams by providing an external energy
management structure which is deployable according to the results
of a risk assessment performed by an onboard controller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive
vehicle includes an external energy management structure having a
first position utilized for normal vehicle operation and a second,
or deployed, position for use during an impact event. A mounting
system fastens the energy management structure to the vehicle and
selectively positions the energy management structure in either the
first position or the second position. A controller assesses the
impact potential of the vehicle and operates the mounting system to
move the energy management structure to the second position in the
event that the assessed impact potential satisfies a predetermined
threshold. An external energy management structure according to the
present invention may comprise a deployable beam extending along at
least a portion of the exterior of the vehicle. Such beam may be
either a running board, or a step bar, or a side guard beam, or
other types of similar devices known to those skilled in the art
and suggested by this disclosure.
[0005] According to another aspect of the present invention, an
external energy management structure according to this invention is
actuated by a mounting system including either a pyrotechnic
device, or an electric motor. These devices move the energy
management structure into its second, or deployed, position.
[0006] According to another aspect of the present invention, an
impact potential threshold may include predictive sensing of an
impact by means of a pre-crash sensor, or sensing of operation of
the vehicle in a forward gear, or operation at a particular ground
speed. A controller for operating the present energy management
structure would typically include one or more accelerometers to
track impact events. Further, the system controller may operate not
only the present energy management structure mounting system, but
also at least one supplemental restraint device installed in a
vehicle.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method for operating a supplemental impact protection system for an
automotive vehicle includes the steps of sensing at least one
vehicle operating parameter, assessing an impact potential of the
vehicle based upon at least the sensed value of the operating
parameter, and deploying an external energy management structure
having a first position for normal vehicle operation and a second
position for deployment during an impact event, based upon the
assessed impact potential of the vehicle. The vehicle operating
parameter sensed by the present system may, for example, be a
measure of reduced proximity to another vehicle, which measurement
may be accomplished by means of a pre-crash sensor.
[0008] It is an advantage of a protection system according to the
present invention that the impact protection of a vehicle may be
enhanced without the need for providing additional structures,
inasmuch as a step bar, running board, or guard beam according to
the present invention may be used for the dual purposes of entering
the vehicle, as well as for providing side impact protection. This
dual purpose also reduces the weight and complexity of the
vehicle.
[0009] It is a further advantage of a system according to the
present invention that the supplemental side impact protection may
be provided in real time through the use of pyrotechnic or
compressed gas devices.
[0010] It is yet a further advantage of a system according to the
present invention that a vehicle may be protected from impacts
resulting not only from roadway collisions, but also from parking
lot impacts.
[0011] Other advantages, as well as objects and features of the
present invention, will become apparent to the reader of this
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pickup truck having a
supplemental impact protection system, shown as a deployable side
step bar, according to one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 1
also shows a bumper of a vehicle moving into strike the illustrated
vehicle.
[0013] FIGS. 2a and 2b are sectional views showing the protective
step bar of FIG. 1 in a normal operating position, and a deployed
position, respectively.
[0014] FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate a deployment sequence for a second
embodiment of a step bar according to the present invention.
[0015] FIGS. 4a-4c illustrate a deployment sequence for a third
embodiment of a step bar according to the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a system according to
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating one method employing a
system according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a second flow chart illustrating a more generic
method of employing a system according to the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a vehicle having yet another
embodiment of a side impact protection system according to the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a frontal elevation of the vehicle shown in FIG.
8.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the
vehicle depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, vehicle 10 has a supplemental impact
protection system, 18, with an external energy management structure
including step beam 22, which has been rotated into a protective
operating position. Beam 22 functions as an external energy
management structure by resisting bending, buckling and twisting
during impact events. FIG. 1 also shows bumper 14 of a striking
vehicle which is moving into position to strike step beam 22,
rather than the doors of vehicle 10.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2a, step beam 22 normally resides below
door 20. Step beam 22 is mounted upon a plurality of body brackets,
23. Each body bracket 23 is rotatably mounted at a hinge point, 26,
to body 28 of vehicle 10. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
in view of this disclosure that body 28 may comprise either a
unitized body, or a body or frame portion of a separate frame and
body vehicle.
[0024] In FIG. 2b, step beam 22 is in its second, or deployed,
position. This may also be termed an elevated position. When placed
in this position, step beam 22 acts as a countermeasure against the
intrusion of a striking object, such as the illustrated bumper 14.
Beam 22 and brackets 23 are rotated about hinge points 26 by means
of a linear motor or pyrotechnic device. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, linear motor 44 uses motor element
39 and lead screw 41 to raise step beam 22 in response to commands
from a controller (FIGS. 5 and 6).
[0025] FIGS. 3a-3c illustrate an embodiment in which a pyrotechnic
device, 30, including a propellant, or gas generator, 32, acts upon
a piston, 36, and through a link, 40, so as to rotate brackets 23
and step beam 22. As an alternative, gas generator 32 may consist
of a container of compressed gas released by a pyrotechnic squib.
In essence, two types of gas devices may be employed in the present
system. With the first, a solid propellant generant may provide the
gas. The second embodiment, as described above, uses a tank of
compressed gas, which is released within milliseconds.
[0026] Pyrotechnic device 30 may be triggered by means of a
controller which is either stand-alone, or is used to control other
impact countermeasure devices such as airbags, seatbelt tensioners,
or an adaptive steering column. A second pyrotechnic device, 31, is
used in the embodiment of FIGS. 3a-3c to rotate step beam 22 in a
direction opposite to the direction of the rotation driven by
pyrotechnic device 30. When rotated to the final position shown in
FIG. 3c, the full structural strength of step beam 22 is available
to assist in the avoidance of intrusion of bumper 14 into door
20.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an alternative construction in which step beam
22, brackets 23, and linear motor 39 are all attached to a slide,
33, which is connected to a second linear motor, 37. In this
embodiment, linear motor 37 first extends slide 33, and then beam
22 is rotated by linear motor 39. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate in view of this disclosure that gas devices, using
either pyrotechnically generated, or compressed gas, could be
substituted for either or both of linear motors 37 and 39.
[0028] In the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10, vehicle 198 has a
supplemental impact protection system wherein the energy management
structure includes a guard beam, 200, adapted to extend
longitudinally along vehicle 198, with guard beam 200 being mounted
upon rollers (not shown) carried within generally vertically
extending track segments 204 mounted to front and rear portions of
vehicle 198. Drive motor 214 and push-pull cable 208, having a
core, 212 and sheath, 210, move guard beam 200 into its second, or
deployed, position by pulling beam 200 upwardly along track
segments 204.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a system of the present
invention, including controller 50, which assesses an impact
potential of vehicle 10 and operates beam mounting system 54,
including either pyrotechnic device 30, or linear motor 44, to
deploy energy management structure 64. Those skilled in the art
will appreciate in view of this disclosure moreover, that not only
step beam 22, or guard beam 200, could be used, but also running
board devices, or yet other energy management devices which are
suitable for moveable mounting to either the sides or ends of an
automotive vehicle.
[0030] Controller 50 assesses the impact potential by means, for
example, of a pre-crash sensor. Such sensors are known to those
skilled in the art and are beyond the scope of this invention. In
any event, if an impact event is sensed, pyrotechnic device 30 will
be activated to as to raise step bar 22 or guard beam 200, to its
raised or deployed position. Controller 50 receives inputs from a
plurality of sensors 56, such as the previously mentioned pre-crash
sensor, as well as from a vehicle gear selector sensor, a vehicle
speed sensor, an ignition switch, and a door switch. Many of
sensors 56 may be either integral with controller 50 or distributed
about vehicle 10. Mounting system 54 shown in FIG. 5 may comprise
not only the illustrated mounting system but also other mounting
systems suitable for practicing the present invention. The energy
management structure, 64, illustrated in FIG. 5 may be embodied not
only as step bar 22, but also as guard beam 200, or yet other
deployable devices. Finally, as shown in FIG. 5 controller 50 may
be used to operate a plurality of countermeasure devices, 60, in
addition to the supplemental impact protection system described
herein.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating deployment of the
present system, with particular reference to linear motor 44
illustrated in FIG. 2. Motor 44 typically would be sized in such a
manner as to provide economy in terms of weight and power
consumption, with a compromise in terms of time response. In other
words, linear motor 44 cannot act with the extremely high speed of
response characterizing pyrotechnic device 30. As a consequence,
the deployment of a system using an electric motor to deploy the
energy management structure is handled differently than a system
using either compressed gas or a pyrotechnic device. Accordingly,
at block 72 of FIG. 6 a question is asked to as to whether the
vehicle's ignition switch is on. If the ignition is on, a question
is asked at block 74 as to whether the vehicle doors are closed. If
the doors are closed, the logic moves to block 76, wherein a
question is asked about whether the transmission is in drive. If
the answer is yes, and if the vehicle's speed is above 5 miles an
hour at block 78, step beam 22 will be deployed at block 80. In
other words, at block 80 the routine has determined that the
vehicle's impact potential has satisfied a predetermined threshold
defined as being in a forward gear at a speed above five miles per
hour. Then, at block 82 the drive sequence logic begins.
Thereafter, if the ignition has been turned off at block 84, or if
a door has been opened at block 86, or if the transmission has been
placed in park at block 88, step beam 22 will be lowered at block
90.
[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates logic for use particularly with
pyrotechnic device 30, including either a compressed gas source or
a solid propellant generant. A compressed gas device will allow
higher pressures within the power cylinder for a longer period of
time inasmuch as heat is not used as one of the drivers for the
generation of pressure within the power cylinder. As shown in FIG.
7, the logic starts at block 100, and then moves block 102, wherein
vehicle operating parameters are sensed. These parameters may, as
noted above, include pre-crash proximity sensing of a closing or
intersecting vehicle. Thus, at block 104 if a value of a sensed
deployment triggering parameter is greater than a predetermined
threshold value, for example, if an impact against the vehicle is
determined to be imminent, the logic moves to block 106, wherein
the energy management structure of the present invention is
deployed. The method ends at block 108, it being understood that in
an impact event there is no need for the system to do anything
further once the energy management structure has been deployed.
[0033] Although the present invention has been described in
connection with particular embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that various modifications, alterations, and adaptations
may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *