Apparatus for automatic release of passenger protection devices

Details Apparatus for automatic release of passenger protection devices Apparatus for automatic release of passenger protection devices

1987-11-06

1988-11-15

Rice, Kenneth R.

Motor vehicles

With belt or harness for restraining occupant, and means...

73488, 73493, 73505, 73510, 73511, 73514, 73530, 73535, B60R 2100, G01C 912, G01C 914, G01P 1503

Patent

active

047842377

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on an apparatus for the automatic release of passenger protection devices in motor vehicles in the event of an accident.
It is known for a body serving as a seismic mass to be suspended elastically outside the center of mass, so that this spring/mass system has a resonant frequency that is above the measuring range. The deflection of the mass is a standard for the translational accelerations that occur. Accordingly, the passenger protection device in motor vehicles can be activated with the aid an evaluation circuit.
It is also known for a body serving as a seismic mass to be suspended elastically at the center of mass, so that this spring/mass system has a resonant frequency that is above the measuring range. The deflection of the mass is a standard for the incident angular acceleration.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus according to the invention unites the properties of the above two described sensors in one simple apparatus. Both measurement signals, previously obtained separately, can be generated with a single apparatus. With the aid of this sensor signal, after suitable filtering, both the position and the angular velocity can be determined. By evaluating these variables, a driving situation that leads to the overturning of a motor vehicle can be recognized. As a result, it is possible to trigger all the necessary safety provisions, for instance extending a roll bar, in good time. It is also possible to activate additional safety devices in chronological succession. The apparatus is simple and sturdy in structure and is suitable for mass production in motor vehicles. The measurement signal can be obtained simply and accurately by contact-free distance measurement. It is additionally possible to detect the longitudinal acceleration that occurs, for instance in an accident involving a crash.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and described in further detail in the ensuing description.
FIG. 1 shows a basic design of the apparatus;
FIGS. 2-3a each show one structural embodiment of the apparatus in a perspective view;
FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram of the evaluation circuit for releasing a roll bar;
and FIG. 5 is a diagram that shows the course of the release threshold as a function of the angular velocity and the tipping angle of the motor vehicle.


DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In release apparatuses for passenger protection devices, such as roll bars, it is necessary to determine the positional angle of the vehicle with respect to the apparent vertical and the angular velocity about its longitudinal and transverse axis. For reasons of cost, both measurement variables should be furnished by only a single sensor and then re-separated from one another by means of an electronic circuit.
In FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of such a sensor is shown. It comprises a body serving as a seismic mass 10, which is elastically anchored in the anchorage 12 outside the center of mass 11. The mass 10 and the anchorage 12 are selected such that the torque resulting from the mass moment of inertia of the mass with respect to the anchorage, in combination with the maximum angular acceleration to be measured, is of the same order of magnitude as the torque in a positional change of 90.degree. caused by the portion of the mass located outside the anchorage 12. Both in angular acceleration and in a position deviating from the apparent vertical, the seismic mass 10 causes a torque in the anchorage 12 that can be measured, for instance by optical or electrical means.
A first exemplary embodiment for this purpose is shown in FIG. 2. An apparatus 15 can be installed in motor vehicles with the aid of a base plate 16. The supports 17, 18 of a suspension means in which a torsion bar 19 is secured are disposed on the base plate 16. Suspended on the torsion bar 19 in a direction at right angles to the axis of the torsion bar 19 is a disk 20, which serves as a seismic mass for the apparatus 15

REFERENCES:
patent: 3038344 (1962-06-01), Statham
patent: 3240510 (1966-03-01), Spouce
patent: 4189022 (1980-02-01), Lazich et al.
patent: 4541504 (1985-09-01), Lassche

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Apparatus for automatic release of passenger protection devices does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Apparatus for automatic release of passenger protection devices , we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for automatic release of passenger protection devices will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1098565