Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Seats with body modifications
Patent
1997-04-03
1999-09-07
Pedder, Dennis H.
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Seats with body modifications
29621618, 29621619, B60N 242
Patent
active
059475439
ABSTRACT:
An improved system for passenger safety in a front-end vehicle collision, whereby the kinetic energy of a passenger may be reduced before the passenger is exposed to the crash deceleration. An electrical sensor mounted at the extreme front end of the vehicle senses the onset of a front-end collision and sends a crash signal to the passenger compartment. Preferably, the sensor is a normally-closed momentum-activatable switch. A passenger seat is mounted on translating means permitting rearward motion and has a harness to secure a passenger to the seat. The seat is held in place by a shearable pin. Beneath the seat, attached between the floor of the vehicle and the frame of the seat, is a linear actuator powered by an explosive charge which is ignitable electrically in response to the crash signal. Upon firing of the actuator, a guillotine edge on the seat frame shears the pin, and the seat and passenger are thrust rapidly rearward so that the passenger is travelling rearward with respect to the vehicle and more slowly forward with respect to the ground. Thus, the kinetic energy of the passenger is reduced and the intensity of his deceleration from the crash pulse is minimized. The seat back and cushion may be hinged for rotation backwards on the seat frame. A second explosive actuator causes rotation about the hinge coincident with the rearward translation of the frame. Rotation of the seat can orient the passenger more favorably to withstand the remaining shock of the crash pulse.
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Brown R. C.
Lukacher M.
Pedder Dennis H.
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