Offset impact countermeasures
View Patent ↗A ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) for attachment to a vehicle frame ( 20 ) has a metal housing ( 52 ) having a first wall or plate ( 54 ), a second wall or plate ( 56 ), a hinge ( 58 ) and an articulated third wall or plate ( 60 ); an inflatable member ( 70 ) situated in the housing ( 52 ); an inflator ( 72 ) operatively connected between the first wall or plate ( 54 ) and the inflatable member ( 70 ); and wherein the inflation of the inflation member ( 70 ) causes the articulated wall ( 60 ) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident.
1. A ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) for attachment to a vehicle frame ( 20 ) comprises:
a metal housing ( 52 ) having a first wall or plate ( 54 ), a second wall or plate ( 56 ), a hinge ( 58 ) and an articulated third wall or plate ( 60 );
an inflatable member ( 70 ) situated in the housing ( 52 );
an inflator ( 72 ) operatively connected between the first wall or plate ( 54 ) and the inflatable member ( 70 );
a collision sensor ( 76 ), at the inception of a collision the collision sensor ( 76 ) generates a signal to activate the inflator ( 72 ), wherein the collision sensor ( 76 ) is situated in an offset zone of the vehicle ( 18 ) at the left or right of a bumper ( 24 ) offset from a center of the vehicle;
wherein the inflation of the inflation member ( 70 ) causes the articulated wall ( 60 ) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident; and
wherein the deflector mechanism ( 50 ) a center of the vehicle to a rail ( 22 ) of the frame ( 20 ) of a vehicle ( 18 ), the mechanism ( 50 ) when activated aligned in front of a front wheel ( 31 ).
2. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 1 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) further comprises an airbag ( 70 ) or a hose ( 70 ) or a tube ( 70 ).
3. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 2 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is oblong in shape.
4. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 3 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is secured to the first plate ( 54 ).
5. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 4 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is secured in a horizontal orientation.
6. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 4 wherein the inflatable member 70 is secured in a vertical orientation.
7. A ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) for attachment to a vehicle frame ( 20 ) comprises:
a metal housing ( 52 ) having a first wall or plate ( 54 ), a second wall or plate ( 56 ), a hinge ( 58 ) and an articulated third wall or plate ( 60 );
an inflatable member ( 70 ) situated in the housing ( 52 );
an inflator ( 72 ) operatively connected between the first wall or plate ( 54 ) and the inflatable member ( 70 );
a collision sensor ( 76 ), at the inception of a collision the collision sensor ( 76 ) generates a signal to activate the inflator ( 72 ), wherein the collision sensor ( 76 ) is situated in an offset zone of the vehicle ( 18 ) at the left or right of a bumper ( 24 ) offset from a center of the vehicle;
wherein the inflation of the inflation member ( 70 ) causes the articulated wall ( 60 ) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident; and
wherein the deflector mechanism ( 50 ) is secured to a rail ( 22 ) of the frame ( 20 ) of the vehicle ( 18 ) the mechanism ( 50 ) when activated aligned behind a front wheel ( 31 ) to redirect the wheel away from a passenger compartment ( 42 ) of the vehicle ( 18 ).
8. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 7 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) further comprises an airbag ( 70 ) or a hose ( 70 ) or a tube ( 70 ).
9. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 8 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is oblong in shape.
10. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 9 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is secured to the first plate ( 54 ).
11. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 10 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is secured in a horizontal orientation.
12. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 10 wherein the inflatable member ( 70 ) is secured in a vertical orientation.
13. The ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) of claim 7 wherein two deflector mechanisms ( 50 ) are mounted on the rail ( 22 ) of the vehicle frame ( 20 ) of the vehicle ( 18 ), one mechanism ( 50 ) when activated aligned in front of a front wheel ( 31 ) and another one mechanism when activated aligned behind the front wheel ( 31 ).
14. A ramp deflector mechanism ( 50 ) for attachment to a vehicle frame ( 20 ) comprises:
a metal housing ( 52 ) having a first wall or plate ( 54 ), a second wall or plate ( 56 ), a hinge ( 58 ) and an articulated third wall or plate ( 60 );
an inflatable member ( 70 ) situated in the housing ( 52 );
an inflator ( 72 ) operatively connected between the first wall or plate ( 54 ) and the inflatable member ( 70 );
a collision sensor ( 76 ), at the inception of a collision the collision sensor ( 76 ) generates a signal to activate the inflator ( 72 ), wherein the collision sensor ( 76 ) is situated in an offset zone of the vehicle ( 18 ) at the left or right of a bumper ( 24 ) offset from a center of the vehicle;
wherein the inflation of the inflation member ( 70 ) causes the articulated wall ( 60 ) to rotate outwardly to absorb crash energy and slow down the accident; and
wherein two deflector mechanisms ( 50 ) are mounted on the rail ( 22 ) of the vehicle frame ( 20 ) of the vehicle ( 18 ), one mechanism ( 50 ) aligned when activated in front of a front wheel ( 31 ) and one mechanism aligned when activated behind the front wheel ( 31 ).