DE10147970A1 - Actuating device for a safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

An actuating device (12) for a safety device (10) in a vehicle is characterized in that the actuating device has a pneumatic muscle (30) as a drive and a pyrotechnic gas generator (34) for feeding the pneumatic muscle.

Description

The invention relates to an actuating device for a Safety device in a vehicle and an assembly consisting of a Safety device and such an actuator.

Actuators of this type have hitherto generally been considered as compressed gas-operated piston-cylinder units or electric drives executed. Piston-cylinder drives are inflexible and mostly bulky because of them must have a straight running path for the piston. An important The prerequisite for use for a safety device is the response time, d. H. how quickly can the actuating device reach the protective device activate that the protective effect occurs. The inertia is more moved Parts against. This obstacle is often attempted by over-dimensioning to compensate for the drive, thereby reducing the space and weight of the Actuator are increased.

The invention provides an actuator with a small footprint, which can be flexibly accommodated in the vehicle and a very short one Has response time.

This object is achieved by an actuating device at the beginning mentioned type that a pneumatic muscle as a drive and a pyrotechnic gas generator for feeding the pneumatic muscle.

A pneumatic muscle becomes a fluid-powered one Actuator understood, such as in the DE 195 31 097 A1 is described. The pneumatic muscle consists of one Hose body, which is surrounded by a shell with a net-like structure. When pressure is applied to the tube body, this is radial Expansion resulting in a network structure of the shell Length contraction of the muscle leads. An actuator with one Such a pneumatic muscle can react very quickly when triggered because in contrast to a piston-cylinder drive, no piston mass accelerates must become. Since the pyrotechnic gas generator is a fraction of a second can develop sufficient gas at the required pressure Safety device activated very quickly by the actuating device be so that in the event of an accident the protective effect is timely and effective can be unfolded. In addition, the pneumatic muscle is flexible so that the Actuator in the vehicle can be bent during assembly and thus also attached to hard-to-reach places and also curved can be relocated.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the Dependent claims.

The invention is described below on the basis of preferred embodiments described in detail. Reference is made to the attached Drawings in which:

FIG. 1a to 1e is a schematic cross section through a first embodiment of an assembly according to the invention in respectively successive stages of an activation process;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-section through a vehicle with an assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention the non-activated condition of the assembly.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross section through the vehicle of Figure 2 in the activated condition of the assembly.

Figure 4 is a schematic cross-section through a vehicle with an assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention the non-activated condition of the assembly.

Figure 5 is a schematic cross section through the vehicle of Figure 4 in the activated state of the assembly..;

Figure 6 is a schematic cross section through an assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention the non-activated condition of the assembly.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section through the assembly from FIG. 6 in the activated state of the assembly;

Fig. 8 is a schematic cross section through an assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention in the non-activated state of the assembly;

Figure 9 is a schematic cross-section through the assembly of Figure 8 in the activated state of the assembly..;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross section through an assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention in the non-activated state of the assembly;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross section through the assembly from FIG. 10 in the activated state of the assembly;

Figure 12 is a schematic cross section through an assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the invention the non-activated condition of the assembly.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-section through the assembly of Figure 12 in the activated state of the assembly.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a vehicle having an assembly according to a seventh embodiment in the activated state;

Figure 15 is a schematic view of the assembly according to the seventh embodiment in the non-activated state.

. Figure 16 shows the assembly of Figure 15 in the activated state.

Fig. The pneumatic muscle used in the seventh embodiment 17 in a schematic plan view of a detail;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a variant of the seventh embodiment;

Fig. 19 according to a schematic view of an assembly of an eighth embodiment in the non-activated state; and

Fig. 20, the assembly of FIG. 19 in the activated state.

In Figs. 1a to 1e, an assembly according to the invention with a safety device 10 and an actuator 12 is shown in successive phases of the activation of the safety device 10. The assembly is installed in an instrument panel 14 of a vehicle. In the figures, the contours of the upper body of a vehicle occupant 16 are shown schematically, who is bent over toward the instrument panel 14 . In the embodiment shown, the safety device 10 consists of a gas bag module with a folded gas bag 22 and a main gas generator 24 , which are accommodated in a housing 26 . The housing 26 has an opening which faces the vehicle occupant 16 and is closed by a cover flap 28 . The cover flap 28 can be designed in various ways, for example as integrated in the illustrations in the instrument panel 14 , mounted as a separate cover on the instrument panel or as part of the housing 26 .

The actuating device 12 has a pneumatic muscle 30 , which can be fastened at one end to the cover flap 28 and at the other end, for example, to a frame support 32 of the vehicle or to the housing 26 of the gas bag module. A secondary gas generator 34 is advantageously arranged in the vicinity of the pneumatic muscle 30 and is in flow connection with it.

To activate the safety device, the secondary gas generator 34 is first ignited, which generates a gas volume in the shortest possible time, which reaches the pneumatic muscle 30 and causes a longitudinal contraction in the latter. Due to the longitudinal contraction of the pneumatic muscle 30 , the cover flap 28 is pulled into the interior of the instrument panel 14 ( FIGS. 1b to 1e), thereby opening the opening of the housing 26 .

The main gas generator 24 can then be ignited to inflate the gas bag 22 . Since the opening of the housing 26 is now free, a smaller amount of gas is required to inflate the airbag 22 than in comparable airbag modules, in which a cover flap has to be opened by the pressure of the deploying airbag. As a result, the main gas generator 24 can be made significantly smaller and lighter.

A second embodiment of the assembly according to the invention can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. A load 114 , which is secured with a tension belt 116 , is located on a schematically illustrated truck 110 with a loading surface 112 . The two ends of the tension belt 116 are fastened to the underside of the loading surface 112 and are each guided through one of two eyes 118 of a tensioning device. The two eyelets 118 are displaceable parallel to the plane of the loading surface 112 for tensioning the tensioning belt 116 . The tensioning device can be operated by an actuating device 122 comprising a pneumatic muscle 130 and a pyrotechnic gas generator 132 . For this purpose, the ends of the pneumatic muscle 130 are each connected to one of the eyes 118 . To trigger the tensioning device, the pneumatic muscle 130 is pressurized so that it contracts in a known manner and thereby moves the eyelets 118 towards one another, so that the tensioning belt 116 is tensioned.

An additional mechanical lock can prevent the tensioning device from loosening again after the pressure in the pneumatic muscle 130 has been reduced.

The tensioning device can be triggered, for example, by a sensor in the event of accidents or emergency braking. In this way, the load 114 can be prevented from slipping on the loading surface 112 .

But it can also be provided that the clamping device automatically or to be actuated by manual triggering after the charging process has ended. this has the advantage that less force is used when securing the load manually must become. Will the pending in the pneumatic muscle during the clamping process Pressure measured, the measured pressure value can be used as a criterion whether the cargo is adequately secured.

As a rule, any compressed air generator of the vehicle can also be used as the pressure source for the pneumatic muscle, while the gas generator 132 is ignited only in the event of accidents or emergency braking.

The safety device described is suitable for example for Trucks and trailers, but also for railway vehicles.

Another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. In a schematically illustrated vehicle 210 , for example a station wagon with a loading area behind the seats, a holding net 220 is arranged between a passenger compartment 212 , which is illustrated in the figures by the headrests indicated, and the loading area, which, when not in use, on the vehicle roof 224 , for example hidden under the headlining. The holding net 220 is connected to an actuating device 222 , which consists of two pneumatic muscles 230 , which are fed from a common or separate gas generators (not shown). Each of the pneumatic muscles 230 is attached to the vehicle body at one end. At the other end, the pneumatic muscles 230 can exert a pulling force on the holding net 220 via a pulling device, for example a pulling rope 232 . When the actuating device 222 is triggered, the pneumatic muscles 230 experience a longitudinal contraction through compressed gas from the gas generator ( FIG. 5). As a result, the holding net 220 is pulled down from the vehicle roof and stretched out of its unused state by the pull cables 232 so that it separates the loading space from the passenger compartment 212 and thus prevents cargo from slipping out of the loading space.

As a variant, the holding net 220 can be stretched between the passenger compartment 212 and the loading space before the actuation device is triggered, so that it is tightened when the actuation device 222 is triggered in order to increase the protective action against slipping cargo.

A further embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 relates to an assembly with a seat belt 310 and an actuating device 312 for tightening a seat belt 310 . The seat belt 310 is a so-called three-point belt, i.e. it is fastened in the attached state at three fastening points in the vehicle, namely via a belt retractor 314 , for example on the B-pillar 315 of the vehicle frame, via an end fitting 316 on one side of a vehicle seat 318 and by means of a belt buckle 320 on the opposite side of the vehicle seat 318 . The seat belt 310 is divided into a shoulder belt section 322 and a lap belt section 324 by the fastening point on the belt buckle 320 . The end fitting 316 and the belt buckle 320 are each connected to an actuating device 312 for tightening the seat belt by a traction means, for example a wire cable 326 or a belt strap which is guided over deflection rollers 328 . Instead of the end fitting 316 , provision can also be made to guide the end of the seat belt 310 over the deflection roller 328 to the actuating device 312 . The actuator 312 consists of a pneumatic muscle 330 , which is fed by a pyrotechnic gas generator (not shown). Advantageously, the traction means under the seat is still stabilized by guides 332 in order to avoid sagging or swinging.

To carry out a tightening process ( FIG. 6), the actuating device 312 is triggered by the pneumatic muscle 330 being filled with compressed gas by the gas generator. The pneumatic muscle 330 thereby experiences a longitudinal contraction and exerts a tensile force F _z both on the end fitting 316 and on the belt buckle 320 via the traction means. This automatically adjusts the tensile forces F _g in the seat belt 310 , so that any belt slack that may be present is evenly removed from both the lap belt section 324 and the shoulder belt section 322 of the seat belt 310 .

Alternatively, the retractor 314 and the end fitting 316 can also be connected to an actuating device via traction means, in particular when these two fastening points are arranged spatially close to one another.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 in the form of an assembly with a foot protection device 410 as a safety device. The foot protection device 410 is arranged in the footwell of a vehicle and comprises a footrest 412 which is coupled to an actuation device 414 . The foot 416 of a vehicle occupant is shown schematically to illustrate the mode of operation of the foot protection device 410 . The footrest 412 consists of a double vehicle floor with a rigid outer floor part 418 and a displaceable inner floor part 420 , which are connected to one another by connecting levers 422 . The outer bottom part 418 is angled upward at its end lying in the direction of travel and merges into a splash guard wall 424 . The inner bottom part lies on the side of the outer bottom part 418 facing the foot 416 . In the embodiment shown, the connecting levers 422 are formed as punched-out portions from the inner base part 420 , their free end facing the actuating device 414 and being fastened to the outer base part 418 .

The actuator 414 has a pneumatic muscle 430 and a pull lever 432 that connects a front end of the pneumatic muscle 430 to the inner bottom portion 420 . The rear end of the pneumatic muscle 430 is attached to the vehicle, for example on the vehicle floor or on a frame part of the vehicle body. The pneumatic muscle 430 is in flow communication with a pyrotechnic gas generator 434 , which can feed the pneumatic muscle 430 with compressed gas.

When the foot protection device ( FIG. 9) is triggered, the pyrotechnic gas generator 434 is ignited and supplies the pneumatic muscle 30 with compressed gas, as a result of which the longitudinal muscle contracts by expanding its cross section. As a result of this longitudinal contraction, the pneumatic muscle 430 exerts a pulling force on the inner base part 420 via the pull lever 432 , so that this is shifted towards the actuating device 414 (to the right in the figures). During this displacement, the connecting levers 422 determine the path of movement of the inner floor part 420 , whereby the inner floor part 420 simultaneously moves away from the outer floor part 418 and thus provides the foot 416 of the vehicle occupant, which can rest on the inner floor part 420 , a greater distance from the vehicle floor , In this way, a crumple zone is created between the vehicle floor and the foot 416 .

In Figs. 10 to 13 two further variants of the assembly according to the invention are shown with a foot guard. In this variant, the inner and outer base parts are designed as hard foam plates, the contact surfaces of the two base parts each having a congruent rib structure, so that in cross section there is a corrugated profile ( FIGS. 10 and 11) or a sawtooth profile ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ) results. This has the consequence that when the inner floor part 420 'is displaced relative to the outer floor part 418 ' transversely to the longitudinal extension of the ribs, the two floor parts move away from one another and the foot contact surface is thus removed from the vehicle floor.

In Figs. 14 to 16, a seventh assembly of a safety device for a vehicle is shown. This assembly is an actuation device 500 for an engine hood 502 of a vehicle shown schematically in FIG. 14. The actuating device has a pneumatic muscle 530 , the end of which is not shown, is fixedly attached to the vehicle and the other end is provided with a hose head 531 . A plurality of gas generators 532 are arranged in the hose head 531 and can be ignited in order to conduct compressed gas into the interior of the pneumatic muscle 530 .

The hose head 531 is connected via a tension member 534 to a knee joint 536 , which is articulated on one side of the vehicle and articulated on the hood 502 on the other side. A support member 538 is also provided on the hood. When the pneumatic muscle 530 shortens, the bonnet 502 is transferred by the knee joint 536 from the initial position shown in FIG. 15 to the set-up position shown in FIG. 16. In this way, a larger deformation path can be provided in the event of a collision with pedestrians or cyclists. The bonnet can be set up, for example, after a contact measurement in the front section.

The installation of the bonnet should be reversible. After activation of the actuating device 500 , the bonnet can be pressed down again so that it reaches its starting position. Since a plurality of gas generators 532 are provided, of which only one is fired in the event of actuation, the actuation device is still ready for operation after activation. It is only necessary to replace the used gas generator at the next opportunity. This can be done with little effort without replacing the entire pneumatic muscle.

FIG. 18 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of the actuation device 500 , in which a toggle lever 540 is used, which is slidably guided on the bonnet 502 at one end. By pivoting the toggle lever 540 , the bonnet 502 can be transferred from its starting position to the set-up position.

In Figs. 19 and 20, an eighth embodiment is shown. This embodiment is a bumper 600 , which can be moved by means of an actuating device from the rest position shown in FIG. 19 to the activated position shown in FIG. 20, in which it is extended by a distance A from the rest position. To adjust the bumper 600 , an actuating device 622 is used, which uses a pneumatic muscle 630 and two knee joints 636 , as are known from FIG. 15. Each knee joint is fixed to the vehicle at one end and to the bumper 600 at the other end, with a pulling member 634 engaging in the middle, which is connected to the pneumatic muscle 630 .

By activating the pneumatic muscle 630 , the distance between the two opposing knee joints 636 is shortened so that the bumper is moved into the position shown in FIG. 20. This enables early contact with an opponent of the accident. The actuating device can be designed so that it can absorb as large a portion of the crash energy as possible through deformation. This reduces damage to the other load-bearing parts of the vehicle and at the same time leads to a reduction in the vehicle's momentum. If there is only a small collision, e.g. B. contact with a post or with a vehicle at low speed, the device can be designed so that the energy-absorbing parts of the device are easy to replace. This reduces the repair costs. Furthermore, the pneumatic muscle can be designed so that it automatically retracts into the starting position after a minor accident due to the cooling of the propellant gases provided by the gas generator. Alternatively, the actuating device can be designed such that the bumper can be pushed back into the starting position by the driver.

Claims (8)

1. Actuating device ( 12 ; 222 ; 312 ; 414 ; 500 ; 622 ) for a safety device ( 10 ) in a vehicle, characterized in that the actuating device is a pneumatic muscle ( 30 ; 130 ; 230 ; 330 ; 430 ; 530 ; 630 ) as a drive and a pyrotechnic gas generator ( 34 ; 132 ; 434 ; 534 ) for feeding the pneumatic muscle. 2. An assembly consisting of a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device has a vehicle occupant restraint system with a housing ( 26 ) and a cover flap ( 28 ) which can be opened by the actuating device ( 12 ). 3. An assembly consisting of a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device comprises a tension belt ( 116 ) for fastening a load ( 114 ) on a loading surface ( 112 ) of the vehicle ( 110 ) and one of the actuating device ( 122 ) to be operated tensioning device ( 118 ) for tensioning the tension belt. 4. An assembly consisting of a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device has a holding net ( 220 ) which is arranged between the loading space of the vehicle and the passenger compartment, the holding net being spanned by the actuating device ( 222 ) can to separate the cargo hold from the passenger compartment. 5. An assembly comprising a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device has a seat belt ( 310 ) which is fastened in the vehicle at three fastening points ( 314 , 316 , 320 ) in the vehicle, the actuating device ( 312 ) on two of the attachment points to tighten the seat belt in the event of a restraint. 6. An assembly consisting of a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device has a foot protection device ( 410 ) for protecting the feet ( 416 ) of a vehicle occupant, with a footrest ( 412 ) which is connected to the actuation device ( 414 ) is coupled. 7. An assembly consisting of a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device has an erectable hood ( 502 ) which can be transferred from an initial position into an installed position by means of the actuating device ( 500 ). 8. An assembly consisting of a safety device and an actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device is a bumper ( 600 ) which can be transferred from an initial position into an extended position by means of the actuating device ( 622 ).