DE2351482A1 - DEVICE FOR INSULATING AND EARTHING THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION - Google Patents

Description

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WHetorfer Siroöe 33 2351482

PAUL RICHARD MOLLISOU;

Corner Scarborough. Beach Road and Loftus Street North Pe rth, WA _r Australia

Device for isolating and grounding the electrical circuit of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision

Priority: October 18, 1972, Australia, PB 878/72

The invention relates to an apparatus for isolating and grounding the electrical circuit of a Motor vehicle in the event of a collision and on a protective mechanism operated by this device.

In its broadest scope, the invention resides in apparatus for isolating and grounding electrical Circuit of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision and includes a number of contacts, each disposed on one end of a plurality of flexible arms, the contacts normally spaced apart from one another are separate and each arm electrical, from the insulated from other arms, a spring-loaded trigger to push against one of the contacts and to his Move to a location where all contacts are pressing against each other and one or more electrical circuits close and ground in the motor vehicle, and also means for holding the trigger out of engagement with the contacts, the holding means being such that when the Vehicle is subjected to a sudden shock, it is the Releases the trigger further wherein the means holding the trigger out of engagement with the contacts is a pin possesses which with a groove in the trigger in

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Engaging is so when the vehicle bumps this is subject to the pin comes free from the groove release the trigger. '

If desired, the device can be provided with means for actuating the brakes in the event of a collision be. In one such embodiment, the coil of a solenoid is connected to the terminal of the battery and to one of contacts connected, while the piston of the solenoid is connected to the brake pedal of the vehicle is. In another embodiment is a solenoid connected to the terminal of the battery and to one of the contacts and to a pin, which is a spring-loaded one Link holds connected to the brake pedal in the loaded position so that when the device is actuated the solenoid moves the pin to a disengaged position so that the spring-loaded link applies the brake actuated.

During the isolation and grounding of the electrical circuit important, it is not sufficient to stop a compression ignition engine (diesel), and such a machine - can continue to run after the vehicle, which is equipped with it, is involved in a collision or an accident. It is therefore also essential to provide a protective mechanism which can be easily attached to motor vehicles, which Compression ignition engines have to keep the engine working in the event that the vehicle turns into a If there is a collision or accident.

Thus, the invention resides in yet another embodiment from a protective mechanism for motor vehicles comprising a spring loaded piston to the shutdown mechanism of an inflammation engine of a vehicle, means for holding this piston in the loaded position, wad a solenoid, connected to the holding means so that when the solenoid is actuated the holding means release this piston,

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the actuation of this solenoid by a spring-loaded Trigger is controlled, which acts on contacts included in the solenoid circuit.

The various aspects of the invention are set out in US Pat following description of a special embodiment and further explained on the basis of the drawings, which represent:

'Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of the protective mechanism applied to a compression ignition machine,

Pig. 2 a top view of Pig. 1,

Pig. 3 a view of a porm of a trigger mechanism, which shows its components,

Pig. Figure 4 is a sectional view of a mechanism employing a solenoid to operate the brake. '

In the embodiment according to Pig. 3 the components are mounted within a suitable housing, which so is designed so that the vehicle can be provided with it in a suitable place, e.g. on the ground. The components include a series of contacts 34, 35 and 36 each of which protrudes from the housing Terminals is connected. In this particular embodiment, the series of contacts consists of three Leaf springs 44, 45, 46 which are connected to terminals 37, 38, 39. Terminal 37 is designed to connect to the electrical main feed line of the electrical circuit of the vehicle to be connected. Clamp 38 is adapted to be connected to the protective mechanism, if such in a compression ignition engine is present, and clamp 39 can be designed to hold any other auxiliary equipment, e.g. the brake actuation mechanism according to Pig. 4, to operate. A spring loaded trigger 40 - is attached so that, when released, one end 41

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rests against the leaf spring 44 of the contact 34, so that it moves the leaf spring to a position in which contact 34 is in contact with contact 35. This contact 35 is then also moved so that contact 35 is in contact with contact 36. As a result, all contacts are connected to one another and all circuits are actuated or grounded as required. The trigger 40 is provided with a groove 42 with which a spring-loaded pin 43 is engaged. "The pin 43 goes through a hole in a bracket 47, which is used to carry the trigger 40. In this embodiment, the pin 43 sits on the head of a piston-like member 48, this head resting against the bracket 47, while the rod-like part of the piston-like member passes through an opening 49 in a clamp 50. The opening 49 is much wider than the diameter of the rod-like part so that the piston head can swing on the yoke 47 and thus the pin 43 is able in the event of a sudden impact is to come out of engagement from the groove '42.

If the vehicle is subjected to a sudden shock in a collision, the shock will cause that the pin moves out of engagement out of the groove in the trigger. The trigger is thus released, so that it presses against the leaf spring 44 and moves contact 34, whereby contact between the contacts 35 and 36 is initiated. If the lines of the contacts are formed in a suitable manner, the electrical Circuit of the vehicle isolated from the battery and grounded and thus essentially the possibility of a Removed from the electrical circuit that could cause a fire. Even if the engine is after the collision is still running at sufficient speed to operate the generator, none can Danger arises because the electricity generated in this way is fed directly to the EiQLe. Because the electrical circuit is grounded, the ignition is also grounded, which

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Prevents the engine from running.

The formation of the pin 43 is such that, independently from the direction from which the. according to the invention Device equipped vehicle is hit in a collision, the pin on the bracket 47 will swing and release the trigger 40.

Fig. 4 illustrates how a solenoid may be incorporated into the inventive device, to actuate the brakes in the event of a collision. In this case, the coil of the solenoid 51 is connected to terminal 39, while the piston 52 of the solenoid is connected to one end of a spring-loaded pin 53, the other end of which engages a groove 54 in a spring-loaded piston within a cylinder. The pin 53 is constructed essentially in the same way as the part 48 of the embodiment according to FIG. The spring-loaded piston is composed of two parts 55 and 56, part 55 being directly connected to the brake pedal 57 of the vehicle, while part 56 is provided with the groove 54. The piston is in two parts 55 and

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56 /; Part 55 can move independently of part 56 so that the brake pedal can be operated under normal conditions without recourse to the solenoid operated pin 53. In the event of a collision, the trigger 40 (FIG. 3) is released and presses against the leaf spring 44 so that all contacts are in contact with one another and the circuit is closed. The circuit through the solenoid coil will be completed so that the piston 52 moves the pin 53, thereby disengaging it from the groove 54. This releases the piston 56, which is spring-loaded, and the brake pedal is thereby actuated and thus the brakes are applied. A fuse (not shown) is inserted in the solenoid circuit so that if the circuit is closed by the solenoid and the solenoid has actuated pin 53, the fuse will blow. This interrupts the circuit and, as a result, the one

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permanent live electrical circuit of the vehicle again isolated from the battery and grounded.

If desired, the piston 52 can be connected directly to the Brake pedal 57 can be connected so that actuation of the solenoid applies the brakes.

Instead of the spring-loaded pin according to FIG the peg protrudes from one end of a heavy weight, the other end from a light weight Coil spring is supported.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 (more protective Mechanism for compression ignition engines) the piston 11 is tubular, open at the end 12 and closed at the other end 13. A helical compression spring 14 is disposed within the piston 11, with a End 15 presses against the closed end 13 of the piston 11 and the other end 16 presses against one end a cylindrical housing 17 in which the piston 11 is slidably disposed. One end of the Bowden cable 18 is connected via the open end 12 of the piston to rod 19, while the other end of the Boaen train to the Engine shut-off mechanism (not shown) is connected, usually a valve to regulate the fuel supply to the injection mechanism. The closed end 13 of the piston 11 is coupled to rod 19, which protrudes through the other end 20 of the housing 17, while the outer end of the rod with reset button is equipped. A spring loaded pin 22 is on attached to the housing 17 so that its inner end 23 protrudes through a hole 24 in the housing and is rests against the closed end 13 of the piston 11 in order to keep it in the loaded position with the compressed To hold spring 14 and the shut-off mechanism in the open position. The outer end 25 of the pin 22 is near the outer end 26 of the rod 27 of a solenoid 28 arranged on the housing 29. The supply line Electric current to the solenoid 28 is regulated by the trigger mechanism as shown in FIG.

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Preferably the solenoid circuit includes a pair of contacts 31 mounted on part 32 on the side of the Housing 17 and abutting against a ball 30 mounted in an opening 33 in the housing. When the piston 11 is in the loaded position, the ball 30 is housed in a groove in the piston 11 and the contacts remain closed. When the piston 11 is released, ball 30 is pushed outward to reach the contacts 31 to open and the supply of current to the solenoid 28 cut off. Instead, the contacts can be replaced by a fuse to provide the power supply to cut off the solenoid after it has actuated. Contacts and ball mechanism as described, can also be used to advantage for the brake operating mechanism described above. In in the event that the compression ignition vehicle is in a Accident or collision is involved, the spring-loaded trigger 40 or breaker is so disturbed, that power is supplied to the solenoid 28. The actuation of the solenoid moves the pin 22 to the release position, so that the piston 11 is under the action of Compression spring 14 is moved to move the engine shut-off mechanism to the closed position. The engine shutdown mechanism and the circuit isolating and grounding device described can be used in conjunction with. the braking mechanism described here can be used.

Preferably, the circuit isolating and grounding device is only attached to the electrically operated components connected to the machine so that in the event of a collision or accident, the vehicle lights remain operational. . ' '

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Claims (1)

P a t en tans claims Apparatus for isolating and earthing the electrical circuit of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision, characterized in that it comprises: a series of contacts, each arranged on one end of a plurality of flexible arms, the contacts normally being spatially separated from one another and each arm is electrically isolated from the other arms, a spring loaded trigger for pressing against one of the contacts and moving it to a position wherein all contacts are pressing against one another and close or ground one or more electrical circuits in the motor vehicle, and means for holding the trigger disengaged from the contacts, the holding means being such that when the vehicle is subjected to a sudden shock, it releases the trigger, further the means holding the trigger disengaged from the contacts having a pin which is engaged with a groove in the trigger so that when the vehicle is subjected to this shock, the pin comes free from the groove to release the trigger. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the 'pin is spring-loaded and on the head a piston-like member is arranged, this head abutting against a bracket carrying the trigger, soak the peg protrudes, and this Head in the event of an impact of a vibrating effect on the bracket is able to extrude the pin out of the groove To bring intervention. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η that the spigot from the end of a proportionately heavy weight protrudes, the other end of the weight from a light spiral spring is supported. «09819/0277 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized I η et that it is a solenoid for actuating the brake pedal of a vehicle, wherein the coil of the solenoid to the terminal of the battery and to a r; ⁱ is connected .the contacts, and means connected to the plunger of the solenoid to actuate the brake pedal, encloses. 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized g e k e η η draw t that the means for connecting the piston of the solenoid with the brake pedal has an additional f ederbelasteteji cneni zapTen, which with a groove in one spring-loaded pistons housed in a cylinder is engaged with the piston connected to the brake pedal and capable of depressing the brake pedal, if the additional pin comes out of engagement from the groove in the piston *, 6. Protective mechanism for motor vehicles, thereby characterized in that it includes a spring-loaded Piston connected to the shutdown mechanism of a vehicle's compression ignition machine, Means for holding the piston in the loaded position; and a solenoid connected to the holding means releasing the piston, the actuation of this solenoid being controlled by a spring-loaded trigger, which acts on contacts included in the solenoid circuit. 7. Protective mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for holding of the piston in the loaded position comprises a spring-loaded pin arranged in the housing, so that its inner end protrudes through a hole in the housing and bears against the closed end of the piston to hold it in the loaded position. 409819/0277 235148 8o protective mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in characterized in that the supply of electrical current to the solenoid through contacts which connected to the electrical circuit of the vehicle can be, by a spring-loaded trigger, which is able to act on these contacts, which are normally separated from each other, and through Means for holding the trigger out of engagement with the contacts is regulated, the holding means being such is that when the vehicle is subjected to a sudden bump, it releases the trigger, which does the The means holding the trigger out of engagement with the contacts has a pin with a groove in the trigger is engaged so that when the vehicle is subjected to this shock, the pin is released from the groove to the Release trigger ,, 9o Protective mechanism according to claim 8, characterized Marked that he has a solenoid for depressing the brake pedal of the vehicle, in which the The coil of the solenoid is connected to the terminal of the battery and to one of the contacts, and includes means, which are connected to the piston of the solenoid to operate the brake pedal. 10. Protective mechanism according to claim 9, characterized characterized in that the means for connecting the piston - the solenoid to the brake pedal comprises an additional spring-loaded pin which applies to a groove in a spring-loaded pin in a cylinder located piston is engaged, this piston connected to the brake pedal and is able to depress the brake pedal when the additional pin comes out of engagement from the groove in the piston. 409819/027 Lee rs e i t e