MXPA00003635A - Safety separation system - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety mechanism for a personal vehicle that provides for separation of the motion of a body support from a ground contacting assembly of the vehicle in case of accident. In one embodiment, the body support is attached to the ground contacting module via a slide mechanism that permits the body support to continue upright motion despite overturning of the ground contacting assembly in order to prevent injury to the passenger. Another embodiment provides for coupling of the body support or the ground contacting assembly via either a real or virtual pivot located above the respective centers of mass of the body support and ground contacting assembly.

Description

SECURITY SEPARATION SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention pertains to a vehicle safety system and method, and in particular, to a vehicle safety system and method for preventing damage to the passenger of a motor vehicle by separating a body support from the contact assembly of the vehicle floor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vehicles, whether for the transportation of humans or other types of cargo, may lack stability, either because of the design or because of the nature of their use. Several of these vehicles are particularly susceptible to rollovers, either due to a coalition, mechanical failure, unexpected turns, steep inclinations or the encounter with an irregular surface in which the mechanism is unable to compensate. In fact, any personal vehicle can tilt when surface irregularities are found severe enough. Under such circumstances, the occupant or contents of the vehicle must be protected in such a way that no damage occurs due to the propulsion of the occupant towards the ground or other solid obstacle. Unless it is protected, the occupant may also be injured due to trauma or collision if the vehicle, which is relatively large, is turned or driven, due to its inertia, against a solid obstacle or on the occupant. The methods are known to absorb or deflect the kinetic energy inherent in the movement of a vehicle to ensure that it does not become the propulsion of the vehicle occupant against a solid body such as the ground. Common examples are the defenses, which absorb the kinetic energy in the folded metal, and air pockets, which couple the mechanical energy of the passengers of the vehicle in the compression and distribution of gas in a bag before enough time has passed. so that the bodies of the passengers hit the steering wheel or windshield of the car which results in serious damage. Other means are known to employ the kinetic energy present in a massive subcomponent of the vehicle, to inflate a bellows or other pad to protect the occupants of the vehicle in the event of a frontal coalition. In an open vehicle such as a wheelchair, it is often safer to divert the passenger from the path of the center of mass of the vehicle than to hold it between the mass of the vehicle, moving with its moment of waiting, and its final position. rest, such as a solid surface after a shock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, in one of its embodiments, a security mechanism is provided to protect a passenger of a vehicle in a situation where the vehicle undergoes an undesirable acceleration. The vehicle has a ground contact assembly and a body support with a center of gravity (CG). The safety mechanism has a connector for coupling to the body support and the ground contact assembly. It also has a release for decoupling the CG movement from the body support at least along an axis of the movement of the floor contact assembly. An activator is also provided to control the release in response to an undesirable acceleration of the vehicle. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the connector allows free movement of the body support with respect to the floor contact assembly, and may be a pneumatic cylinder or a sliding rail. The safety mechanism may also have another rotary actuator, including the motor, for rotating the body support with respect to the floor contact assembly to counteract the effect of a balance of the floor contact assembly in the orientation of the support of body with respect to a vertical direction. In other embodiments of the invention, the safety mechanism has a pilot wheel assembly coupled to the body support. The pilot wheel assembly may include at least one wheel, and the self-leveling mechanism. The release may include the means for storing mechanical energy, such as a spring or coil spring, coupled at least to the floor contact assembly and the body support so that the mechanical energy is used to decouple the movement of the CG of the body support of the movement of the contact assembly with the ground. According to other embodiments of the invention, the safety mechanism can have a reserve of mechanical energy coupled to at least the assembly in contact with the ground or the body support, so that the mechanical energy is used to decouple the movement of CG of the body support of the movement of the contact assembly with the ground. According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for protecting a passenger of a vehicle having a ground contact assembly and a body support in a situation where the vehicle undergoes undesirable acceleration. The method has the steps of detecting undesired acceleration and decoupling the movement of the center of gravity of the body support from the movement of the contact assembly with the ground with respect to at least one axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood with reference to the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a prior art wheelchair type vehicle of the type in which the of the invention can be used advantageously. Figure 2 is a side view of the wheelchair type vehicle of Figure 1 shown in an initial stage of a forward inclination. Figure 3A is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 2 employing an embodiment of the present invention showing the partial separation of the body support towards the ground contact assembly. Figure 3B is a perspective view of the side of a wheelchair type vehicle employing an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the partial separation of the body support from the floor contact assembly together with a sliding rail . Figure 4 is a side view of the wheelchair type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 2 employing one embodiment of the current invention showing a further step of separating the body support towards the floor contact assembly . Figure 5 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 2 employing an embodiment of the current invention that shows a final step of separating the body support towards the floor contact assembly . Figure 6 is a perspective view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 2 employing a modality of the present invention that shows a final step of separating the body support towards the contact assembly with the floor. Fig. 7 is a side view of the wheelchair type vehicle of Fig. 1 shown at a time in which an obstacle of the floor is encountered. Fig. 8 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Fig. 7 which employs an embodiment of the present invention which shows partial separation of the body support towards the ground contact assembly. Figure 9 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 7 employing one embodiment of the current invention showing another step of separating the body support towards the ground contact assembly . Figure 10 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 7 employing a modality of the current invention showing a final step of separating the body support towards the floor contact assembly . Figure 11 is a front view of the vehicle of Figure 1, shown in proximity to a step or flange. Fig. 12 is a front view of the wheelchair type vehicle that is tilted as in Fig. 11 employing one embodiment of the current invention showing partial separation of the body support to one side of the floor contact assembly . Fig. 13 is a front view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Fig. 11 employing an embodiment of the present invention which shows a step of separating the body support towards one side of the contact assembly with the floor. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the wheelchair-type vehicle employing an embodiment of the present invention in the intermediate stage of a lateral tilt of Fig. 13. Fig. 15A is a front view of the chair-type vehicle of wheels inclined as in Figure 11 employing a modality of the present invention that shows contact with the ground of a pilot wheel. Figure 15B is a perspective view of the vehicle of the wheelchair type employing a current embodiment of the invention in the step of a lateral tilt of figure 15. Figure 16 is a side view of the wheelchair type vehicle of figure 1 shown in an initial stage of a front descent of a flight of stairs. Fig. 17 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Fig. 16 employing one embodiment of the present invention showing the partial separation of the body support towards the ground contact assembly. Figure 18 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 16 employing an embodiment of the present invention that shows a step of separating the body support towards the ground contact assembly. Figure 19 is a side view of the wheelchair-type vehicle that is tilted as in Figure 16 employing a modality of the current invention that shows a final stage of body support separation towards the floor contact assembly .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The present invention provides a mechanical strategy for controlling the fall in any direction of a personal vehicle, such as a wheelchair-type vehicle. Referring now to Figures 1 to 19, where like elements are designated by identical numbers, the views of a personal vehicle, designated generally by the number 10, are shown in progressive stages of various inclination movements. An example of such a vehicle is the wheelchair type vehicle described in the co-pending US patent application serial number 08 / 250,693, issued May 27, 1994 for an invention by Kamen et al., Which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention applies to personal motor vehicles or other vehicles, such as the vehicle described in the Kamen application, and to non-motorized personal vehicles in the same way. With particular reference to Figure 1, the vehicle 10 is shown, by way of example, as being supported on a pair of wheels 12 arranged laterally (of which one is seen in Figure 1) that provide contact with the ground for the vehicle 10. Although the invention will be described with reference to the wheelchair type vehicle shown in figure 1, it should be understood that vehicles with other configurations, which carry other wheel numbers, and that are used for other purposes can be similarly benefit from the security mechanism that is the object of the present invention. The vehicle 10, broadly, has two primary functional parts: a body support 14 that can be in the form of a seat or in another form, for transporting a passenger 16, and a floor contact assembly 18 that includes wheels 12 and carrier mechanisms and motors (not shown), if present, associated with the wheel. In conventional vehicles, and under ordinary operating circumstances, the body support 14 engages with the ground contact assembly 18 in a fixed manner, and the passenger 16 is transported by locomotion through the floor of the contact assembly with the 18. The strategy employed by the present invention in the event of an accident is to free the passenger 16, together with the body support 14, since he is prone to follow the movement defined by the coupling of the body support 14 towards the assembly of the body. contact with the ground 18. Prior to the accident, which may include encountering an obstacle, the sudden turn results in instability, mechanical or electrical failure, or other event, the passenger 16 travels with the movement parallel to the ground and in an orientation desired body, ordinarily seated. In order to avoid damage to the passenger, it is desirable to maintain this orientation, as far as possible, independently of the subsequent rollover of the ground contact assembly 18. In order to cause the desired separation of the inertial movement after the accident of the vehicle. body support 14 from the ground contact assembly, a physical uncoupling of body support from the ground contact assembly with respect to some or all degrees of freedom is effected. The separation is "passive" in the sense that the kinetic energy of the body support and the passenger are used to effect decoupling, or alternatively, the separation can be initiated or assisted by mechanical means or other means. Examples of some decoupling methods are described in the following description. Referring now to Figure 2, a side view of the vehicle 10 is shown in the initial stages of a tilt, shown, in this case and by way of example, in a forward direction. The body support 14 is shown, again by way of example, as a chair-type configuration in which the occupant 16 is seated, however, other support modalities are possible and the occupant 16 may be reclined or in another position. Figures 2-6 depict time series of side views of the vehicle 10 as it is inclined. Said inclination may arise due to the sudden turn or a mechanical failure of the system which ordinarily keeps the vehicle 10 in an upright position, or due to an encounter with an irregularity or surface obstacle that the vehicle and / or the driver is unable to compensate. One of the embodiments of the present invention is shown in Figure 3 A, where the vehicle 10 is shown in another stage of a forward inclination. In the embodiment shown, the body support 14 engages with the floor contact assembly by the connector 20, which is shown, by way of example, as a pivot, located in such a way that the inertial movement in the body support 14 in a forward direction causes the passenger body support 16 to swing with respect to the ground contact assembly 18 after the accident. A spring, such as a coil spring configured around the pivot 20 can be used to assist in the separation of the body support 14 from the contact assembly with the body 18. A "release", as used in this description and in the attached claims refers to any releasing mechanism to allow separation of the body support 14 from the contact assembly with the ground 18. Many of these mechanisms, such as a bolt employing a securing mass displaced from an assurance position in the acceleration of inertia, are known to those skilled in the mechanical arts. Additionally, the electronic sensors can be used to control the release that aids in the decoupling of the body support 14 from the ground contact assembly 18, after an initial tilt is detected. In addition to assisting in the separation of the body support 14 from the ground contact assembly 18, a spring coupled between the body support 14 and the ground contact assembly 18 serves, once expanded, as a shock absorber to absorb the energy kinetics of the body support 14, thus dampening the effect of the accident on the passenger 16 and the vehicle. The pivot 20 is shown as an example of several mechanisms where the body support 14 can be coupled to the ground contact assembly 18 to allow subsequent decoupling of movement in the event of an accident. In other embodiments of the invention, the identical relative movement of the body support 14 with respect to the floor contact assembly 18 such as that shown in Figure 3A is achieved by coupling a point 24 on the lower surface 26 of the body support 14 towards the sliding mechanism 28 (shown in Figure 3B). Said embodiment is described with reference to Figure 3B wherein the body support 14 is separated from the floor contact assembly 18 by being mounted on the slide mechanism 28 which restricts the movement of the body support 14 along at least an axis. By virtue of said arrangement, it can be said that the body support 14 is pivoted virtually around a point above the respective centers of mass of the body support 14 and the assembly of contact with the floor 18. The sliding mechanism restrains to the body support 14 for moving in a forward direction, with reference to the conductor, and can be carried out by a slip, or a rodless pneumatic cylinder, or in other forms, such as those known to those skilled in the mechanical arts . In an alternative embodiment, the mechanism that provides the coupling between the body support 14 and the floor contact assembly 18 is a universal joint, thereby decoupling the movements of the body support 14 and the floor contact assembly. 18 after an accident to operate, likewise, when the indicated acceleration of the ground contact assembly 18 is in a lateral direction. Said arrangement prevents torques from being transmitted from the surroundings of the body support 14. With reference again to Figure 3, it is evident that the operation of the mechanism separating the body support movements 14 from the contact assembly with the floor 18 after an accident allows the passenger 16 to remain substantially in proper orientation, with the head up and legs down, and prevents the passenger 16 from being trapped with the ground contact assembly 18. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body support 14 is provided with one or more wheels pilot 22 to allow continuous forward movement of the body support 14 and to prevent tilting around a fixed point in contact with the ground.

Figure 4 shows the vehicle 10 in a subsequent step of separating the body support 14 from the floor contact assembly 18, while figure 5 shows the vehicle 10 after the floor contact assembly 18 has completely rotated , while the passenger 16 remains unprotected by the body support 14 and in a substantially vertical position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the vehicle 10 in the same idle state as shown laterally in Fig. 5. Referring now to Fig. 7, the vehicle 10 is shown in a vertical orientation associated with ordinary locomotion in a moment in which the wheel 12 encounters a floor obstacle 30. Although the vehicle can be designed to overcome the obstacle, in the event that the vehicle is unable to overcome the obstacle, the response of one embodiment of the present invention is will describe with reference to Figures 8-10. With reference, more particularly, to FIG. 8, by way of example, the vehicle 10 is shown in an initial step of separating the body support 14 from the contact assembly with the floor 18 through the opening around the pivot 20. The wheel pilot 22 is shown making contact with the floor obstacle 30 to provide the support against inclination for the body support 14. A subsequent step of separating the body support 14 from the floor contact assembly 18 is shown in figure 9 , while Figure 10 shows the floor contact assembly 18 fully inclined, although the passenger 16 remains in a substantially vertical position and protected by virtue of the operation of the invention to separate the body support movement 14 from the body assembly. contact with the ground 18. Reference is now made to Figures 11-15, in which the vehicle 10 is shown responding to a lateral inclination in accordance with the in expiration Referring more particularly to Figure 11, the vehicle 10 is shown in proximity to an irregularity of the side surface 32 which may be a flange or a step, for example Figure 10 shows the assembly in contact with the floor 18 in one step initial side tilt due to surface irregularity 32. The term "balance angle" 40 as used in this description and the appended claims is defined by reference to the angle between the vertical axis of the passenger 16 (e.g., a line parallel to the spine of the passenger) and an axis 44 parallel to a plane containing a wheel 12 of the floor contact assembly 18. The balance angle 40 can be corrected, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention by allowing the free or mechanically controlled rotation of the body support 14 about an axis perpendicular to the axes 42 and 44. Equivalently, the balance angle 40 can be corrected for maintenance the passenger 16 in a substantially vertical position and by other combinations of movement known to those skilled in the mechanical arts, such as by a controlled rotation of the body assembly 14 about the axis 42 parallel to the spine of the passenger 16 coupled with the translation of the point of contact between the body assembly 14 and the plane of the floor contact assembly 18 which is perpendicular to the axis 44. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotation of the body assembly 14 about the shaft 42 is controlled by a motor or other actuator (not shown) that is part of a control ring in which the torque applied about the axis 42 is governed by a controller based on the detected deviation of the axis 42 from the true vertical axis. Figure 13 shows the vehicle 10 in another side-tipping stage, with wheels 48 and 50 in contact with the underlying surface at different vertical levels, and with the position of the body support 14 and the passenger 16 corrected according to a modality of the invention, as described above, Figure 14 is a perspective view of the vehicle 10 in rearward inclination of the floor contact assembly 18 shown in Figure 13. Figure 15A shows a side view of the vehicle 10 at a lastage of a lal inclination, wherein the pilot wheel 22 is in contact with the ground to provide the support against inclination for the body support 14. Figure 15B shows a perspective view of the vehicle 10 in a final state of rest afthe inclination side of figure 15A. Although the ground contact assembly 18 has rotated along the path 52, the inertia of the body support 14 has kept the passenger 16 in a vertical and protected position, and at rest, with the pilot wheel 22 supporting the of the body support 14 on the ground. In an alative embodiment, the body support 14 may have a plurality of pilot wheels 22 or shapers, with a mechanical, hydraulic, or other inonnection joint to provide the leveling or self-leveling force, so that afthe accident, the Body support 14 can be supported on a plurality of pilot wheels 22, even when the floor surface is uneven. Figures 16-19 show the vehicle 10 responding to a forward fall on a flight of stairs 56 by separating the body support 14 from the ground contact assembly 18 according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 16 shows the final stage of the forward fall, prior to the separation of the body support 14 from the contact assembly with the ground 18. Figure 17 shows the separation of the body support 14 from the contact assembly with the ground. around the pivot 20, although Figure 18 shows another separation step, and Figure 19 shows the final state of rest of the vehicle 10, with the passenger 16 shown supported by the body support 14 in a substantially vertical and protected orientation, a Despite the complete rotation of the ground contact assembly 18. The described embodiments of the invention are intended to be merely exemplary, and numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All these variations and modifications are intended within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (16)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A safety mechanism to protect a passenger of a vehicle having a ground contact assembly and a body support, the body support has a center of gravity, in a situation where the vehicle undergoes undesirable acceleration, the The safety mechanism comprises: a.- a connector for coupling the body support and the contact assembly with the ground; b.- a release for decoupling the center of gravity movement of the body support along at least one axis of movement of the assembly contacting the ground; c- an activator to control the release in response to undesirable acceleration in the vehicle.

2. The security mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the connector allows the free movement of the body support in a longitudinal direction with respect to the assembly contact with the ground.

3. The security mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the connector allows rotation of the body support around a horizontal axis perpendicular to a longitudinal direction.

4. The security mechanism according to claim 2, further characterized in that the connector includes a pneumatic cylinder.

5. The security mechanism according to claim 2, further characterized in that the connector includes a sliding mechanism.

6. The security mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a rotary activator for rotating the body support with respect to the assembly contact with the ground in a manner that counteracts the effect of a balance of the contact assembly with the ground in an orientation of the body support with respect to the vertical direction.

7. The security mechanism according to claim 6, further characterized in that the rotary activator is a motor.

8. The security mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a pilot wheel assembly coupled with the body support.

9. The security mechanism according to claim 8, further characterized in that the pilot wheel assembly includes at least one wheel.

10. The security mechanism according to claim 8, further characterized in that the pilot wheel assembly includes a self-leveling mechanism.

11. The security mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that the release includes a reserve of mechanical energy coupled with at least the contact assembly with the ground or body support so that mechanical energy is used to uncouple the movement of the center of gravity of the body support from the movement of the contact assembly with the ground.

12. The security mechanism according to claim 11, further characterized in that the reserve of mechanical energy is a spring.

13. The safety mechanism according to claim 12, further characterized in that the spring is a coil spring.

14. The safety mechanism according to claim 12, further characterized in that it comprises a sliding mechanism to allow travel of the body support with respect to the floor contact assembly, wherein the spring engages between the assembly of contact with the ground and the sliding mechanism in such a way that it induces the movement of the sliding mechanism.

15. The safety mechanism according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises a shock absorber to absorb energy to minimize the impact of undesired acceleration on the passenger.

16. A method for protecting a passenger of a vehicle having a ground contact assembly and a body support in a situation where the vehicle undergoes undesirable acceleration, the method comprising: a. - detecting undesired acceleration , and b.- decoupling in the movement of the center of gravity of the body support from the movement of the contact assembly with the ground with respect to at least one axis.