WO2003022643A1

WO2003022643A1 - Protection device located in the front area of a vehicle for the protection of living objects and operational method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2003022643A1
Application number: PCT/EP2002/005771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lothar Weichenberger; Alfons Wöhrl
Original assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-09-05
Filing date: 2002-05-25
Publication date: 2003-03-20
Also published as: DE10143448A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device comprising a receiving surface located in the front area of a vehicle for the protection of living objects, and to an operational method therefor. The receiving surface (1) is rolled up prior to impact around an axis (y)in an approximately parallel manner in relation to the surface of displacement (9); perpendicular to the direction of travel (x). During impact, said receiving surface is unrolled in the direction of travel (x).The direction in which said receiving surface (1) is rolled up is chosen in such a way that when it is unrolled (s1) a forward-oriented movement of rotation respectively occurs in the front area thereof, enabling the object (4) to be initially and tangentially received in a point of contact. When the receiving surface is fully unrolled, the receiving surface provides protection from an impact for the living object as it falls back towards the roadway.

Description

Protection device in the front area of a vehicle to protect living objects as well

Operating method

The invention relates to a protective device in the front area of a vehicle for protecting living objects according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for operating. JP 2001001852 already describes such a protective device with a

Take the catchment area in the front area of a vehicle, the catchment area lifting the object off the ground before the object collides with the vehicle (abstract: "... to scoop up the leg part of the pedestrian") and on the other hand after the collision of the object with the vehicle dampens the subsequent impact on the road by being flat over the ground around the

Extends the front area of the vehicle (see FIGS. 2 to 4), or completely avoids the impact on the ground by further raising the catchment area behind the pedestrian in the direction of the vehicle (see FIG. 7 of JP 2001001852).

A protective device in the front area of a vehicle can already be gathered from US Pat. No. 4,015,870, in which the protective device is at the level of the upper edge of the

The front area of the vehicle is arranged and consists of a collecting body which, when colliding with the object, executes at least one rotary movement, in which US Pat. No. 4,015,870 in particular a tilting movement that is not concentric with the collecting body, due to which the object is tangentially detected at a point of contact and lifted off the ground. The protection device is decentralized by two

Adjusting piston engaging catcher body or an adjusting piston and a fulcrum (Fig. 6 of US 4,015,870) moves.

The object of the invention is to present a further protective device for protecting living objects in the event of a collision and a method for operating them. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and the method

Claim 14 solved. Advantageous further developments can be found in the subclaims. For this purpose, the protective device has a collecting surface which is rolled up about an axis approximately parallel to the ground perpendicular to the direction of travel prior to the collision, and means are provided which unroll the collecting surface in the direction of the object during the collision. The collecting area is therefore to be understood as a flat structure which can be rolled up, that is to say consists entirely of flexible material or of segments with flexible connecting pieces. The collecting surface preferably dampens or completely suppresses the impact of the object on the road. As an alternative or in addition to this effect, the collecting surface can also be designed as a sliding surface which is provided with a sliding surface so that the object is protected from the rough road surface.

The roll-up direction is selected such that an upward rotating movement occurs in the front area when the roll is unrolled and the object is thus lifted off the ground. The roll-up direction is decisive for the generation of the upward force effect tangentially at the point of contact when it collides with the object. The winding direction is thus just analogous to the direction of rotation of the

Drive wheels - the opposite direction of unrolling. The protective device preferably attacks the object below its center of gravity, for example in the lower leg area, preferably below the knee, and is therefore arranged in the area of the bumper, that is to say clearly below the upper front edge of the vehicle. The collecting surface can be unrolled approximately parallel to the ground, possibly even inclined in a wedge shape towards the object towards the road. The protective device also preferably has ridges on its sides along the direction of travel, which prevent the object from rolling sideways away from the collecting surface.

The collecting surface of the protective device can consist of inflatable air chambers, comparable to airbags, or a fabric-like material, for example a net, which is anchored at one end to the vehicle and the other end to two laterally arranged rotatably mounted suspensions, the suspensions being arranged on carriers, which can be extended along the direction of travel on both sides of the collecting surface in the direction of the object, the collecting surface rolling out on the suspensions when the carrier is extended.

Such a protective device is preferably controlled by means of a sensor which monitors the immediate vicinity of the vehicle for an imminent and unavoidable impending collision with a living object and generates a signal when such an imminent collision is detected, so that the catching surface unrolls on this signal still before

Collision is started, the collision before the full Unrolling of the collecting surface takes place, the collecting surface is subsequently unrolled further and is kept in the unrolled state at least for a predetermined period of time. The collecting area is kept in the unrolled state as long as the object is protected from falling back and hitting the ground. The protective device is preferably supplemented by further protective means, such as

Airbags, deformable and / or resiliently mounted, possibly adjustable bonnets and body parts for the actual primary impact on the vehicle, in particular in the area of the bonnet and windshield of the vehicle. On the one hand, this protects the object from being hit hard on the windshield or bonnet and also prevents the object from being hurled over the vehicle. In most cases, it guides the object back to the catchment area, which is now completely unrolled and protects the object from an impact on the road.

The basic principle realized in this way is based on the following three steps: 1. Reaching under or otherwise lifting out the object, thus reducing the

Static friction on its stand area and thus reduction of leg damage,

2. Dampening the impact of the object on the vehicle, in particular in the area of the bonnet and windshield and

3. Catching the object before it hits the road. The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and figures. Brief description of the figures:

Figure 1 Start of unrolling the collecting surface of the protective device immediately before the collision of the pedestrian with the vehicle.

Figure 2 interception of the pedestrian before impact on the vehicle. FIG. 3 interception of the pedestrian before the impact back onto the road by means of the now completely unrolled collecting area 1.

Figure 4 Support for reaching under the pedestrian by a ramp.

Figure 5 external airbag 5 to protect the object or to dampen the

Impact on the vehicle. Figure 6 protection against impact back on the road similar to Figure 3.

Figure 7 embodiment of the collecting surface 1 made of a net-shaped material with conceivable carriers in the direction of the object. FIG. 8 cross section through the air chambers of a collecting surface 1 that can be filled by means of a gas generator.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 3 to be moved in the direction of travel X on a pedestrian 4. Y is the axis perpendicular thereto, parallel to the plane of the lane 3, transverse to the direction of travel x, and z is the axis perpendicular to the plane of the lane. The near range of the vehicle 3 is monitored for an immediate and unavoidable impending collision with a living object 4 by means of a sensor (not shown in more detail). In addition to optical sensors, electromagnetic or capacitive sensor systems or their combinations can also be considered as sensors. In addition, it can also be used for other systems such as ultrasonic sensors or radar sensors that are already provided as parking aids or for active distance control. At least some of these sensors are also able to selectively differentiate living objects from other objects due to their physical properties, be it due to their dimensions and external shapes or their differing electrostatic or electromagnetic properties.

If such a sensor detects an imminent collision, preferably only limited in the case of living objects 4, a signal is generated which initiates activation of the protective device 1 immediately before the actual collision of the pedestrian 4 with the vehicle 3. The protective device consists of a Collection area 1, which before

Collision about an axis y is rolled up approximately parallel to the ground 9 perpendicular to the direction of travel x. A suitable covering of the collecting area 1 in the front area 31 of the vehicle is conceivable accordingly and is comparable to previous covers for airbag systems and similar safety devices by breaking points or flaps or the like to release the protective device in the event of a trigger. In addition, means are provided which unroll the collecting surface 1 during the collision in the direction of the object 4, that is to say in the direction of travel x. The design of these means is explained in more detail below using different exemplary embodiments. The direction in which the collecting surface 1 is rolled up is selected such that when it is unrolled, indicated as turning in the direction s1 in the front region, an upward rotating movement occurs in each case, so that the object 4 is tangentially detected at the point of contact and lifted off the surface 9. The direction of the opening and thus also the unrolling of the collecting surface 1 is therefore an essential part of this protective device. The unrolling of the collecting surface 1 is also not yet complete when the object 4 is touched, rather it has just started, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 1. ^• FIG. 2 now outlines how the pedestrian 3 is damped by an external airbag 5 in a second step s2 when it hits the vehicle 4 in the area of the bonnet 32 and the windshield 33.

FIG. 3 outlines the third step s3 of the protection method, in which the object 4 is protected against falling onto the road 9 by falling or slipping by means of the now completely unrolled collecting surface 1.

The particularly preferred embodiment of the collecting surface 1 will now be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 8. The collecting surface 1 preferably consists of a plurality of mechanically connected air chambers 10, which are oriented in the direction of travel x and which are located in the front area 31 of the

Vehicle 3 are initially rolled up and can be filled with compressed air and thus unrolled if necessary. The compressed air is generated by means of one or more pyro-technical gas generators 16.

The collecting surface 1 has x elevations on its sides to the direction of travel, which prevent the object 4 from rolling away laterally from the collecting surface 1. In a preferred embodiment, this can be done by means of air chambers 10 such that the

Cross sections of the individual air chambers 10a and 10b differ from one another, in particular the air chambers 10b on the sides of the collecting surface 1 on the left and right of the direction of travel x have a larger cross section than the air chambers 10a in the middle. The air chambers 10a and 10b can again from an outer

Protective skin to be encased, which in particular protects the air chambers 10a, 10b when unrolling from tearing open due to contact with the road 9. Alternatively, the air chambers 10 and 10b can also be filled with different air pressure in order to achieve a corresponding shape. The materials required for the air chambers as well as the design of a corresponding one

Gas generator systems are easily possible due to the extensive experience in the airbag area and can be configured for the respective applications.

Reaching under or lifting out the pedestrian 4 for the purpose of lifting off the road 9 in step 1 can, however, also be supported with alternative arrangements, as are outlined in FIG. 4. There is a wedge-like in addition to the collecting surface 1

Pedestrian 4 below its center of gravity 42 highlighted ramp 6, which lifts the pedestrian off road 9. The ramp 6 can be produced from a rest position in the front area 31 of the vehicle either by unrolling the collecting surface 1 or separately on the signal of a proximity sensor already described and has for this purpose an axis of rotation 62 on which the

Ramp surface 61 is placed in the direction of the pedestrian forward, on The front ends of the foot 4 in the leg area, which are preferably still under the knees 44, are designed to be elastic with a damping cladding 63 and to protect the foot 4.

As is clear from FIG. 5, the impact of the pedestrian 3 on the vehicle 4 in the area of the bonnet 32 and the windshield 33 can also be dampened by an external airbag 5, which is filled by means of a gas generator 51 and which has a cross section (see FIG. 5a ) with lateral edge formations 52, which prevent the pedestrian 4 from sliding sideways from the external airbag 5, and an extension 53 is also provided in the area of the front edge between the front area 31 and the bonnet 32, in order in particular to protect the lower abdomen from this sharp edge. Another additional raised shape 54 is provided in the upper end of the outer airbag 5, which prevents the pedestrian 4 from slipping over the vehicle.

In the third step s3, the pedestrian is again protected against an impact on the road 9 by means of the unrolled catchment area 1, as shown in FIG. 6. The

Collecting surface 1 can generally generally be unrolled at least approximately parallel to the ground 9, with a preferred preferred lowering ΔZ toward the carriageway 9 toward the object 4 or in the direction of travel X being preferred in FIG. 6.

An alternative embodiment of the collecting surface 1 is now outlined in FIG. 9, where the collecting surface 1 consists of a fabric-like or mesh-like one

Material 11, which in turn is rolled up in the front region 31 of the vehicle 3 and anchored at one end to the vehicle 3, the other end is fastened to two laterally arranged rotatably mounted suspensions 13, which are located on supports 12 which are along the direction of travel x on both sides The catchment surface 1 can be extended in the direction of the object 4, with the carrier 12 moving out as it extends

Collecting surface 1 unrolled on the suspensions 13. The collecting surface 11 is preferably additionally guided in corresponding grooves 14 in the carrier 12. This configuration of the collecting surface 1 also makes it possible to lift the object 4 at the tangential point of contact during the unrolling of the collecting surface 11 and also to subsequently protect it from an impact on the road 9 by the collecting surface 1 or 11 in each case at least for a predetermined period of time Unrolled state is maintained, which is preferably so long that the object 4 is still safely protected by this collecting surface when falling back. The side supports 12 are preferably provided in the area towards the pedestrian 4 as well as laterally with a protective covering in order to prevent injuries when the supports 12 emerge from the

Avoid vehicle out towards the pedestrian: ^{■ •} - LIST OF REFERENCES:

1.Gathering area (approximately 41 head of pedestrian 4 parallel to the lane unwinding in the direction of travel42 Center of gravity of pedestrian 4 unrolling in direction) 43 Legs of pedestrian 4 2.Gathering area (approximately 44 knees of pedestrian 4 perpendicular to the lane in front of 51 gas generator for the outside airbag 5 The bonnet and the windshield 52 unrolling the side edges of the windscreen) External airbag 5 Vehicle 53 Extension of the external airbag 5 in pedestrians the area of the front edge of the external airbag in the area of the 54 raised design to the upper bonnet and windshield Ramp 6 ramp that can be lifted out 62 Rotation axis for ramp 6 of pedestrian 63 Damping cladding at the front end of ramp 6

X axis in the direction of travel of the carriageway or subsurface Y axis in the plane parallel to the air chambers of the first catchment area, carriageway transverse to the direction of travel (X- (10a smaller in the central area, 10b axis) larger on the sides) Z axis perpendicular to the carriageway level, first catchment area, configured in s1 first step: reaching under or shape of a net-like fabric lifting the pedestrian sideways, in the direction of travel X protruding2 second step: protection against impact, movable supports for collecting area 11 on the vehicle rotatable suspensions for unrolling s3 third step: protection against impact of the collecting area 11 around the Y-axis on the carriageway 9, lateral guidance of the collecting surface 11 in the supports 12, protective cladding around the supports 12, optionally also in the form of an inflatable air chamber, front area of the vehicle 3 bonnet of the vehicle 3 windshield of the vehicle 3

Claims

claims

1) Protection device in the front area of a vehicle (3) for protecting living objects (4), in particular pedestrians or animals, when colliding with the

Vehicle, a) with a collecting surface (1), which a1) on the one hand lifts the object (4) from the ground (9) before the collision of the object (4) with the vehicle (3) a2) and on the other hand one after the collision of the Object (4) with the

Dampens or completely avoids the vehicle (3) following impact on the road (9), b) characterized in that c) the collision surface (1) before the collision about an axis (y) approximately parallel to the ground (9) perpendicular to the direction of travel ( x) is rolled up, and d) means (16, 12, 13) are provided which cover the collecting surface (1) during the

Unroll the collision in the direction of travel (x), e) the roll-up direction of the catchment surface (1) is selected so that when it unrolls (s1) an upward rotating movement occurs in the front area, due to which the object (4) initially detects tangentially at a point of contact becomes.

2) Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the collecting surface (1) can be unrolled approximately parallel to the ground (9).

3) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting surface (1) on its sides along the direction of travel has elevations (10b), which allows the object (4) to roll away from the side

Prevent collecting area (1). 4) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting surface (1) consists of a plurality of mechanically connected air chambers (10a, 10b), which are rolled up in the front area (31) of the vehicle and can be filled if necessary ( 16) and can thus be unrolled.

5) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of individual air chambers (10a) deviates from the cross section of the other air chambers (10b).

6) Protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the collecting surface in the unrolled state on its sides along the direction of travel

Has air chambers with a larger cross section (10b) than in the middle (10a).

7) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one pyrotechnic gas generator (16) is provided for inflating the air chambers (10a, 10b).

8) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air chambers (10a, 10b) can be filled with an air pressure which deviates from one another for at least some of the air chambers.

9) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a foaming material is provided for filling the air chambers.

10) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air chambers are filled in the rolled-up state with a substance which suddenly increases its volume by the action of an ignition signal. 11) Protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that a) the collecting surface (1) consists of a fabric-like material (11), b) rolled up in the front region (31) of the vehicle (3) and arranged with one end on the vehicle (3) and the other end is anchored to two laterally arranged rotatably mounted suspensions (13), c) the suspensions (13) are arranged on supports (12) which run along the direction of travel. (x) can be extended on both sides of the collecting surface (1) in the direction of the object (4), the collecting surface (1) on the suspensions (13) unrolling when the carrier (12) is extended.

12) Protection device according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the

Collection area (11) is interrupted in a network.

13) Protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further collecting surface (2) is provided which intercepts the object before the impact on the bonnet and / or the windshield of the vehicle in the event of a collision.

14) Method for operating a protective device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a) by means of a sensor monitors the vicinity of the vehicle (3) for an imminent and unavoidable impending collision with an object (4) and upon detection of such an imminent collision

Signal is generated, b) the unrolling of the first collecting area (1) is started before the collision in response to this signal, the collision taking place before the complete unrolling of the first collecting area (1), c) the protective device during the collision with the object (4) at least one

Performs rotary movement (s1) on the basis of which the object (4) is tangentially detected at a point of contact and lifted off the roadway (9), d) the catchment surface (1) is subsequently completely unrolled and kept in the unrolled state for at least a predetermined period of time. 15) Method according to claim 14, wherein the collecting surface (1) is kept in the unrolled state for so long that the object (4) is protected from hitting the road (9) if it falls back.

16) Method according to one of claims 14 or 15, wherein by means of further protective means on the vehicle, in particular an external airbag (5), the object (4) is protected in the event of a primary impact on the vehicle (3) and is guided back onto the collecting surface (1).