WO2010086888A2

WO2010086888A2 - Absorption and energy blocking system deriving from an impact or collision of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2010086888A2
Application number: PCT/IT2010/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicola Ruggiero
Original assignee: Nicola Ruggiero
Priority date: 2009-01-28
Filing date: 2010-01-26
Publication date: 2010-08-05
Also published as: ITRN20090003A1; WO2010086888A3

Abstract

This invention regards an Absorption and Energy Blocking System deriving from a collision or impact of a vehicle with other vehicles or against barriers and obstacles. The System is used mainly in the industrial field, in the motor vehicle industry and regards all means of locomotion which move on road, air and water. The equipment finds its place in the passive safety category, like seat belts, air bags and others. The Absorption and Energy Blocking System, deriving from a collision or impact of a vehicle, contrasts the violence of the collision, and its purpose is to absorb as much as possible the shock energy, extremely increasing the possibility of survival of the passengers. The System produces a force that is similar and constant to energy that is produced in an impact and together with the blockage systems, the force that is absorbed and accumulated in the impact isn't returned. This force is produced in different ways and it is activated when there is a change in speed of the vehicle, and this speed can be moderate or more advanced. This force is coordinated by a junction box which, together with the measuring instrument of the vehicle, will decide in advance the operation of the System.

Description

"ABSORPTION AND ENERGY BLOCKING SYSTEM

DERIVING FROM AN IMPACT OR COLLISION OF A VEHICLE"

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention consists of an Absorption and Energy Blocking System deriving from an impact or collision of a vehicle with other vehicles or against barriers or obstacles. This equipment finds its place in the passive safety category, like seatbelts, airbags and more. This System is used mainly in the industrial field, in the motor vehicle and means of transport industry, on road, water and air. The main principle of this system is the following: a vehicle that is built on a rigid frame that includes inside, compressed-air elastic objects, (similar to air springs), which are connected to pistons that are positioned in front of the vehicle. In case of a collision, these pistons discharge their force on the elastic means and when these contract, they produce the energy that is necessary to absorb the impact. When the piston and the elastic means have finished this operation, a blocking system will start, in order to avert the accumulated force return. The system produces various energy forces, according to the different speed collisions of a vehicle. The elastic means' force is provided through an air compressor that is activated through the coordination of a junction box connected to a speed measuring instrument (speedometer).

From the start of the vehicle and during the entire running of the vehicle, the junction box will decide in advance the quantity of compressed air that is needed, through tubes and elastic means valves, and this will produce the force that is needed to contrast a possible impact at moderate or advanced speed.

An important feature of the elastic means is that they are of constant force for the whole of their length; this constant force is necessary for the lengthening of the impact time and for the progressive absorption of the impact energy. As soon as the phase of energy absorption is ended, a mechanical safety blocking system will intervene from the piston and the elastic means; this system will make sure that the force that is absorbed and accumulated during the impact isn't returned. Subsequently, the junction box will activate an exhaust valve of the compressed air that is inside the elastic means. The result of this innovation will be a 50% reduction of the impact on passengers.

BACKGROUND ART

In the early '50s, cars and vehicles in general were built with a very rigid external and internal structure. The general idea was that the more the vehicle was rigid, the safer it was. Therefore, after various decades of injuries and fatal accidents, research on these happenings shows the opposite. While collision research studied new ways to protect cars, a new theory for passengers' safety came out; research showed that after an impact, the worse the conditions of the car, the better were the conditions of the passengers. The reason of this theory is simple: moving objects have energy and what is needed is an opposite force to stop them, and this can happen in a slow or fast way.

Therefore, a reduction in time of the moving object force was necessary, in order to stop this energy; scientists have experimented various technologies to solve this problem, and have obtained good results. Motor vehicles that were built after the period of rigid cars were and are still today conceived in order to absorb all or part of the energy of the impact, from the body and the front and rear frame, unfortunately with the interior compartment included. During a collision at high speed, the vehicle and the passenger are often curled up because the resistance of the structure is too fragile compared to the force that is emitted at the impact. As a result, most of the times the passenger will show severe injuries to vital organs, often facing death. Following these dramatic results, car manufacturers have started more and more to interest themselves in the passive safety of the passenger, by developing various technologies in order to reduce to a minimum the dangers of road accidents; this is where the three-point seat belts came out, the air bags and other devices like the strengthening of the body. Despite these safety technologies, death rate in road accidents is still very high. Having examined and consulted all passive safety devices that are available at present on the market, there are no safety systems or devices similar to the invention here introduced.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The herewith described invention is presented and explained in the main claim. The secondary claims present solutions which derive and are connected to the main idea. The invention's simple and effective technology uses the scientists' theory and that is: an opposite force that stops the energy of a moving object. This new Energy Absorption System is able to reduce, in a passive way, the energy that is emitted in a collision of a vehicle. The purpose of the invention is to achieve an energy absorption system, during a collision or impact of a vehicle, in order to contrast the shock energy as much as possible. The system consists of a frame or structure of the vehicle, which is conceived as rigid and that acts in an intelligent way in order to face a possible head-on impact. This so-called system uses elastic means, usually made of rubber (similar to air springs), which produce differentiated and constant forces, both of minimum and high power and are able to contrast the shock energy of the vehicle from a moderate speed to high speed, without involving the passenger compartment. Moreover, this system is provided with a blocking system which doesn't return the force that is accumulated on the elastic means during the impact and this avoids the happening of a bounce effect. The different forces of the elastic means are activated according to the speed of the vehicle by means of the junction box. In case of an increase in speed the junction box, together with the speedometer, will activate the compressor, which will provide air inside the elastic means. Vice versa, in case of a decrease of speed of the vehicle, the junction box will activate the exhaust valve of the air in the elastic means. In short, this system is a sort of rigid surviving cell; on the outside there is a shock Energy

Absorption System that adapts to different speeds and different intensity of impact, lengthening as much as possible the shock time, without involving passengers. The Absorption and Energy Blocking System deriving from an impact, according to the invention, includes one or more elements with the same functioning. These elements are positioned in the frame or structure of the vehicle and stretch out frontally underneath the body. They are fitted in also on the rear, to absorb the shock energy deriving from collisions, and on the side, for side accidents. These systems will have different lengths and forces according to their place and to the weight of the vehicle. The invention states that the system includes frontal metal elements, similar to plates, inside which there are rubber elements that will cushion the violent impact at the end of the system. From these rubber elements, there are four resistant metal cylinders that come out and engage with bigger cylindrical elements. These bigger elements will press the elastic means positioned inside the body. On these cylindrical elements, there are spring tongues whose aim is to close when the cylindrical elements slide inside the body and to open in order to block the thrust return of the system. Inside the body, there are elastic air means (air springs): from each air spring two kinds of valves come out. One valve is for the inflation and is linked, thanks to a rapid clutch similar to a lever, to a tube that sticks out from a hole positioned next to the body, which is linked to an air compressor. This tube, in case of an impact of the vehicle and consequently of a contraction of the air spring, will unhook and rotate on itself to permit the sliding of the whole system. The other valve is there to empty the air in the spring, both in case of a slowing down of the vehicle and at the end of the action of the system after a possible impact. This valve is linked through electric conduction to the junction box, which will coordinate the whole procedure with the help of a speed measuring instrument (speedometer). According to a variation, the frontal element similar to a plate, is jointed or adjustable and is hooked to the System in the impact direction.

According to another variation, the cylinders, the elastic means and the blockage systems are substituted by a compressed air electromagnetic oil-pressure piston, which cooperate with power and depth control sensors. According to another variation, the number of cylinders or pistons can vary according to the weight of the vehicle, in proportion to the force of the impact energy that needs to be absorbed. For example, the system that is installed on a Fiat 500 car of 2008 will have a medium length (due to the reduced length of the anterior part of road) with a reduced number of frontal cylinders or pistons, since the force that is necessary to absorb the impact is lighter, due to the reduced weight of its mass. Vice versa, if the invention would be used on a vehicle with superior mass or length, the system would have a superior number of frontal cylinders.

According to another variation, the elastic means cooperate with sensors for the electronic evaluation of the force that need to impede the impact power. According to another variation, the blockage means can be of different types: mechanical, electronic, electric, by sensors, by compressed air or magnetic. According to another variation, the electronic control system of blockage opening and closing is connected to the wheels or to the transmission or to another item of speed measuring. According to another variation, the System is one, two, or more and is installed in a different way and size order.

According to another variation, the System is extractible from the vehicle by electronic means which, during the running and therefore, thanks to sensors or video cameras, is activated just before the impact. BMEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The pictures herewith enclosed are provided by way of an illustrative and not limitative example and show some of the preferential solutions of the invention. In the Tables it is possible to see: - Fig. 1 illustrates the entire Energy Absorption System

- Fig. 2 illustrates the entire Energy Absorption System with the blockage of the cylinders and the respective air springs that compress, after an impact of the vehicle.

- Fig. 3 illustrates the Energy Absorption System installed on a vehicle, saloon kind.

- Fig. 4 illustrates the Energy Absorption System installed on a vehicle, saloon kind, when in action after an impact.

- Fig. 5 illustrates a 3D vision of the rear of the System: the body is open on sight, the elastic means (air springs), the compressor with the connection tubes to the inflation valves, the junction box connected to the other inflation valves which also act as safety valves after the impact of the vehicle.

- Fig. 6 illustrates a 3D vision of the air spring with the two inflation and deflation valves. These valves are in their normal situation. and are connected through the tongues and a rapid joint on the tube that links to the compressor the first, and through a junction box and a speedometer, the second.

- Fig. 7 illustrates a 3D vision of the air spring at the moment of the beginning of the impact. The joint connection, thanks to the opening of the tongues, unhooks from the inflation valve.

- Fig. 8 illustrates a 3D vision of the air spring after the unhooking of the rapid joint. The connection tube that links to the compressor starts to rotate on itself and comes out from the side hole of the guide frame.

- Fig. 9 illustrates a 3D vision of the air spring when the unhooking is completed from the air connection tube.

- Fig. 10 illustrates a 3D vision of the frontal part of the system: the external or frontal plate with the rubber element, the two cylinders with the respective blockage tongues, in their normal situation during the running of the vehicle. - Fig. 11 illustrates a 3D vision of the external of frontal plate with the rubber element, the two cylinders with the respective blockage tongues, after the system has been activated, following an impact.

- Fig. 12 illustrates a 3D variation of a vehicle with a system which is identical to the original idea system, in a situation where the only part that is extracted is the frontal part, immediately before an impact. The extraction of the System is controlled by sensors of video cameras.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 generally indicates the Absorption and Energy Blocking System 100, according to the invention; it includes four identical 18 assembly lines on a body 15. The single system is composed by a frontal element, similar to a metal plate 17 on the rear of which a rubber element adheres 17a.

From this rubber element a cylinder comes out 16, to which tongues that can close are connected 24. The aim of these tongues is to block the return of the system after an impact. The cylinder 16 continues with a bigger cylinder 35 which will be used as a guide element in the body line 18 and as push for the air springs 19. Four air springs 19 are connected to the cylinder 35.

These air springs include an inflation valve 28 that is connected to a tube 20 which transports compressed air from the external element, like the compressor 21 and from the other valve 27 that is there for the deflation of the air spring 19. This is placed next to the valve 28 and is connected by electric conduction 23, to the junction box 22. This valve, which also has a safety function, will be needed for the discharge of the air spring 19, after the system will have compressed them, in the case of impact. The junction box is connected to the evaluation system of the vehicle speed (speedometer) 50. Fig. 2 generally shows the Energy Absorption System after being involved in an impact 100a. In the figure it is possible to see the compression of the air springs 19 with the cylinders 16 and 35 that move and slide along the guide line of the frame 18 together with the tongues 24 which close and re-open to block on the element 34 and avoid the return of the compression force. Fig. 3 shows an example of vehicle, saloon kind 25, on which the Impact Energy Absorption tool is installed 100 . In this figure it is possible to notice that the frame is an innovation non that different from the situation of current technologies on the market, so the industrialization of the invention can be possible. Fig. 4 shows an example of vehicle 26, with the impact Energy Absorption tool 100a, after a frontal impact.

From this figure it is possible to notice that the system has absorbed the accident without involving the passenger compartment. The innovative idea of this system, proves scientifically that the shock is divided on the whole vehicle and therefore the absorption of the energy is distributed with uniformity over the whole structure and not only frontally.

Fig. 5 illustrates in detail the final part of the system. As described in the previous figures, it is possible to notice the guide lines 18, fitted in the frame 15, that include the air springs 19, to which the inflation valves are connected 18 and the safety/deflation valves 27.

The inflation valves 28 are connected to the compressor 21 through tubes 20 that provide compressed-air to the springs 19. The valves 27 will be able to discharge the air of the springs 19 in case of slowing down of the vehicle or in case of a sudden impact. These valves 27 are connected thanks to electric conduction 23 to the junction box 22, which in turn will obtain information on the vehicle's speed from the speedometer 50. Fig. 6-7-8-9 illustrate the phases of unhooking of the air spring 19 with a consequent compression of the springs, at the beginning of a possible impact. In figure 6, the System is in its initial position, immediately before an impact. It is possible to notice that the two valves 27 and 28 come out from the air spring 19. The valve 28 is blocked by dockings 31 and is connected by a rapid joint to the tube 20, that provides compressed-air. This tube 20 passes through a hole 29 in the body 18 and is fixed to an articulation 30, while the valve 27 is connected to the electric conduction 23.

Fig. 7 illustrates the beginning of the movement of the air spring 19 right after an impact. It is possible to notice the immediate unhooking of the rapid joint and the couplers 31.

Fig. 8 illustrates, through a diagonal element 33 positioned on the air spring 19, the unhooking from the air tube 20, which will rotate on the joint 30.

Fig. 9 illustrates the completion of the rotation of the tube 20 and the consequent passage of the air spring 19 which will start to compress.

Fig. 10-11 illustrate details of the frontal part of the System. Fig. 10 shows the situation of the invention in a state of rest, during the running of the vehicle.

This frontal part includes the elements already mentioned in the previous figures.

Fig. 11 illustrates the frontal part that slides in the interior of the guide frame 18, after a possible impact of the vehicle.

Fig. 12 illustrates a variation: the System 100 is extractible from the vehicle 25 with electronic sensors and video cameras, which during the running of the vehicle, permit the extraction of the system before the impact.

Claims

1 - Absorption and Energy Blockage System deriving from an impact or collision, ranked in the field of passive safety associated to vehicles or means of locomotion; this system faces a possible impact in an intelligent way, by producing a force that is similar and opposite in order to stop the energy of a moving vehicle during an impact against other vehicles or obstacles, the forces are differentiated and constant and are activated through a junction box or speedometer, to contrast the violence of a shock at any speed from moderate to high, without involving the passenger's compartment; characterised by the fact that it consists of a vehicle built on a body or rigid structure including in the interior elastic means filled with compressed air (air springs) by a compressor, connected to pistons or cylinders placed frontally on the vehicle; the cylinders, in the case of impact, press their force on the elastic means which contract and therefore produce the energy that is necessary to absorb the impact; this energy that is absorbed is stopped by the intervention of a blockage system, to avoid the return of the accumulated force.

2- Absorption and Energy Blockage System, as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that it includes frontal resisting elements, similar to plates, inside which there are rubber elements that add to the air springs, and the aim is to cushion the violent impulse of the impact.

3- Absorption and Energy Blockage System, as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that from the rubber elements, resisting cylinders come out and engage with bigger cylindrical elements that will compress the elastic means placed inside the frame with spring tongues being placed onto the cylindrical elements, the purpose of the tongues is to close when the cylindrical elements slide inside the body and to open in order to block the return of the system's push.

4- Absorption and Energy Blockage System, as claimed in claim 1 characterised by the fact that, the body or structure include air elastic means

(air springs) including mechanical and electric valves, which carry out the inflation, deflation and safety work.

5- Absorption and Energy Blockage System, as claimed in claim 1 characterised by the fact that the valve 28 is connected to a tube that juts out from a hole placed on the side of the frame thanks to rapid-joint clutches, similar to a lever, and to a compressor; the tube, in the case of impact of the vehicle and consequently to the contraction of the air spring, will unhook and rotate on itself to allow for the system to slide.

6- Absorption and Energy Blockage System, as claimed in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the valve 27 is connected to a junction box which coordinates the System and to a speedometer, the purpose of the valve is to empty the air inside the spring in the case of slowing down of the vehicle and to guarantee safety at the end of the procedure after a possible impact.

7- System as claimed in claim 1 and others, characterised by the fact that the elastic means and the frontal cylinders or pistons are two or more, according to the force that is necessary for the vehicle to absorb the energy deriving from an impact and they can be joint or telescopic.

8- System as claimed in claim 1 and others, characterised by the fact that the elastic means can be spring-type, gas-type, pyrotechnical or composite. 9- System as claimed in claim 1 or others, characterised by the fact that the System is one, two, or more and is positioned on the rear in case of collisions and on the side in case of side impacts.

10- System as claimed in claim 1 or others, characterised by the fact that the cylinders or pistons are substituted by one oil-pressure piston which can be air-compressed or electromagnetic, and it cooperates with the electronic evaluation sensors of the force that is needed to contrast the shock.

11- System as claimed in claim 1 or others, characterised by the fact that the blockage means can be spring-type, sensor-type, mechanical, electronic, electric, magnetic, air - compressed or oil-pressurized.

12- System as claimed in claim 1 or others, characterised by the fact that the electronic control system (junction box), is connected to the wheels, to the transmission, and to electronic or mechanical speed measuring systems.

13- System as claimed in claim 1 or others, characterised by the fact that the System is extractible from the vehicle through mechanical means which during the speed of the vehicle and therefore, through sensors and video cameras, is activated before the collision.