초록 ▼

Device for motor vehicles designed to prevent traffic accidents or to reduce their injurious consequences. The extent of injuries in traffic accidents can be reduced significantly by employing the vehicle bumper (1) as a crumple (deformation) zone. A sensor (2) is used to record this distance from a

Device for motor vehicles designed to prevent traffic accidents or to reduce their injurious consequences. The extent of injuries in traffic accidents can be reduced significantly by employing the vehicle bumper (1) as a crumple (deformation) zone. A sensor (2) is used to record this distance from and speed relative to an obstacle in the direction of travel. When a collision is unavoidable, one end of the bumper (1) is projected outward by a propellant charge (13) so that, together with a strut (17, 22, 24), if forms a crumple zone ahead of the vehicle. The device can also be provided with a system to warn of dangerous traffic situations, and to brake the vehicle automatically or reduce its speed if the risk of a collision exists. In the case of trucks and buses, the bumper (1) may be deployed by means of a pneumatic cylinder (4) and valve (7), which are controlled by the vehicle's ordinary speedometer. The bumper remains depolyed above a certain threshold speed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collision safety device for a vehicle having a bumper, comprising: a pivot bolt pivotally securing said bumper at one end thereof to said vehicle, a propellant charge (13), a strut having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is pivotally secured to said vehicle, said bumpe

1. A collision safety device for a vehicle having a bumper, comprising: a pivot bolt pivotally securing said bumper at one end thereof to said vehicle, a propellant charge (13), a strut having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is pivotally secured to said vehicle, said bumper comprising an elongated channel opening along a length thereof, wherein said strut is slidably connected to said bumper at said first end by a bolt through said elongated channel opening, an electric igniter (14) operably connected to said propellant charge, a sensor providing a current impulse to said electrical igniter through a computing device, wherein said sensor records the speed of said vehicle and its distance from an obstacle, a sleeve actuatable by said propellant charge and operably connected to a latch, wherein if the speed of said vehicle as determined by said sensor relative to said obstacle exceeds a predetermined value, said sensor triggers said electrical igniter and said propellant charge through said computing device whereupon said propellant charge actuates said sleeve to release said latch and said bumper pivots about said pivot bolt by said strut pivoting about said second end and said first end bolt moving along said channel. 2. Device as per patent claim 1, characterised in that the sensor (2) is interlinked with the vehicle speedometer through the computing device (30) so that the computing device can compute the braking distance at different speeds, enabling a driver to be provided with a warning of the distance from the obstacle or warned if the distance from another vehicle in front is approaching the stopping distance and wherein the computing device will automatically reduce the speed to a predetermined value if said driver fails to reduce the speed. 3. Device as per patent claim 2, characterised in that the warning system is integrated with a seat belt warning system so that a warning signal is received if the seat belts are not fastened when the vehicle reaches a predetermined speed. 4. Device as per patent claim 1, characterised in that the signal for triggering the electrical igniter further operates the braking system so that the brakes are applied before the collision safety device is deployed. 5. Device as per patent claim 1, wherein said vehicle further comprises a radiator grille (27) mounted on the bumper (1) and wherein said radiator grille is carried with the bumper (1) when it is deployed. 6. Device as per patent claim 1, characterised in that an air cushion (28) is seated in the channel opening in the bumper (1) and is inflated by said computing device in front of the radiator grille (27) mounted on the bumper (1) at an instant related to the collision speed. 7. A collision safety device for a vehicle having a bumper and a compressed air system, comprising: a pivot bolt pivotally securing said bumper at one end thereof to said vehicle, a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod and secured to said vehicle, a valve operably connected to said pneumatic cylinder at an outlet end and to said compressed air system at an intake end, wherein an electric signal from the vehicle speedometer controls said valve, a strut having a first end and a second end wherein said second end is pivotally secured to said vehicle, said piston rod is pivotally connected to said strut, said bumper comprising an elongated channel opening along a length thereof, wherein said strut is slidably connected to said bumper at said first end by a bolt through said elongated channel opening, wherein if the speed of said vehicle relative to an obstacle exceeds a predetermined value, said electrical signal actuates said valve whereupon said valve operates said piston rod of said pneumatic cylinder to pivot said bumper out about said pivot bolt.