Vehicle mounted crash impact attenuator

• US 10,562,464 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies LLC (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Koulas, Theodoros
• Primary Examiner(s): Garft, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/948,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/483 with obstacle sensors of electric or electronic type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0049 for non integrated articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/04 comprising both a plastics spring and a damper, e.g. a friction damper
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/142 Damping means to avoid unwanted response

Abstract

A sensor support assembly comprising a frame member adapted to be fixed on a vehicle structure and a support member adapted to be inserted in a recess defined in the frame member, the recess defining an axis along which the support member can switch from a normal position to a collapse position, the support member being guided during the displacement.

Claims

1. A sensor support assembly, comprising:

a frame member adapted to be fixed on a vehicle structure; and

a support member adapted to be inserted in a recess defined in the frame member;

the support member configured to receive a sensor on a front face of the support member;

the support member configured to retain the sensor at or near a surface of a body panel of a vehicle that is susceptible to an impact from an object;

the recess defining a longitudinal axis (X) along which the support member can displace from a normal position (P1) to a collapse position (P2) when an axial force (F1) from the impact applied on the support member exceeds a predetermined threshold (F0);

the support member being substantially outside the recess in the normal position (P1) and substantially inside the recess in the collapse position (P2);

the support member being guided during the displacement between side faces of the frame member and side faces of the support member; and

a longitudinal rail arranged in a clearance (C) defined between the support member and the side faces of the frame member, the longitudinal rail being integral to the frame member and defining a longitudinal linear tip in contact against an opposing side face of the support member, wherein said longitudinal linear tip defines a sharp edge in permanent contact with said opposing side face.

2. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a male guiding member cooperating with a complementary female guiding member aligned along said longitudinal axis (X).

3. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the male guiding member is integral to the support member and the complementary female guiding member is integral to the frame member.

4. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the male guiding member has a T-shaped cross section.

5. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 2, comprising a plurality of male and female guiding members cooperating with one other and arranged on opposing sides of the recess and of the support member.

6. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sharp edge scribes an axial line in said opposing side face when the support member moves from the normal position (P1) to said collapse position (P2).

7. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a compliant member holding the support member in the normal position (P1) as long as a longitudinal force applied on the support member is inferior to the predetermined threshold (F0), the compliant member breaking away and displacing under an influence of the support member moving from said normal position (P1) to said collapse position (P2).

8. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said compliant member comprises a short elastic arm extending from the frame member to a distant head in contact against a side face of the support member.

9. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 8, comprising a plurality of short elastic arms arranged around the support member.

10. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a retaining member retaining the support member in the normal position (P1).

11. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said retaining member comprises a locking clip arranged at an end of a locking arm extending from the frame member, the locking clip defining a locking face engaged against a complementary locking face of the support member.

12. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said retaining member comprises a locking clip arranged at an end of a locking arm integral to the support member, the locking clip defining a locking face engaged against a complementary locking face of the frame member.

13. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 10, comprising a plurality of retaining members.

14. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein, in the normal position (P1) the support member axially urges the plurality of short elastic arms which react by applying to the support member an axial counter force opposed to the collapse direction, the support member being kept in said normal position (P1) by said locking clip.

15. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the collapse threshold force (F0) is predetermined by said counter forces generated by the plurality of short elastic arms.

16. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein a sum of the individual counter forces applied by each of the plurality of short elastic arms is equal to said predetermined threshold (F0).

17. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 16, comprising a plurality of holding sets arranged around the recess, each set comprising two short elastic arms applying counter forces and arranged on both sides of a locking arm retaining the support member in the normal position (P1), wherein the two short elastic arms are aligned with the locking arm.

18. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the male guiding member extends from at least one side face of one of the support member and the frame member and engages the complementary female guiding member extending from an opposite side face of one of the support member and the frame member.

19. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the complementary female guiding member defines a corresponding T-shaped slot.

20. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displacement of the frame member is in a range of 2 mm to 10 mm.

21. The sensor support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold (F0) is between 300N and 1000N.