Pre-crash nose dipping system

• US 20050068224A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Bernard D.E. Mersseman, Charles J. Sherwin, Saeed D. Barbat, Stephen W. Decker
• Inventors: De Mersseman, Bernard, Sherwin, Charles J., Barbat, Saeed D., Decker, Stephen W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,993,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0164 mainly during accelerating or braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0521 the spring having a flexible wall
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/314 The spring being a pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1262 on a damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/823 Obstacle sensing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/014 Pitch; Nose dive
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/222 during collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/00 Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; mudguards B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/007 Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0083 Pick-up trucks; Light trucks; Sport utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

A system for adjusting a height of a first road vehicle with respect to the ground prior to impacting a second road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a predictive crash sensor mounted to the first vehicle for sensing the second road vehicle, a control unit, and a height adjustment apparatus. The control unit is in communication with the predicative crash sensor for receiving a predictive crash signal and determining whether the first and the second road vehicles will collide. The height adjustment apparatus is mounted to the first road vehicle and in communication with the control unit. The height adjustment apparatus includes a shock absorber, a bladder, and a first valve. The shock absorber is mounted at a first end to a vehicle body of the first road vehicle and at a second end to a vehicle axle of the first road vehicle. The bladder is fixed at a first end to the first end of the shock absorber and at a second end to the second end of the shock absorber. The first valve is in fluid communication with the bladder for releasing fluid stored in the bladder upon the issuance of a crash signal sent by the crash unit.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting a height of a first road vehicle with respect to the ground prior to impacting a second road vehicle, the system comprising:

a predictive crash sensor mounted to the first vehicle for sensing the second road vehicle;

a control unit in communication with the predicative crash sensor for receiving a predictive crash signal and determining whether the first and the second road vehicles will collide; and

a height adjustment apparatus mounted to the first road vehicle and in communication with the control unit, wherein the height adjustment apparatus includes;

a shock absorber mounted at a first end to a vehicle body of the first road vehicle and at a second end to a vehicle axle of the first road vehicle;

a bladder fixed at a first end to the first end of the shock absorber and at a second end to the second end of the shock absorber; and

a first valve in fluid communication with the bladder for releasing fluid stored in the bladder upon the issuance of a crash signal sent by the control unit.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second valve in communication with the first valve for actuating the first valve.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second valve is a solenoid valve.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a pilot tube connecting the first valve with the second valve for actuating the first valve.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first valve includes a diaphragm for releasing fluid from the bladder.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the second valve is mounted to the bladder.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first valve is mounted to a wall of the bladder.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the second valve is connected to the control unit.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the predictive crash sensor is a radar sensor.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber is a variable damper shock absorber wherein the damping characteristics of the shock absorber may be varied.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the second valve is electrically connected to the control unit.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the second valve is in fluid communication with the first valve.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a silencer in communication with the first valve for reducing noise created by releasing fluid from the bladder.

14. A method for adjusting a height of a first road vehicle with respect to the ground prior to impacting a second road vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing the second road vehicle using a predictive crash sensor mounted to the first vehicle;

receiving a predictive crash signal from a control unit in communication with the predicative crash sensor;

determining whether the first and the second road vehicles will collide; and

adjusting a height of the first vehicle with respect to the ground using a height adjustment apparatus, wherein the height adjustment apparatus is mounted to the first road vehicle and in communication with the control unit, wherein the height adjustment apparatus includes;

a shock absorber mounted at a first end to a vehicle body of the first road vehicle and at a second end to a vehicle axle of the first road vehicle;

a bladder fixed at a first end to the first end of the shock absorber and at a second end to the second end of the shock absorber; and

a first valve in fluid communication with the bladder for releasing fluid stored in the bladder upon the issuance of a crash signal sent by the control unit.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein adjusting further comprises closing the first valve a predetermined time after the first valve is opened.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein adjusting a height adjustment apparatus further comprises monitoring a height of a front end of a vehicle prior to the height adjustment.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein adjusting a height adjustment apparatus further comprises adjusting a height of a vehicle by less than a complete amount if the front end of the first vehicle has dropped in height.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising monitoring a speed of the first vehicle before adjusting the height of the vehicle.