System for Automatically Dislodging a Vehicle Windshield

• US 20110192670A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Group North America LLC (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Group North America LLC (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Spence, William Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,245,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/00 Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor B60J10/00 takes precedence; air curtains instead of windows B60J9/04 ; sealing strips for windshields B60J10/70; sealing sash guides for sliding window panes B60J10/74; glass partitions inside vehicles to protect occupants against personal attack B60R21/12

Abstract

A system for automatically detaching a windshield from a vehicle cab comprises a pressure applying device mounted between a windshield and a frame element, a roll-over condition sensor, and a controller connected to receive a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor and connected to activate the pressure applying device responsive to receiving said signal. The pressure applying device may be one or more pyrotechnic devices. The system includes a delay function to delay activating the pressure applying device to allow the vehicle to come to a rest.

Claims

1. A system for detaching a windshield from a vehicle cab, comprising:

a pressure applying device mounted between a windshield and a frame element;

a roll-over condition sensor; and

,

a controller connected to receive a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor, and connected to activate the pressure applying device responsive to receiving said signal.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an acceleration condition sensor, the controller being connected to receive a signal indicating an acceleration condition from the acceleration condition sensor, and further configured to activate the pressure applying device responsive to receiving the roll-over condition signal and the acceleration condition signal.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the acceleration condition signal is configured to generate a signal when the vehicle has decelerated to a stop.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is connected to a vehicle device controlling deployment of a vehicle airbag system to receive a signal indicating deployment of the airbag.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure applying device comprises at least one pyrotechnic device.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pressure applying device comprises a plurality of pyrotechnic devices distributed about a periphery of the windshield.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure applying device comprises an inflatable tube and a gas generating device connected to inflate the tube upon receipt of a signal from the controller.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a delay function to delay activating the pressure applying device for a predetermined time period following receipt of a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor.