VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 3,600,003 A
• Filed: 03/19/1969
• Issued: 08/17/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: William R. Carey
• Inventors: Carey, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US04/808,704
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 74/492,493
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns

Abstract

A steering column assembly for a vehicle to protect the operator thereof. An inflatable bag and a container for storing fluid for inflating the bag removably disposed as a unit within a recess in the assembly. The bag includes means comprising a rupturable patch for dissipating the energy resulting from movement of an operator against the inflated bag, thereby minimizing rebound of the operator. The steering column includes multiple overlapping components which are interconnected by shearpins and the container is disposed in the recess so that as fluid flows from the container to inflate the bag, a thrust is created on the column to shear the shearpins and collapse the column as the bag is being inflated.

Claims

1. A safety assembly for protecting an operator of a vehicle comprising a steering assembly, an inflatable bag operatively connected to said steering assembly, means for inflating said bag in response to a predetermined condition, said bag including means for automatically dissipating the energy resulting from movement of an operator against the inflated bag during such movement thereby minimizing rebound of the operator, said steering assembly including a steering column having means for allowing said column to collapse in response to the inflating of said bag, said steering column including a rotatable hub having a recess therein, said means for inflating said bag including a container for storing fluid, said container bEing disposed in said recess, and means for opening said container and establishing fluid communication with said bag to establish a thrust as fluid flows from said container to inflate said bag so that said column collapses in response to the thrust.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is disposed within and in spaced relationship with the walls of said recess to define a fluid flow passage, said bag being disposed at one extremity of said recess, and an explosive means associated with said container at the other extremity of said recess for opening said container upon the activation thereof.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said column includes overlapping components and said means for allowing said column to collapse comprises at least one shearpin interconnecting said components.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said components includes a tapered portion for wedgingly engaging another component upon the collapse of said column to prevent said column from rebounding toward the uncollapsed position.

5. A safety assembly for protecting an operator of a vehicle comprising a steering assembly, an inflatable bag operatively connected to said steering assembly, means for inflating said bag in response to a predetermined condition, said bag including means for automatically dissipating the energy resulting from movement of an operator against the inflated bag during such movement thereby minimizing rebound of the operator, said steering assembly having a recess therein, said bag and said means for inflating said bag being removably disposed in said recess, said means for inflating said bag including a container for storing fluid, said container being disposed within and in spaced relationship to the walls of said recess to define a fluid flow passage, said bag being disposed at one extremity of said recess, and means associated with said container at the other extremity of said recess for opening said container so that fluid flows out of said container, through said passage and into said bag.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means for opening said container comprises an explosive means.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said steering assembly includes a collapsible column including means for allowing the collapse thereof in response to the thrust created as the fluid flows from said container and into said bag.

8. A safety assembly for protecting an operator of a vehicle comprising a steering assembly, an inflatable bag operatively connected to said steering assembly, means for inflating said bag in response to a predetermined condition, said bag including means for automatically dissipating energy resulting from movement of an operator against the inflated bag during such movement thereby minimizing rebound of the operator, said steering assembly including a column having overlapping components, at least one shearpin interconnecting said components to allow said column to collapse in response to a predetermined force, a rotatable hub supported by said column and including a steering wheel, said hub having a recess therein, said means for inflating said bag including a container for storing fluid, said container being disposed within and in spaced relationship with the walls of said recess to define a fluid flow passage, means for removably attaching said container and said bag to said hub, said bag being disposed adjacent the open extremity of said recess, and explosive means disposed adjacent the closed extremity of said recess for opening said container upon the activation thereof.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for dissipating energy comprises a rupturable patch disposed over an aperture in said bag for rupturing to exhaust fluid from said bag as the operator moves against the bag.

10. A safety apparatus for protecting the driver of a vehicle comprising a steering column with a steering wheel at one end thereof, a Confinement supported on said steering wheel, said confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition in which said confinement is operable to restrain movement of the driver of the vehicle relative to the steering wheel of the vehicle, said steering column being collapsible upon impact by a predetermined force to enable said steering wheel to move upon impact of the driver thereagainst, explosive means providing for fluid flow from a fluid source to effect expansion of said confinement and operable independently of movement of the steering wheel, and means for effecting movement of the steering wheel away from the driver simultaneously with expansion of the confinement, said means for effecting movement of the steering wheel comprising means against which the thrust of the fluid flowing into the confinement acts to move the steering wheel.

11. A safety apparatus for use in restraining movement of a driver of a vehicle relative to a steering means of the vehicle to protect the driver from a forceful impact with the steering means during an accident, said safety apparatus comprising structure defining a recess in said steering means, a confinement supported by said steering means, said confinement having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of the driver, a source of fluid operatively connected with the confinement to effect expansion thereof, said source of fluid being located in the recess in said steering means, means for providing for flow of fluid from said source to expand said confinement including a flow passage between said source of fluid and said confinement, said flow passage being defined at least in part by a portion of said structure defining the recess and said fluid source.

12. In a vehicle, a steering column with a steering wheel at one end thereof, means for enabling rotational movement of said steering wheel relative to said steering column, a confinement supported on the steering wheel and rotatable therewith relative to said steering column, said confinement having an inoperative collapsed position and an expanded operative position in which said confinement is operable to restrain movement of the driver of the vehicle relative to the steering wheel of the vehicle, a source of fluid for expanding said confinement supported on said steering wheel and rotatable therewith relative to said steering column, said confinement when in said operative position filling the major portion of the interior of the vehicle between the steering wheel and the driver, and means for expanding said confinement to said operative position prior to movement of the driver of the vehicle relative to the vehicle as a result of an accident and in response to the vehicle encountering an accident condition including electrically actuatable means carried by the steering wheel and rotatable therewith relative to said steering column for providing for fluid flow from said fluid source into said confinement and operable independently of movement of the steering wheel, sensor means supported remote from said steering wheel, said sensor means being operable in response to the vehicle encountering an accident condition to provide an electrical actuating signal for actuating said electrically actuatable means, and means operatively interconnecting said sensor and said electrically actuable means for providing fluid flow from the fluid source to transmit the electrical actuating signal therebetween including means operatively associated with said steering wheel and said steering column to enable said electrical actuating signal to be transmitted therebetween to activate said electrically actuable means.