VELOCITY RESPONSIVE SENSOR FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS

• US 3,774,938 A
• Filed: 09/25/1972
• Issued: 11/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vincent A. Orlando
• Original Assignee: Vincent A. Orlando
• Inventors: Orlando, Vincent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paperner, Leslie J.
• Application Number:
  US05/292,085
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 180/91,103 200/61.45R,61.48,61.53
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002

Abstract

A velocity responsive sensor operative upon impact engagement of a vehicle with an obstacle to sense the total change in vehicle velocity in a short deceleration time period and actuate the occupant restraint prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment of the vehicle if the change in vehicle velocity is greater than a predetermined value. The sensor includes upper and lower frames which open to each other and provide a housing. Each frame encloses and mounts a like sensor including an elongated planar spring arm having one end portion mounted to the frame and the other end portion slidably engaging an abutment surface lying in a vertical plane intersecting the vertical plane of the one end portion at an acute angle. A mass mounted on the other end portion moves horizontally into engagement with a compression spring contact when the free portion of the arm deflects horizontally relative to the one end portion of the arm. A stop for the free portion of the arm includes an arcuate rib on the frame tangentially related to the one end portion of the arm and wrappingly engaged by the arm adjacent such one end portion upon deflection of the free portion of the arm and engagement of the mass with the spring contact. The time period for the mass to change its energy and move into engagement with the spring contact is comparable to or greater than the deceleration time period of the vehicle. The mass and spring contact are connected across a source of power and an occupant restraint.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle including an occupant compartment and an occupant restraint, a velocity responsive sensor operative upon impact engagement of the vehicle with an obstacle to sense the total change in vehicle velocity in a short deceleration time period prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment and actuate the occupant restraint, comprising, a housing mounted on the vehicle and including spaced mounting means and abutment means lying in planes intersecting each other at a predetermined included acute angle, an elongated spring member having one end portion thereof secured to the mounting means, the other end portion of the spring member seating on the abutment means to deflect the free portion of the spring member from normal undeflected position, a mass secured to the other end portion of the spring member, contact means mounted on the housing in spaced relationship to the abutment means and engageable by the mass upon deflection of the free portion of the spring member relative to the secured end portion thereof, the time period for the mass to change its energy and move into engagement with the contact means being comparable to or greater than the deceleration time period of the vehicle whereby engagement of the mass with the contact means is responsive to the occurrence of a change in vehicle velocity greater than a predetermined value, means on the housing tangential to the one secured end portion of the spring member and wrappingly engaged by the free portion of the spring member adjacent the one secured end portion thereof upon movement of the mass into engagement with the contact means to thereby limit and control the deflection of the free portion of the spring member, and circuit means connecting the spring member and the contact means across a source of power and the occupant restraint, movement of the mass into engagement with the contact means actuating the occupant restraint when the housing is subjected to substantially the total change in velocity of the vehicle in a short deceleration time period prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment of the vehicle.

2. In combination with a vehicle including an Occupant compartment and an occupant restraint, a velocity responsive sensor operative upon impact engagement of the vehicle with an obstacle to sense the total change in vehicle velocity in a short deceleration time period prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment of the vehicle and actuate the occupant restraint, comprising, a housing mounted on the vehicle and including spaced planar mounting and abutment surfaces lying in planes intersecting each other at a predetermined included acute angle, an elongated planar spring member having one end portion thereof seating on the mounting surface, means securing the one end portion of the spring member to the housing, the other end portion of the spring member seating on the abutment surface to deflect the free portion of the spring member from normal undeflected position, a mass secured to the other end portion of the spring member, contact means mounted on the housing in spaced relationship to the abutment surface and engageable by the mass upon deflection of the free portion of the spring member relative to the one end portion thereof, the time period for the mass to change its energy and move into engagement with the contact means being comparable to or greater than the deceleration time period of the vehicle whereby engagement of the mass with the contact means is responsive to the occurrence of a change in vehicle velocity greater than a predetermined value, arcuate rib means on the housing tangential to the mounting surface and wrappingly engaged by the free portion of the spring member adjacent the one end portion thereof upon movement of the mass into engagement with the contact means to thereby limit and control the deflection of the free portion of the spring member, and circuit means connecting the spring member and the contact means across a source of power and the occupant restraint, movement of the mass into engagement with the contact means actuating the occupant restraint when the housing is subjected to substantially the total change in velocity of the vehicle in a short deceleration time period prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment of the vehicle.

3. In combination with a vehicle including an occupant compartment and an occupant restraint, a velocity responsive sensor operative upon impact engagement of the vehicle with an obstacle to sense the total change in vehicle velocity in a short deceleration time period prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment of the vehicle and actuating the occupant restraint, comprising, a housing mounted on the vehicle and including spaced planar mounting and abutment surfaces lying in planes intersecting each other at a predetermined included acute angle, an elongated planar spring member having one end portion thereof seating on the mounting surface, means securing the one end portion of the spring member to the housing, the other end portion of the spring member seating on the abutment surface to deflect the free portion of the spring member from normal undeflected position, a mass secured to the other end portion of the spring member, a columnar contact spring mounted on the housing in spaced relationship to the abutment surface and engageable by the mass upon deflection of the free portion of the spring member relative to the one end portion thereof, the time period for the mass to change its energy and move into engagement with the contact spring being comparable to or greater than the deceleration time period of the vehicle whereby engagement of the mass with the contact spring is responsive to the occurrence of a change in vehicle velocity greater than a predetermined value, spring member stop means on the housing including an arcuate surface tangentially related to the mounting surface and wrappingly engaged by the free portion of the spring member adjacent the one end portion thereof upon movement of the mass into engagement with the contact spring to thereby limit and contRol the deflection of the free portion of the spring member, and circuit means connecting the spring member and the contact spring across a source of power and the occupant restraint, movement of the mass into engagement with the contact spring actuating the occupant restraint when the housing is subjected to substantially the total change in velocity of the vehicle in a short deceleration time period prior to the onset of significant deceleration of the occupant compartment of the vehicle.