MOTOR SHIFTABLE SHOCK ABSORBING BUMPER

• US 3,848,914 A
• Filed: 10/19/1973
• Issued: 11/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Lucian Wathen
• Original Assignee: Robert Lucian Wathen
• Inventors: Wathen, Robert Lucian
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. Henson
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beltran, Howard
• Application Number:
  US05/389,612
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 180/82R,91,92,98 246/29,30,167D 250/215 293/1,9,84,87 307/106,246 325/105,321 343/6.5R,7ED,13R
• US Class Current: 293/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/40 in the direction of an obstacle before a collision , or extending during driving of the vehicle, i.e. to increase the energy absorption capacity of the bumper inflatable bumpers B60R19/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 19/04 Bumpers or like collision guards

Abstract

A vehicular safety system including manual or automatic sensor armed bumper extension and retraction apparatus employs high pressure hydraulic or explosion actuator means for dissipating the kinetic energy of a protected vehicle during a collision with another object, reducing damage to the protected vehicle and the risk of injury to its passengers or cargo. Collision forced retraction of a bumper at one end of the vehicle either arms or aids in maintaining the armed or extended state of the bumper at the opposite end of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A radio pre-collision protective system for a vehicle having first and second ends, comprising:

directive radio object detector means at said first end characterized by the generation of a control signal instantaneously prior to collision of an object with said first end of said vehicle, high pressure fluid generator means instantaneously responsive to said control signal, and actuator means for supporting bumper means at said first end and responsive to activation of said high pressure fluid generator means for extending said bumper means prior to said collision.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 further including:

Second actuator means for supporting second extendable bumper means at said second end of said vehicle, constricted fluid conduit means for retarding interchange of pressurized fluid from said actuator means at said one end and said second actuator means for causing at least partial extension of said second extendable bumper means and for the dissipation of collision energy as heat when said bumper means at said first end is impacted in a collision with an obstacle.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 2 further including:

second directive radio object detector means at said second end characterized by the generation of a control signal instantaneously prior to collision of a second object with said second end of said vehicle, and second high pressure fluid generator means instantaneously responsive to said second directive radio object detection means control signal, said second actuator means being responsive to activation of said second high pressure fluid generator means for extending said second extendable bumper means.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 2 including pressure sensor means responsive to a predetermined fluid pressure level within said first or second actuator means for causing said respective second or first actuator means fully to extend said respective second or first bumper means.

5. A protective system for a vehicle having first and second ends comprIsing:

sensor means responsive to motion of said vehicle for deriving a measure of the speed of said vehicle, converter means for converting said measure of speed into a substantially constant finite electrical signal only above a predetermined finite value of said speed substantially greater than zero and only for forward motion of said vehicle, hydraulic pump means responsive to said converter means substantially constant finite electrical signal by operation only in a first direction, and actuator means responsive to said hydraulic pump means for extending extendable bumper means at said first end in the presence of said substantially constant finite electrical signal.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5 additionally including switching means responsive to said converter means for providing an electrical signal opposite in polarity with respect to said substantially constant finite electrical signal for causing said hydraulic pump means to be operative in said second direction for retracting said extendable bumper means at said first end.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 5 further including sensor means responsive to said hydraulic pump means when operative in said one direction for detecting the substantially full extension of said extendable bumper means at said first end and for interrupting operation of said hydraulic pump means thereupon.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 5 additionally including memory means responsive to said converter means for delaying retraction of said extendable bumper means at said first end when said converter means output momentarily drops below the value of said predetermined substantially constant electrical signal.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 5 additionally including manually operable control means for causing said hydraulic pump means to be operative in a second direction for retracting said extendable bumper means at said first end.

10. Apparatus as described in claim 9 further comprising display means for indicating within said vehicle the extended or retracted state of said extendable bumper means at said first end.

11. Apparatus as described in claim 5, wherein said hydraulic pump means comprises reversible-motor driven fluid pump means for interchange of fluid between reservoir means and said actuator means.

12. Apparatus as described in claim 11 including constricted unilateral fluid by-pass means between said actuator means and said reservoir means for the purpose of dissipation of collision energy as heat when said bumper means at said first end is impacted in a collision with an object.

13. Apparatus as described in claim 11 further including:

second extendable bumper means at said second end, second actuator means responsive to said hydraulic pump means for extending said second extendable bumper means, and constricted fluid conduit means for retarding interchange of fluid between said actuator means at said one end and said second actuator means for the purpose of dissipation of collision energy as heat when either one of said extendable bumper means is impacted in a collision with an obstacle.