Arrangement for detecting impermissibly high forces acting on the supporting structure of a vehicle

• US 6,538,219 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JENOPTIK Advanced Systems GmbH (Jenoptik AG)
• Original Assignee: Esw-Extel Systems Wedel Gesellschaft Fuer Ausruestung mbH
• Inventors: Roeckendorf, Hubert, Poetter, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/014,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 200/52.R, 200/61.08, 200/61.41, 200/61.42, 200/61.93, 200/300
• US Class Current: 200/61.08
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/06 using members subjected to a permanent deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/135 by making use of contacts which are actuated by a movable inertial mass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/146 operated by plastic deformation or rupture of structurally associated elements

Abstract

An arrangement for detecting impermissibly high forces acting on a supporting structure of a vehicle is disclosed. Impermissibly high forces acting on the supporting structure of a vehicle which indicates possible damage to the supporting structure are detected within a predefined impact or deformation range only in the case of impermissibly high forces, by the disclosed an arrangement. This arrangement for detecting impermissibly high forces acting on the supporting structure of a vehicle comprises a housing which is deformable in a defined manner and essentially has the shape of a truncated cone, wherein the center axis of the truncated cone is oriented in the direction of the acting force to be detected, there is a rod with a wedge-shaped end provided in the interior of the housing, wherein the rod is rigidly fastened parallel to the center axis of the truncated cone to the base surface or top surface, electrical contacts inside a glass tube with a contact bridge keep a circuit closed, wherein the glass tube is oriented orthogonal to the direction of the rod and transverse to its wedge-shaped end, and when the height of the truncated cone is reduced due to the action of an impermissibly high force the rod and the glass tube are displaced relative to one another to the extent that the glass tube is broken and the contact bridge is interrupted.

Claims

1. An arrangement for detecting impermissibly high forces acting on a supporting structure of a vehicle comprising:

a substantially conical housing;

two electrical contacts being arranged inside the housing for connecting a signal circuit indicating deformation when the housing is deformed;

said housing being deformable in a defined manner and essentially having the shape of a truncated cone, wherein a center axis joining centers of a base surface and a top surface of the truncated cone is oriented in the direction of an acting force to be detected;

a rod having a wedge-shaped end in the interior of the housing, said rod being rigidly fastened parallel to the center axis of the truncated cone to one of the base and top surfaces;

said electrical contacts being connected with a contact bridge within a glass tube by which a circuit is kept closed, wherein the glass tube is oriented orthogonal to the direction of the rod and transverse to the wedge-shaped end thereof; and

when the height of the truncated cone is reduced in excess of a determined amount due to the action of an impermissibly high force, the wedge-shaped end of the rod and the glass tube are displaceable relative to one another to an extent that the glass tube is broken and the contact bridge is interrupted.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a truncated cone with a curved top surface.

3. The arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the housing is a truncated cone, wherein a permissible force acting without deformation of the housing is calculated by stability calculation by the finite elements method.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a truncated cone with a substantially elliptical base surface and top surface.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the housing is an oblique truncated cone with a curved top surface resulting in a fin shape which is inclined in the principal movement direction of the vehicle.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a tubular sleeve is provided, into which the rod penetrates by the wedge-shaped end in an initial position, wherein the sleeve is rigidly fastened to the base surface or top surface located opposite to a rod fastening and has a holder for the glass tube such that the axes of symmetry of the glass tube and the sleeve intersect one another orthogonally.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the rod is rigidly fastened to the base surface of the truncated cone and the sleeve is rigidly fastened to the top surface of the truncated cone.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a wire loop is arranged at the sleeve along a longitudinal dimension for detecting abrasion of the top surface of the housing, wherein the wire loop, shaped like a turning bend, is securely fastened to the top surface at a predetermined distance from a fastening point of the sleeve and is guided back in the opposite direction.

9. The arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a wire loop is arranged at the sleeve along the longitudinal dimension for detecting abrasion of the top surface of the housing, wherein the wire loop is a connection line to a terminal of the contact-making glass tube, is securely fastened to the top surface at a predetermined distance from a fastening point of the sleeve in the form of a turning bend and is guided back in the opposite direction.

10. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the wire loop is guided through the wall of the sleeve and sealed for securely fastening the turning bend.

11. The arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the wire loop is guided outside the sleeve toward the turning bend and back inside the sleeve.

12. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing is completely filled with solid material.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein most of the housing which faces the acting force to be detected is filled with a rubber-like substance and the rest of the housing is completely foamed with a suitable expanding material.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the rubber-like substance is silicon rubber.

15. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the glass tube is a glass fuse.

16. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the contact-making glass tube is a double-ended light bulb.

17. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the glass tube is a cutoff switch type reed contact.

18. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the glass tube is a reed contact which is kept closed by providing a permanent magnet.

19. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the reed contact can be switched off by an accompanying electromagnet for checking functionality. is guided outside the sleeve toward the turning bend and back inside the sleeve.

20. The arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the reed contact can be switched off by an external permanent magnet which is positioned at the housing (1) for checking functionality from the outside.