On-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus

• US 7,681,684 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Suguru, Taguchi, Katsuaki, Urushiyama, Yuta
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US10/591,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20070158127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 180/268, 180/271, 180/274, 180/282
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/015 Attaching seats directly to vehicle chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01252 Devices other than bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/321 using electric means
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/0207 for attachment to vehicles E05D5/043, E05D5/062 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/121 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/684 Strength alteration by weakening, e.g. by applying grooves
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/538 Interior lids
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/77 Use of a shape-memory material
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/97 having differing thermal expansion coefficients
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/007 Break-bolts loosening at high temperature

Abstract

To readily remove on-vehicle components from a vehicle body, suitably reflecting the state of the vehicle or occupant in addition to the will of the operator.

The safety confirmation device 11 determines whether or not to permit actuation of the separation actuator 13, that is, whether to set the switch 12 to the ON state to allow an electrical connection from the power supply 14 to the separation actuator 13, based on the signals input from the external input receiving portion 21, the occupant protection device 22, the status quantity sensor 23, and the input portion 24, and outputs a gate signal corresponding to this determination result to the switch 12. Electrification of the separation actuator 13 from the power supply 14 via the switch 12 releases the fixation of an on-vehicle component by disassembling the fixation member that fixes the on-vehicle component to the vehicle body.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus that releases fixation of on-vehicle components attached to a vehicle body by a fastening member, said on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus comprising:

a dismantling means that enables dismantling of the fastening member or a fastening portion at which the fastening member is mounted, and

a determination means that determines whether the dismantling by the dismantling means is allowed in accordance with an input signal that is input from outside the vehicle,

wherein;

the fastening member or the fastening portion is formed by at least two detachably fixed members that are formed with materials having mutually different expansion coefficients;

with a convex insertion portion formed on a member with a relatively small expansion coefficient, and a concave engaging portion that has a predetermined interference with respect to the insertion portion formed on a member with a relatively large expansion coefficient; and

the insertion portion fixed to the engagement portion in a state of being inserted therein and interference fitted, and

the on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus further comprising a heating means that, in accordance with a determination result of the determination means, heats the member until fixation between the insertion portion and the engagement portion is released.

3. The on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:

the fastening member or the fastening portion is formed by at least two detachably fixed members including a shape memory member that is formed with a shape memory alloy and another member that is formed with a material other than the shape memory alloy, and

the on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus further comprising a heating means that, in accordance with the determination result of the determination means, heats the shape memory member until the temperature of the shape memory member is equal to or greater than a transformation point of the shape memory member.

4. The on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein

the fastening member or the fastening portion includes a fragile portion, and

the dismantling means functions as a separation actuator that separates the fastening member or the fastening portion at the fragile portion in accordance with the determination result of the determination means.

5. The on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the separation actuator comprises:

a separation member that is formed with a shape memory alloy or a material with a larger expansion coefficient than the fragile portion and capable of generating stress that fractures the fragile portion by heat deformation, and

a heating means that performs heat deformation by heating the separation member until the fragile portion fractures.

2. An on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus that releases fixation of on-vehicle components attached to a vehicle body by a fastening member, said on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus comprising:

a dismantling means that enables dismantling of the fastening member or a fastening portion at which the fastening member is mounted,

a determination means that determines whether the dismantling by the dismantling means is allowed in accordance with an input signal that is input from outside the vehicle, and

an electrical storage means that supplies electrical power required for executing dismantling by the dismantling means,

wherein;

the fastening member or the fastening portion is formed by at least two detachably fixed members that are formed with materials having mutually different expansion coefficients;

with a convex insertion portion formed on a member with a relatively small expansion coefficient, and a concave engaging portion that has a predetermined interference with respect to the insertion portion formed on a member with a relatively large expansion coefficient; and

the insertion portion fixed to the engagement portion in a state of being inserted therein and interference fitted, and

the on-vehicle component fixation-release apparatus further comprising a heating means that, in accordance with a determination result of the determination means, heats the member until fixation between the insertion portion and the engagement portion is released.