System for automatically dislodging a vehicle windshield

• US 8,245,809 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Group North America LLC (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Group North America LLC (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Spence, William Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US12/672,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20110192670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,825 Days
• Field of Search: 180/282, 296/146.1, 296/84.1, 296/96.11
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/00 Windows; Windscreens; Accessories therefor B60J10/00 takes precedence; air curtains instead of windows B60J9/04 ; sealing strips for windshields B60J10/70; sealing sash guides for sliding window panes B60J10/74; glass partitions inside vehicles to protect occupants against personal attack B60R21/12

Abstract

A system for automatically detaching a windshield from a vehicle cab comprises a pressure applying device mounted between a windshield and a frame element, a roll-over condition sensor, and a controller connected to receive a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor and connected to activate the pressure applying device responsive to receiving said signal. The pressure applying device may be one or more pyrotechnic devices. The system includes a delay function to delay activating the pressure applying device to allow the vehicle to come to a rest.

Claims

1. A system for automatically detaching a windshield from a vehicle cab, comprising:

a pressure applying device mounted between a windshield and a frame element in which the windshield is mounted;

a roll-over condition sensor; and

,

a controller connected to receive a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor, and connected to activate the pressure applying device responsive to receiving said signal,

wherein the controller further comprises a delay function to delay activating the pressure applying device for a predetermined time period following receipt of a signal indicating a roll-over condition from the roller-over condition sensor.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising an acceleration condition sensor configured to generate an acceleration condition signal when the vehicle has decelerated to a stop, wherein the acceleration condition sensor is connected to communicate the acceleration condition signal to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to activate the pressure applying device upon receiving the acceleration condition signal and lapse of the predetermined time period.