VEHICLE ROLL-OVER SAFETY APPARATUS

• US 3,804,435 A
• Filed: 09/15/1971
• Issued: 04/16/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: George L. See, John B. Waggoner
• Inventors: See, George L., Waggoner, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/180,611
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 180/104,82C 280/15AB,15C,15B
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/131 Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An air bag restraint system is associated with a vehicle having a roll-over protection structure for protecting an operator during a vehicle roll-over. The restraint system is actuated by a sensor which is responsive to the tilting over of the vehicle past a predetermined angle.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a material handling implement and an operator station having a roll-over protection structure in the form of a plurality of members therearound mounted thereon from which the vehicle and material handling implement may be operated, means responsive to vehicle roll-over for protecting the operator and reducing possible injury incident to roll-over of said vehicle comprising sensing means for actuating operator restraint means, said sensing means being responsive to the lateral Tilting over of the vehicle past a predetermined angle at which the vehicle tips over, said operator restraint means comprising gas bags located so as to be deployable into a protective position generally encompassing the operator, and gas pressure source means actuable by said sensing means to communicate gas to fully deploy said gas bags over a given time after commencement of deployment, and wherein said means responsive to roll-over further comprises means to substantially deflate said gas bags over approximately 20 to 30 seconds after commencement of deployment.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises means for generating an electrical signal and normally open switch means which closes when the vehicle tilts beyond said predetermined angle so as to provide a signal path to actuate said operator restraint means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said switch means is a mercury switch.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein said switch is a tilt-sensitive switch.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for protecting the operator further comprise seatbelt means.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said operator restraint means further comprise belt means for assisting in retaining the bags in the deployed position.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the number of bags is two and wherein said belt means comprise a belt for retaining each bag.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said operator restraint means further comprise screen means on said roll-over protection structure for further assisting in retaining the bags in the deployed position.

9. The invention of claim 1 wherein said roll-over protection structure defines a space for containing said operator and wherein said bags in their deployed position occupy substantially the entire half space on either side of the operator.