GB2362138A

GB2362138A - Inflatable reinforcing element

Info

Publication number: GB2362138A
Application number: GB0011173A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rene Rade; Franz Rosch; Peter Tiefenthaler; Klaus Kompass; Rudiger Lang
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2000-05-09
Filing date: 2000-05-09
Publication date: 2001-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-09
Also published as: GB0011173D0; DE10122030A1; GB2362138B

Abstract

A reinforcing arrangement in a motor vehicle comprises an inflatable housing 2 mounted on a structural element of the vehicle (14, Fig 7), which when inflated lies adjacent or in contact with another structural element of the vehicle (15, Fig 8) to provide reinforcement. When inflated the housing may be substantially triangular and have two opposed side walls 3 and 4 with honeycomb link members 6 filling the space between the walls. The housing when inflated may lie between the door (10, Fig 5) and the adjacent A-post of the vehicle (13, Fig 5), or the lower part of the B-post (14, Fig 7) and a cross member (15, Fig 7) in the adjacent floor. The housing may be formed of a sheet of deformable material defining a chamber for inflation between the sheet and the structural element on which it is mounted.

Description

2362138 PATENTS ACT 1977 P14225GB-NWisd

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

4MPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A REINFORCING ARRANGEMENT" TMS INVENTION relates to a reinforcing arrangement and more particularly relates to be reinforcing arrangement provided in a motor vehicle.

It has been proposed to provide a reinforcing arrangement in a motor vehicle which is constituted by an elongate rigid hollow tubular element which is normally mounted in the motor vehicle in a collapsed form. The elongate element may, at an appropriate moment, be inflated by a gas. An arrangement of this type is shown in US 5,845, 937, and this specification teaches that the elongate element should be positioned on the floor of the vehicle or in a door of the vehicle or in the roof of the vehicle.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved reinforcing arrangement in a motor vehicle.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a reinforcing arrangement in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a housing on a structural element of the vehicle in an uninflated state, the housing being associated with an inflator to inflate the housing, the housing being such that, 2 on inflation thereof, part of the housing will lie adjacent or in contact with another structural element of the vehicle to provide reinforcement.

Preferably the housing, when inflated, is of substantially triangular form.

Conveniently the housing, when inflated, has two opposed side-walls.

Preferably the parts of the housing that will, when it is inflated, form the side-walls, are interconnected by at least one link member.

Conveniently the or each link element is of 'honeycomb' material.

In one embodiment the housing is located so that, when inflated, it extends between part of the door and the adjacent A-post of the vehicle.

Conveniently the link member or members substantially fill the space within the housing.

Preferably the housing is mounted on the door of the vehicle.

In an alternative embodiment the housing is located so that, on inflation, it extends between the lower part of the B-post of the vehicle and the adjacent floor.

Preferably the housing is located so that, on inflation, it extends between the lower part of the B-post and a cross beam located in the adjacent floor.

Conveniently the housing is mounted on the lower part of the B-post.

3 Preferably the housing is formed of plastically deformable material.

In one embodiment the housing is an integral housing that is mounted on the vehicle.

In an alternative embodiment the housing is formed from a sheet of material secured to one structural element of the vehicle to define a potential chamber between the sheet and the element.

The invention also relates to a reinforcing element in the form of a housing formed of a plastically deformable material in an initial uninflated state, adapted to have a substantially triangular form when inflated, parts of the housing that are adapted to form opposed sidewalls when the housing is inflated being interconnected by link elements.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a reinforcing element before inflation, FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the reinforcing element after inflation, 4 FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the reinforcing element of Figure 3 taken on the line IV-IV, FIGURE 5 is A view, with parts cut away, of the vehicle door provided with a reinforcing element in accordance with the invention in the inflated state, FIGURE 6 is a view taken on the line a VINI of Figure 5, FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of part of a motor vehicle provided with a reinforcing element in accordance with the invention, and FIGURE 8 is a view corresponding to Figure 7 showing the reinforcing element in the inflated condition.

Referring now to Figures I and 2 of the accompanying drawings a reinforcing element I in accordance with the invention comprises a hollow housing formed of a plastically deformable metal, such as aluminium, aluminium alloy or steel sheet. The housing 2 has a generally triangular form, and the opposed side walls 3,4 of the housing are provided with accordion folds. In this embodiment the housing is hermetically sealed so as to be gasfight. Contained within the housing is an inflator 5, adapted to emit gas under pressure in response to signal from a sensor, such as an accident sensor. The inflator 5 is of cylindrical form and extends along the lower part of the housing.

Contained within the housing are two link members 6,7, each formed of a lightweight material, such as a so-called honeycomb material. The link members 6, 7 are each connected to each of the side-walls 3 and 4. The link members extend over only part of the height of the housing. In an alternative embodiment the link members may substantially completely fill the housing.

The housing 2, in the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is relatively compact and does not occupy much space. However, when a signal is generated by the sensor the inflator 5 supplies gas under pressure and the housing is inflated, the accordion folds in the side-walls 4 and 5 thus becoming straightened. The side-walls 4 and 5 thus become parallel. The link members 6 and 7 minimise any tendency for the side-walls to bow outwardly and the inflated housing has a generally triangular form.

The inflated housing may just remain inflated, and the housing will then present substantial strength, being resistant to compression in a number of directions. However, in an alternative embodiment the housing may be provided with a vent hole so that, following inflation, compressed gas within the housing may be vented to atmosphere. In such a case the housing will still present substantial strength since the metal of the housing will have been plastically deformed and will thus resist further deformation.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6 a housing 2 as described may be used in a motor vehicle as a reinforcing element to provide additional strength to a selected part of the vehicle in the event that an accident should arise. The housing, in an uninflated state, may be mounted on one structural element in such a position that part of the housing will move to contact or lie immediately adjacent another structural element on inflation of the housing. Thus, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the housing may be mounted in the main part 10 of a door of a motor vehicle, to be located beneath the window opening 11, so that, on inflation of the housing, part of the housing is located by the upper, inclined part 12 of the door in a position in contact with or immediately adjacent the A- 6 post 13 of the vehicle. The inflated housing may be in contact with the upper part of the door, with the upper part of the door then constituting a structural element of the vehicle in contact with the A-post. In many accident situations the A-post may be deformed, especially in the region adjacent the lower part of a window opening in a door. Deformations of the A-post of this type may be found in roll-over situations. The inflated housing 2 will thus provide a valuable reinforcement.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 a reinforcing element I as described above may be mounted in position on the lower part of a B-post 14 to provide reinforcement for the lower part of the B-post. The housing 2 has one edge thereof secured to the lower part of the B-post in such a way that on inflation of the housing 2 another edge of the housing will lie adjacent or in contact with the floor. The housing may preferably be located so that, on inflation, the edge of the housing adjacent the floor is actually adjacent a cross beam located in the floor. Thus a desired degree of reinforcement may be provided.

While the invention has been described above with reference to a discrete housing 2 that may be connected to a structural element in a vehicle it is to be understood that the housing may be formed from a sheet of plastically deformable material that is secured to a structural element in such a way that a potential chamber is defmed between the sheet and the structural element. In one embodiment the inflator is trapped in the potential chamber, with the gas generator being located between the sheet of plastically deformable material and the structural element. When the gas generator is activated the potential chamber becomes inflated.

In the described embodiments of the invention the inflator has been located within the housing or chamber. In other embodiments the inflator may 7 be located to the exterior of the housing or chamber, being connected to the housing or chamber by an appropriate gas duct.

In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of' and "comprising" means "including or consisting of'.

-The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attanung the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

8 CLAIMS:

1. A reinforcing arrangement in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a housing on a structural element of the vehicle in an uninflated state, the housing being associated with an inflator to inflate the housing, the housing being such that, on inflation thereof, part of the housing will lie adjacent or in contact with another structural element of the vehicle to provide reinforcement.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the housing, when inflated, is of substantially triangular form.

3. An arrangement according to Clairn 1 or 2 wherein the housing, when inflated, has two opposed side-walls.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein the parts of the housing that will, when it is inflated, form the side-walls, are interconnected by at least one link member.

5. An arrangement according to Claim 4 wherein the link member or members substantially fill the space within the housing.

6. An arrangement according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein the or each link element is of 'honeycomb' material.

9

7. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the housing is located so that, when inflated, it extends between part of the door and the adjacent A-post of the vehicle.

8. An arrangement according to Claim 7 wherein the housing is mounted on the door of the vehicle.

9. An arrangement according to any one of Claims I to 6 wherein the housing is located so that, on inflation, it extends between the lower part of the B-post of the vehicle and the adjacent floor.

10. An arrangement according to Claim 9 wherein the housing is located so that, on inflation, it extends between the lower part of the B-post and a cross beam located in the adjacent floor.

11. An arrangement according to Claim 9 or 10 wherein the housing is mounted on the lower part of the B-post.

12. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the housing is formed of plastically defonnable material.

13. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the housing is an integral housing that is mounted on the vehicle.

14. An arrangement according to any one of Claims I to 12 wherein the housing is formed from a sheet of material secured to one structural element of the vehicle to define a potential chamber between the sheet and the element.

15. A reinforcing element in the form of a housing formed of a plastically defonnable material in an initial uninflated state, adapted to have a substantially triangular form when inflated, parts of the housing that are adapted to form opposed side-walls when the housing is inflated being interconnected by link elements.

16. A reinforcing arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A reinforcing arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 4, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A reinforcing element substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.

t l Amended claims have been filed as follows 1. A reinforcing arrangement in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising a housing on a structural element of the vehicle in an uninflated state, the housing being associated with an inflator to inflate the housing, the housing being such that, on inflation thereof, part of the housing will lie adjacent or in contact with another structural element of the vehicle to provide reinforcement.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the housing, when inflated, has two opposed side-walls.

10. An arrangement according to Claim 9 wherein the housing is located so that, on inflation, it extends between the lower part of the B-post and a cross beam located in the ad acent floor.

j 11. An arrangement according to Claim 9 or 10 wherein the housing is mounted on the lower part of the B-post.

12. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the housing is formed of plastically deformable material.

14. An arrangement according to any one of Claims I to 12 wherein the housing is formed from a sheet of material secured to one structural element of the vehicle to defme a potential chamber between the sheet and the element.

1 15. An arrangement according to claim I wherein the housing is formed of plastically deformable material and is adapted to have a substantially triangular form when inflated, parts of the housing that are adapted to form opposed sidewalls when the housing is inflated being interconnected by link elements.

16. A reinforcing arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures I to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A reinforcing arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures I to 4, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A reinforcing element substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures I to 4 of the accompanying drawings.