Title: Vehicle energy-absorbing system with adjustable absorption capacity

Abstract: A system constituted of a retractable bumper coupled with a hydraulic shock absorber the shock absorption characteristic of which is governed by a pressurized gas, a weight sensor for sensing the vehicle gross weight, a pressure regulator for the pressurized gas, a carriage mechanism which supports the shock absorber and can move it in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and an electrical control unit for controlling both the pressure regulator and the carriage mechanism in response to the signal from the weight sensor, so that the energy absorption capacity of the system in a collision of the vehicle represented by the product of the resistance offered against a retracting movement of the bumper by the shock absorber and the distance travelled by the bumper until coming into contact with the vehicle body can be varied depending on the weight of the vehicle payload.

Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now:

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Other info:

Inventors: Ogihara, Yoshiyuki (Yokosuka, JA)
Aya, Norimoto (Yokosuka, JA)

Application Number: 489914
Filing Date: 1974-07-19
Publication_date: 1976-01-27
Assignee: Nissan Motor Company Limited (Yokohama, JA)
Primary Class(es): 293/119 180/271, 267/116, 267/259, 293/1, 293/117, 293/134
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

2890076	Jun, 1959	Baechler	293/68.
3051507	Aug, 1962	Fiala	280/DIG.
3181877	May, 1965	McHenry	280/DIG.
3324287	Jun, 1967	Fetterman et al.	180/100.
3355208	Nov, 1967	Brock	293/73.
3689054	Sep, 1972	Gouirand	293/68.
3789948	Feb, 1974	Hrebicek	180/91.
3848914	Nov, 1974	Wathen	180/82.

Other Refs: 1,093,233

Nov, 1960	DT

Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr., M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Kashnikow, Andres
Attorney: