Title: Vehicle energy-absorbing system with adjustable absorption capacity

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

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Claims: What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an automobile an impact energy absorption system comprising:

a hydraulic shock absorber having a hydraulic cylinder, a piston-rod received in and protruding from said hydraulic cylinder, a pressurized gas chamber communicable with said hydraulic cylinder and a valve means for the control of fluid communication between said hydraulic cylinder and said pressurized gas chamber;

a retractable bumper joined with said piston-rod;

a weight detection means to sense the weight of a payload of the automobile and produce an electrical signal representing the sensed weight;

a pressure regulation means for varying a gas pressure in said pressurized gas chamber;

a carriage means for supporting said hydraulic cylinder in such a position that said bumper is located at a distance externally from an end of the automobile and selectively moving said hydraulic cylinder in the longitudinal direction of the automobile; and

an electrical control means for controlling said pressure regulation means and said carriage means in response to said electrical signal, so that an energy absorption capacity in a collision of the automobile represented by the product of a resistance offered by said shock absorber against a retracting movement of said bumper and a distance travelled by said bumper until coming into contact with said end can be varied depending on said weight of said payload.

2. An impact energy absorption system according to claim 1, further comprising a speed detection means to sense the speed of the automobile and produce another electrical signal representing the sensed speed, and another electrical control means for controlling said pressure regulation means and said carriage means in response to said another electrical signal, so that said energy absorption capacity can be varied depending on both the weight of the payload and speed of the automobile.

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: