Supplemental side impact protection system for automotive vehicle

Abstract

A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive vehicle includes an external energy management structure having a first position for normal vehicle operation and a second position for deployment during an impact event. A mounting system allows selective positioning of the energy management structure in either the first or second position, as determined by a controller which assesses an impact potential of the vehicle and operates the mounting system to move the energy management structure to the second, or deployed, position in the event that the assessed impact potential satisfies a predetermined threshold.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a supplemental side impact protection system for an automotive vehicle. [0002] The presence of bumpers at the opposite ends of conventional passenger vehicles, coupled with the considerable crush space afforded by an engine compartment, generally located in the front of a vehicle, and a luggage compartment, generally located in the rear, have greatly facilitated the energy management required during impact events directed to the front and rear portions of conventional vehicles. At the sides of most vehicles, however, the crush distances are much less than those typically available for the front and rear of the vehicle. Moreover, the doors and rocker panels of most vehicles do not readily lend themselves to incorporation of the structures typically used for energy management in the front and rear bumpers of such vehicles. [0003] The present invention provides supplemental side impact protection by means of a deployab...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a supplemental impact protection system for an automotive vehicle includes the steps of sensing at least one vehicle operating parameter, assessing an impact potential of the vehicle based upon at least the sensed value of the operating parameter, and deploying an external energy management structure having a first position for normal vehicle operation and a second position for deployment during an impact event, based upon the assessed impact potential of the vehicle. The vehicle operating parameter sensed by the present system may, for example, be a measure of reduced proximity to another vehicle, which measurement may be accomplished by means of a pre-crash sensor.

[0008] It is an advantage of a protection system according to the present invention that the impact protection of a vehicle may be enhanced without the need for providing additional structures, inasmuch as a step bar, running board, or guard beam according to the present invention may be used for the dual purposes of entering the vehicle, as well as for providing side impact protection. This dual purpose also reduces the weight and complexity of the vehicle.

[0009] It is a further advantage of a system according to the present invention that the supplemental side impact protection may be provided in real time through the use of pyrotechnic or compressed gas devices.

[0010] It is yet a further advantage of a system according to the present invention that a vehicle may be protected from impacts resulting not only from roadway collisions, but also from parking lot impacts.

Problems solved by technology

At the sides of most vehicles, however, the crush distances are much less than those typically available for the front and rear of the vehicle.

Moreover, the doors and rocker panels of most vehicles do not readily lend themselves to incorporation of the structures typically used for energy management in the front and rear bumpers of such vehicles.

Although it is known in the art to have nerf bars which are raised manually to protect the sides of a vehicle, such bars are neither automatically deployed, nor, for that matter, are they deployable in real time in response to an assessment performed in real time either prior to, or during an impact.

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