Safety device for a vehicle

0001A safety device for stopping goods put in motion in a vehicle with respect to this last during deceleration.

0002For several years, develop in manufacturers Car two contradictory trends.

0003First, builders have put substantial resources to implement successfully improve onboard safety of passengers and vehicles even more recently pedestrian safety. Today, almost all passenger cars and commercial vehicles the market is provided with inflatable protective cushions (Known under the trademark airbag), braking systems Powerful anti-lock and pre-tensioners devices seat belts. The use of these resources has significantly improved driver safety and passenger. these improvements may especially be observed in crash tests so that the vehicle safety is now one of the main arguments of sale of manufacturers.

0004On the other hand, manufacturers offer and sell more of vehicles with large volumes such as minivans. The volume of these vehicles and modularity allow the option of driver to transport people or goods. In these passenger vehicles payload up to 600 kg in utility vehicles that load may be exceeded.

0005Both trends are contradictory in that in vehicles offering a large volume for storage of goods have no sufficiently strong medium, designed to secure the driver and passengers in relation to the danger of goods during heavy deceleration.

0006Indeed, thanks to the powerful brakes that are fitted to vehicles or at of an impact, the goods in the vehicle are being movement relative thereto, unless they are securely attached to anchor points resistant. These goods are converted from a projectile moving forward of vehicle during a frontal impact.

0007currently known in the commercial vehicle devices Security separating the cab of the vehicle and the storage area merchandise. These devices consist of a simple grid rigidly fixed metal to the vehicle at the Floor and roof and / or the sidewalls. This type of device is quite fit to arrest goods few kilos, but is absolutely insufficient to arrest goods whose mass is of the order of the payload of the vehicle.

0008Similarly, passenger vehicles with a large volume Modular are provided with anchorage points to stow goods to the vehicle floor. Again, these means possible to ensure good security in the vehicle with Goods few kilos, but are quite inadequate to secure a goods vehicle whose mass is of the order of the payload of the vehicle. Such a safety device allows to reduce the kinetic energy of the goods. This reduction is substantially equal to the tearing energy of fixations of the device.

0009The object of the invention is to provide a safety device providing a solution to the problems cited and providing an improvement to devices known from the state of the art. In particular, the invention provides a safety device for securing a large vehicle Volume carrying goods whose mass is of the order of vehicle payload.

0010To achieve this goal, the safety device according to the invention is characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1.

0011The laws of physics, in particular the principles of dynamics, we learn more we take time and space to a decelerated moving object, the more the deceleration force applied to the object can be reduced. This effort must be taken in the case of the device security through its anchors in the vehicle, it appears very Interestingly reduce as much as possible. The safety device according to the invention therefore a dynamic operation which allows the gradual deceleration of goods, in contrast, the known devices that have a static resistance efforts and that as strong as they are quickly snatched at their points of attachment to the vehicle during deceleration violent.

0012Other physical laws tell us that if we want to reduce the kinetic energy of a moving object, you must turn this energy to the extent we can not make it disappear. energy kinetics of goods is in the safety device of the invention, absorbed by deformable elements for dissipate energy or store such as an energy potential.

0013Different embodiments of the security device modes are defined by the dependent claims 2 to 12.

0014Claim 13 relates to a vehicle equipped with a device of security.

0015The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, several modes embodiment of the device according to the invention.

0016Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a safety device for according to a first embodiment.

0017Figure 2 is a side view of a security device according to a second embodiment.

0018Figure 3 is a side view of a security device according to a third embodiment.

0019Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a safety device for according to a fourth embodiment.

0020Figure 5 is a side view of a security device according to a fifth embodiment.

0021Figure 6 is a side view of a security device according to a sixth embodiment.

0022Figure 7 is a side view of a security device according to a seventh embodiment.

0023Figure 8 is a side view of a security device according to a eighth embodiment.

0024Figure 9 is a side view of a security device according to a ninth embodiment.

0025Figure 10 is a diagram of a safety device connected to the body of a vehicle via a movable floor.

0026Figure 11 is a side view of the second embodiment of the safety device installed in a vehicle rear seats before.

002710 shown in Figure 1 a safety device is mainly consisting of a horizontal frame 11 which is rigidly connected frame 12 said substantially vertical retaining frame. These frameworks are example cylindrical tubes made of steel. This device safety is intended to equip a 100 passenger car of which the Rear seats have been filed or to equip a van.

0028The holding frame 12 located behind the driver's seat to retain the goods and prevent them from coming violently in contact with the driver's seat or passenger seat before during load transfer caused by deceleration due to a braking or a frontal collision of the vehicle. It includes a cross bar whose length is substantially equal to the width from inside the vehicle body.

0029The horizontal frame 11 ensures the taking over by the vehicle, the forces exerted on the retaining frame 12. The horizontal part 11 is fixed the floor 15 of a vehicle at the rear thereof via screw 14. It may for example be fixed to the vehicle floor at anchor points for rear seat belts in the vehicle or the anchorage points of the rear seats. This framework presents 11 on its longitudinal sides curved zones 13a, 13b, 13c. these areas constituting the main deformable elements allow to confer the frame elastic properties when it is subjected to longitudinal stresses as is the case where goods comes into contact with the holding frame 12. The longitudinal sides of horizontal frame 11 are pressed against the vehicle floor or against the side walls of the vehicle for reasons of size and aesthetics.

0030This elasticity of the horizontal frame 11 helps to cushion the impacts of goods on the retaining frame. The contact force exerted by the Goods in contact with the retaining frame causes displacement of the front portion of the frame forward of the vehicle by deformation of the horizontal frame primarily in bending at these arched areas 13a, 13b and 13c. This movement is made by the action reaction forces due to the deformation of the bulges. Thus, forces applied by the horizontal part of the vehicle are reduced compared to the efforts that would be applied if the device was virtually crushproof. Note also that as part of the movement deference allowed by the horizontal frame, the greater effort taken by the fund at the attachment of the horizontal framework on floor can be reduced.

0031During this movement all or part of the kinetic energy of the commodity is transformed into elastic potential energy deformation curved areas of the horizontal frame. Beyond a certain defined limit, the deformation of the bulges is not elastic but permanent. The kinetic energy of the goods is more then transformed into potential energy of elastic deformation but dissipated to deform the horizontal frame permanently.

0032The stroke of the holding frame is set by the dimensioning arched areas and the constituent materials. The operation of device is sequential. During a first sequence, the deformation the frame is elastic and in a second sequence the deformation is permanent.

0033A second embodiment of the safety device 20 shown in Figure 2 differs from the previous device in that it comprises additional elements converting the kinetic energy of merchandise. It mainly comprises a horizontal frame 21 related the vehicle floor by means of screws 29. In this context, is articulated by a pivot connection, a frame 23 of retainer 22. This frame comprises, at its two ends in its lower part two arms bent 25 linked to the frame 21 by means of studs 26 material elastomer such as VIBTENE (registered trademark). These studs recall the holding frame 22 in a rest position shown in Figure 2.

0034When a good one comes into contact with the holding frame, it pivots about the pivot connection 23 and compress the pads 26. The deformation of the pads dampens the forces exerted on the frame restraint and reduce the kinetic energy of the goods, as device described above.

0035Arched areas are not necessarily required on part 21. Indeed, the pads 26 and optionally arched areas 24 connecting the arms 25 to the frame 22 perform the same functions.

0036This second embodiment of the safety device is shown in Figure 11 in a 100 at the rear of vehicle front seats 101.

0037A third embodiment of the safety device 30 shown in Figure 3 differs from the previous device in that it comprises conversion elements of the kinetic energy of goods arranged differently. It mainly comprises a frame horizontal 31 linked to the vehicle floor by means of screws and 32 hinged retaining frame on the horizontal frame 31 by a link pin 33. The retaining frame 32 includes a lower portion curved connected to the upper frame part by a zone waisted. The holding frame is attached to the floor 37 of the vehicle by means of screws passing through two spacers 34 material elastomer. The holding frame is also in contact with two elastomer material pads linked to frame 31.

0038When a good one comes into contact with the holding frame, it pivots about the pivot connection 33 and compress vertically spacers 34 and horizontally the pads 35. The deformation of these elements dampens the forces exerted on the retaining frame and reduce the kinetic energy of the goods.

0039A fourth embodiment of the device 40 shown Security in Figure 4 differs from the second embodiment in that it comprises two holding frames 42, 42 'hinged on a frame horizontal 41 by hinge joints 43, 43 '. Each holding frame comprises respectively two lower arms 45, 45 'associated with the frame 41 via elastomeric material pads 44, 44 '.

0040The top crossbars of the two frames restraint may be contained in the same vertical plane and make it work and simultaneously the studs 44 and 44 'or be contained in two vertical planes staggered and successively working the pads 44 and 44 '(assuming a cuboid goods high enough acting on retaining frames).

0041In a fifth embodiment of the safety device 50, shown in Figure 5, a retaining frame 52 is in abutment against the front part of a horizontal frame 51. The lower frame part of retainer has curved zones 53 and 53 'substantially in the form of U.

0042When a good one comes into contact with the holding frame, it deforms and its upper portion moves substantially as if it was built around a virtual axis 59. deforming the retaining frame compress two pads 54 of elastomeric material. The top frame comprises tubular elements 56 associated with the top of the frame 52 by screws 58 and bearing elements 57 such as deformable hollow body filled elastomeric material of a foam cell structure, constituting elements auxiliary deformable.

0043The holding frame 52 is shown in Figure 5 in dotted lines in its end position spring travel. This position can be reached at a strong deceleration of the vehicle where goods coming exert a force on the retaining frame. The arrow 102 represents the spring travel of the device.

0044A sixth embodiment of the safety device 60 differs from second embodiment in that the studs material elastomer 64 are replaced by devices comprising a spring helical and a hydraulic damper. A holding frame 62 is articulated on a horizontal frame 61 around a pivot joint 63. The frame retaining includes lower links related to horizontal frame 61 by means devices 64 form part of the deformable elements key.

0045A seventh embodiment of the safety device 70 shown in Figure 7, mainly comprises a horizontal frame 71 linked to a retaining frame 72 by a torsion spring 73. This torsion spring is made of the same metal tube as that used for the realization of frames 71 and 72. The number of spring coils, the section of the tube, the winding diameter and the nature of the material used determine the stiffness of the spring which rests on the floor 74 of vehicle by means of a stud 75.

0046An eighth embodiment of the safety device 80 shown in Figure 8, mainly comprises a horizontal frame 81 in association slide relative to the floor 87 of the vehicle. A holding frame 82 is articulated, in its lower part, relatively to the floor of vehicle, by a pivot connection 89. The holding frame is held in contact against the front of the horizontal frame. Two cylindrical tubes 85 guide are attached to the vehicle floor by means of supports 86. The tubes of the horizontal frame 81 are slidably mounted in the two guide tubes 85 and between the rear guide tubes and a shoulder 84 made at the rear of each of the frame tubes horizontal, is interposed a main deformation element 83 such as a tube made of elastomeric material.

0047When goods arrive in contact with the holding frame 82, it rotationally moves around the pivot connection 89 and has a tractive effort on the horizontal part 81. This effort resulted in the deformation of the elastomeric material tubes 83 which allow reduce the kinetic energy of the goods.

0048A ninth embodiment of the safety device 90, shown in Figure 9, differs from the previous embodiment in that the frame retainer 92 and the horizontal part came from the same tubes. The longitudinal tubes horizontal frame 91 are bent at 97 areas in their front to form tubes substantially vertical retaining part 92. On each longitudinal tube is linked, either side of the curved area 97, by fasteners 99, an element tubular 98 comprising a curved region 97 'coming into contact with the the vehicle floor.

0049When a good one comes into contact with the holding frame 92, it can move on the one hand with the horizontal frame 91 by deformation of first main elements deformable material elastomer 94 and on the other hand, with respect to the horizontal frame by deformation of the second deformable main elements constituted by the curved areas 97 and 97 '. Deformation of the various elements main deformable determines the stroke of the holding frame.

0050When the forces exerted on the frame, the different main elements deformable may deform simultaneously or successively. In the latter case, a sequential operation is obtained security device.

0051Described the different safety devices enable secure areas of the vehicle, particularly the driving position, relative to danger of goods stored in another area during violent decelerations. Given the operation of this safety device, it is important to provide behind the area to secure a space allowing movement of the race scheduled retaining frame during operation of the safety device.

0052The elements described above consist of retaining frames comprising retaining one or more transverse bars. However, the retaining elements may be more complex and may include an integral metal grid framework restraint to prevent the intrusion of small goods dimensions are relatively large mass in the area secure.

0053The main deformable elements described consist of tubes or more generally metal profiles having shapes and sizing determined in elastomeric material of the elements, by compression springs or torsion elements and dampers. These deformable main elements can however be achieved by any mechanical and / or pneumatic and / or hydraulic and / or pyrotechnic to locate and control deformation of the safety device at specific locations. Thus, the deformation of the device is controlled and the race of the element restraint is predetermined or programmed by the deformation of the elements deformable. Pyrotechnics can be particularly on goods in the opposite direction to their displacement.

0054According to embodiments, the set stroke of the element of holding may, for example, be 10 to 20 cm.

0055The devices described above may be as shown in Figure 10 mounted on a longitudinally movable floor 117 119 relative to the body of the vehicle to which it is linked by an element deformable 118. The security device shown in this figure mainly comprises a horizontal framework 111 on which is articulated a holding frame 112 by a pivot connection 116, moving the retaining frame 112 deforming elements 114 material elastomer.