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.

1 . A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: 
 a. an external energy management structure having a first position for normal vehicle operation and a second position for deployment during an impact event;    b. a mounting system for fastening said energy management structure to a vehicle and for selectively positioning the energy management structure in either said first position or said second position; and    c. a controller for assessing an impact potential of a vehicle and for operating said mounting system to move said energy management structure to said second position in the event that the assessed impact potential satisfies a predetermined threshold.    
   
   
       2 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said external energy management structure comprises a beam extending along at least a portion of the exterior of said vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting system comprises a gas device having a pyrotechnic source for moving said energy management structure into said second position.  
   
   
       4 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting system comprises an electric motor for moving said energy management structure into said second position.  
   
   
       5 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy management structure comprises a running board.  
   
   
       6 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy management structure comprises a step beam having a first position in which the step beam is lowered and a second position in which the step beam is raised.  
   
   
       7 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy management structure comprises a beam which is movable generally vertically by said mounting system.  
   
   
       8 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said impact potential threshold comprises predictive sensing of an impending impact by means of a pre-crash sensor.  
   
   
       9 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said impact potential threshold comprises sensing of operation of a vehicle in a forward gear.  
   
   
       10 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises at least one accelerometer for detecting an impact directed laterally against a vehicle.  
   
   
       11 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises at least a speed sensor for determining the speed at which a vehicle is being operated and a gear selector sensor for determining when a vehicle gear selector has been placed in a travel gear position.  
   
   
       12 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said controller operates not only said energy management structure mounting system, but also at least one supplemental restraint device installed in an automotive vehicle.  
   
   
       13 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting system moves said energy management structure into said second position by rotating the energy management structure about pivots attached to a body of said vehicle.  
   
   
       14 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting system moves said energy management structure into said second position by rotating the energy management structure in a first direction about pivots attached to body brackets, and by rotating the energy management structure in a second direction about pivots extending between said body brackets and the body of said vehicle.  
   
   
       15 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting system moves said energy management structure into said second position by moving the energy management structure outboard translationally by extending at least one slide, and by rotating the energy management structure about pivots extending between said slide and said energy management structure.  
   
   
       16 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said energy management structure comprises a guard beam adapted to extend longitudinally along a vehicle, with the guard beam being mounted upon rollers carried within generally vertically extending track segments mounted to a vehicle, and with said mounting system moving said guard beam into said second position by pulling the energy management structure upwardly along said track segments.  
   
   
       17 . A supplemental impact protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mounting system comprises a gas-powered device having a supply of high pressure gas for moving said energy management structure into said second position.  
   
   
       18 . A method for operating a supplemental impact protection system for an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of: 
 a. sensing at least one vehicle operating parameter;    b. assessing the impact potential of the vehicle, based upon at least the sensed value of said operating parameter; and    c. 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.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said external energy management structure comprises a beam extending along at least a portion of a vehicle exterior.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said vehicle operating parameter is reduced proximity to another vehicle.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said sensing is accomplished by means of a pre-crash sensor.  
   
   
       22 . A supplemental impact protection system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: 
 a. an external energy management structure comprising a step beam having a first, lowered position for normal vehicle operation and a second, raised position for deployment during an impact event;    b. a mounting system for fastening said energy management structure to a vehicle and using at least one gas device to rotatably position the energy management structure in said second position in real time during an impact; and    c. a controller for assessing an impact potential of a vehicle and for operating said at least one gas device to move said energy management structure to said second position in the event that the assessed impact potential satisfies a predetermined threshold.