Inflatable tunnel reinforcement

Abstract

An inflatable tunnel reinforcement for reinforcing a vehicle tunnel structure includes a first wall, a second wall, and at least one fold connecting the first and second walls. The inflatable tunnel reinforcement further includes an inflator adapted to increase a gas pressure between the first and second walls. In an inflated configuration, the inflatable tunnel reinforcement forms a continuous load path between interior walls of the tunnel structure generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable tunnel reinforcement for reinforcing a vehicle tunnel, comprising:
 a first wall, a second wall, and at least one fold connecting the first and second walls; and   an inflator adapted to increase a gas pressure between the first and second walls;   wherein in an inflated configuration, the inflatable tunnel reinforcement forms a continuous load path between interior walls of the tunnel structure generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall is secured to at least one interior wall of the tunnel. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fold is a plurality of folds extending in a continuous Z-fold configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fold is formed in at least one of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fold is formed in a third wall secured to the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls are formed of metal, and wherein the first and second walls are formed by additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls are formed of metal, and wherein the first and second walls are welded at outer peripheries of the first and second walls. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second walls are formed of a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         9 . An inflatable tunnel reinforcement for reinforcing a vehicle tunnel, comprising:
 a first wall, a second wall, and at least one fold connecting the first and second walls; and   an inflator adapted to increase a gas pressure between the first and second walls configured to form a continuous load path between interior walls of the tunnel.   
     
     
         10 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first wall and the second wall is secured to at least one interior wall of the tunnel. 
     
     
         11 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fold is a plurality of folds extending in a continuous Z-fold configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fold is formed in at least one of the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         13 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one fold is formed in a third wall secured to the first wall and the second wall. 
     
     
         14 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second walls are formed of metal, and wherein the first and second walls are formed by additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         15 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second walls are formed of metal, and wherein the first and second walls are welded at outer peripheries of the first and second walls. 
     
     
         16 . The inflatable tunnel reinforcement of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second walls are formed of a thermoplastic.