Abstract: A release device for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle against impact, which element, once inflated, presents a general shape that fits closely over the region of the vehicle to be protected, said inflatable element being held, in a folded state, in a compartment that includes a wall that is connected in sealed manner to an edge of an opening of said inflatable element, wherein, facing said opening, said wall includes gas release means that are protected during inflation of the inflatable element by a closure flap controlled by actuator means that remove said closure flap once the inflatable element is deployed.

Abstract: A rail vehicle including an end car extended by a cab, wherein the car and the cab have separate structures with adjacent ends that are pivotally mounted on the same bogie, the structure of the cab being supported solely by the bogie while cantilevered therefrom, the cab being connected to a control device for controlling the angular positioning of the cab relative to the bogie.

Abstract: A device for protecting a vehicle against impact, the device comprising an inflatable element presenting, once inflated, a bearing surface in contact with the region of the vehicle to be protected, and an impact surface designed to receive the impact directly, wherein said inflatable element includes localized flexible connection elements connecting holding points of the impact surface with fastening points of the bearing surface.

Abstract: A device for protecting a vehicle against impact, the device comprising an inflatable element which, once inflated, presents a general shape that fits closely over the region of the vehicle to be protected, wherein said inflatable element includes a skin which is deployed by an inflatable reinforcement having a volume that is much smaller than the volume of the skin, pressurizing and deploying said inflatable reinforcement ensuring rapid deployment of said skin and simultaneously causing the internal volume of the inflatable element to be filled with air, by suction, via an air inlet device carried by said skin.

Abstract: A release device for releasing an inflatable element for protecting a vehicle against impact, which element, once inflated, presents a general shape that fits closely over the region of the vehicle to be protected, said inflatable element being held, in a folded state, in a compartment that includes a wall that is connected in sealed manner to an edge of an opening of said inflatable element, wherein, facing said opening, said wall includes gas release means that are protected during inflation of the inflatable element by a closure flap controlled by actuator means that remove said closure flap once the inflatable element is deployed.

Abstract: A rail vehicle including an end car extended by a cab, wherein said car and said cab have separate structures with adjacent ends that are pivotally mounted on the same bogie, the structure of said cab being supported solely by the bogie while cantilevered therefrom, said cab being connected to control means for controlling the angular positioning of the cab relative to said bogie.

Abstract: A device for protecting a vehicle against impact, the device comprising an inflatable element which, once inflated, presents a general shape that fits closely over the region of the vehicle to be protected, wherein said inflatable element includes a skin which is deployed by means of inflatable reinforcement having a volume that is much smaller than the volume of the skin, pressurizing and deploying said inflatable reinforcement ensuring rapid deployment of said skin and simultaneously causing the internal volume of the inflatable element to be filled with air, by suction, via inlet means carried by said skin.

Abstract: A device for protecting a vehicle against impact, the device comprising an inflatable element presenting, once inflated, a bearing surface in contact with the region of the vehicle to be protected, and an impact surface designed to receive the impact directly, wherein said inflatable element includes localized flexible connection elements connecting holding points of the impact surface with fastening points of the bearing surface.

Abstract: An energy absorber device for use in vehicles, in particular railroad vehicles, is of generally parallelepipedal shape and can be inserted between a driver's cab and a coach-body. The larger opposite faces of the parallelepiped are disposed in a plane formed by the rear face of the driver's cab and in a plane formed by the front face of the coach-body, respectively.

Abstract: In a device with inflatable members for protecting vehicles against impacts, once inflated, the inflatable members are disposed alongside each other so as to have a general shape substantially identical to the general shape of the area of the vehicle to be protected. The inflatable members each have a general shape enabling them to be interleaved laterally with the two directly adjacent inflatable members.

Abstract: A method of protection against impacts between two vehicles by means of an member, in which each of the vehicles includes an inflatable member adapted to be deployed under control of a signal commanding opening of the inflatable member, the method including the steps of detecting from a first vehicle an impending collision of the two vehicles, transmitting from the first vehicle a first signal commanding opening of the inflatable member associated with the first vehicle; receiving the first signal commanding opening of the inflatable member associated with the first vehicle, by the second vehicle, and transmitting to the second vehicle a second signal commanding opening of the inflatable member associated with the second vehicle. A device for implementing the above method is also disclosed.