Frangible Element Patents (Class 188/376)
  • Patent number: 12012147
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes: a rear end part that constitutes a rear part of a front side frame and has an inclination portion which is inclined downward toward a vehicle rearward direction; a fixation portion that is provided on the inclination portion; and a lower arm that is connected to the fixation portion. The inclination portion includes: a bottom section that is inclined downward toward a vehicle rearward direction; and a protrusion section that protrudes further upward than the bottom section. The protrusion section extends toward a vehicle rearward direction from a vehicle forward position further than the fixation portion, and a middle side in a vehicle width direction of the protrusion section protrudes further upward than an outside in the vehicle width direction of the protrusion section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Tsuboi, Naoki Nakamoto, Takehiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 11787476
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a passenger compartment and two side members provided with respective rear portions, arranged longitudinally at the passenger compartment, and respective struts, which project forward of the passenger compartment; the motor vehicle has a crossbar with front attachment portions and rear attachment portions fixed to the side members by means of connecting devices, so as to keep the crossbar suspended in relation to the struts; the connecting devices have at least one weakened zone, designed so as to cause at least part of the crossbar to detach from the side members when a given load threshold is exceeded; the connecting devices have a first pierced wall, which is part of the front or rear attachment portions, a second pierced wall, which is part of the side members, and a bolt that tightens the first and second wall together; the weakened zone is defined by at least one slot cut in the first wall, beginning from a hole edge of the first wall itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FCA ITALY S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Ghislieri, Giuseppe Antonio Soddu, Alessandro Messina, Fabrizio Pastore, Dario Viggiano
  • Patent number: 11084519
    Abstract: A steering device includes a column unit, a front bracket, a rear bracket, and a lock mechanism. A tilt guide part through which a lock bolt is inserted and which guides vertical movement of the lock bolt in accordance with rotation of the column unit is formed on the rear bracket. The tilt guide part includes an intermediate guide part, and an upper guide part continuous with an upper side of the intermediate guide part and having a smaller width than that of the intermediate guide part. The upper guide part is configured so that the lock bolt is slidable in accordance with the rotation of the column unit and is configured to be elastically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Shiroishi
  • Patent number: 10814903
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle may include a buffer structure provided between a steering housing and a steering shaft inserted into the steering housing to distribute vibration applied thereto and to compensate for the distortion of the steering shaft and a clearance of the steering shaft with the steering housing, wherein a support structure is also provided to secure the support performance of the steering housing with respect to a mounting bracket in the event of a tilt and a longitudinal motion of the steering housing, ensuring the horizontal rigidity of the steering housing and reducing vibration applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, MANDO Corporation
    Inventors: Hyoung Jun Ahn, Joon Mo Park, Beom Soo Kim, Byung Woo Noh, Ji Yong Yim, Sung Hun Park, Dong Hun Shin, Ki Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 10808574
    Abstract: A turbomachine assembly includes annular stator surrounding rotor circumscribed and rotatable about centerline axis. One or more non-axisymmetric partial arc annular circular stiffeners are disposed around and on stator and may be helical. Non-axisymmetric partial arc annular circular stiffeners may extend about one third to one half of a circumference, be hollow, and located over one or more blade stages of rotor. One or more annular mid-span flanges may be attached to stator and axially positioned within the hollow partial arc annular circular stiffeners. One or more masses or externals may be attached to the stator or to at least one of the one or more annular mid-span flanges between ends of partial arc annular circular stiffeners. Annular stator and rotor may have matching frequencies causing rotating stator waves rotating with rotor. The stator may be fan casing surrounding fan rotor or labyrinth seal land surrounding labyrinth seal teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leslie Louis Langenbrunner, Tod Robert Steen
  • Patent number: 10611280
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat frame configured so that the weight of the frame can be reduced while the strength of a portion of the frame can be ensured. A vehicle seat frame F includes a frame member molded from a high tensile strength steel plate. A metal structure of a portion of the frame member is a structure formed according to one or more conditions upon a thermal treatment performed on the frame member, and the strength of the portion is different from those of other portions of the frame member. For example, the portion of the frame member includes a high strength portion with a higher strength than those of the other portions. Moreover, the portion of the frame member includes, for example, a low strength portion with a lower strength than those of the other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norifumi Hashimoto, Shintaro Mochizuki, Mitsuru Sueki
  • Patent number: 10457238
    Abstract: An impact absorber to be mounted between a vehicular panel and a vehicular interior part covering the vehicular panel from a vehicular interior side includes an opposite wall to be opposite the vehicular panel, outer walls extending from edges of the opposite wall toward a vehicular interior side, and an extended wall extending from the opposite wall toward the vehicular interior side and having a side edge connected to the one outer wall, and the extended wall having a thickness that is increased from a vehicular interior end thereof toward a vehicular exterior end thereof, and the extended wall having a cutout hole that is open toward a vehicular exterior side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Migaki, Manabu Kawaguchi, Mitsuaki Eshima
  • Patent number: 10428897
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a compressible fluid device (1), such as a gas spring. The device comprises a casing (11) defining a compression chamber (12), a piston (15), which is movable in the chamber (12), and a safety member (2) placed in such a manner as to be struck by the piston (15) in the event of the piston overstriking, whereby at least some of the compressible fluid is evacuated from the compression chamber (12). The device further comprises a pre-strike member (25), that is arranged to be struck before the safety member (2) is struck, such that the safety member (2) is only struck once a predetermined overstroke force has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Strömsholen AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Goransson, Torbjorn Goransson
  • Patent number: 10323430
    Abstract: An multi-load friction damper includes opposed gusset-side plates defining a slip channel. First and second brace-side plates are received within the slip channel and form first and second frictional engagements respectively. The frictional force of the first and second frictional engagements may be different. A multi-layer friction damper includes a central gusset-side plate and first and second outer gusset-side plates. First and second brace-side plates are received between the central gusset-side plates and the first and second outer gusset-side plates to form first, second, third and fourth frictional engagements. A multi-damper assembly includes a gusset engagement member and brace engagement member. A plurality of friction dampers extend between the gusset engagement member and the brace engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Avtar Pall
  • Patent number: 10081245
    Abstract: A mount assembly for attaching a cradle to a vehicle frame includes an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve defines an inner sleeve aperture having a first aperture portion having a first diameter and a second aperture portion having a second diameter. The mount assembly also includes a bushing having a bushing body and configured to extend through the first aperture portion. The mount assembly additionally includes a fuse fixed to the bushing body to separate the first and second aperture portions. The mount assembly also includes a fastener configured to extend through the bushing body and an aperture in the vehicle frame for attaching the cradle to the frame. The fuse is configured to separate from the bushing body under a predetermined load to permit the fastener to shift from the first aperture portion to the second aperture portion and the cradle to shift relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Balbir S. Sangha, Zohir Molhem, Frederick M. Marquardt, Michael A. Ray, Oday F. Hassan
  • Patent number: 10035542
    Abstract: Unit with longitudinal beam and front plate for a motor-vehicle front structure, comprising a longitudinal beam in the form of a hollow profile and a front plate rigidly connected to a front end of said longitudinal beam. The longitudinal beam comprises a first beam element defining an upper wall, a lower wall and a first side wall of the longitudinal beam and a second beam element having a wall defining a second side wall of the longitudinal beam. The front plate has a rear face facing towards the longitudinal beam to which there are welded a first flange and a second flange which are separate from each other, for connecting the front end of the longitudinal beam. The first flange is a C-shaped bracket with an upper wall, a lower wall and a side wall respectively welded to the upper wall, the lower wall and the first side wall defined by said first beam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giorgio Piermarioli, Paolo Barutello, Luigi Laera
  • Patent number: 9988070
    Abstract: A steering device with an impact absorbing mechanism includes an upper column tube configured to support a steering shaft, a lower column tube configured to be movable relative to the upper column tube and an upper fixing bracket to be coupled to the upper column tube and including a cut on the side of a steering wheel. The impact absorbing mechanism includes a bracket fixing portion fixed to the upper fixing bracket, a capsule portion fixed to a vehicle body and engaged with the cut, and a breaking portion connecting the bracket fixing portion and the capsule portion and configured to be broken by relative movements of the upper fixing bracket and the capsule portion. A connected position of the breaking portion to the capsule portion is near a front side of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Shuhei Chiba
  • Patent number: 9950610
    Abstract: A vehicle radiator apparatus includes: a radiator main body; a grill shutter unit configured to adjust the amount of air introduced from an opening in front of the radiator main body and flowing toward the radiator main body; and an air guiding plate provided to extend in a longitudinal direction below the radiator main body and the grill shutter unit to guide the air introduced from the opening to the radiator main body, in which the grill shutter unit includes: a shutter member configured to open or close the opening of a vehicle; and a shutter support member configured to support the shutter member, and including left and right side frame portions and an upper frame portion, and lower ends of the side frame portions are assembled and attached to an upper surface portion of the air guiding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanobu Kaneko, Kiyoichi Kita, Jun Shobo, Tamaki Obayashi
  • Patent number: 9896135
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure has: a front side frame; a lateral member; a sub frame; a sub frames attaching portion for fastening the rear end portion of the sub frame. The lateral member has a lateral member main body which has a hole portion formed on a bottom wall, and a stiffening member which is made of a material with lower tensile strength than the lateral member main body, layered on the bottom wall of the lateral member main body, joined to the inside of the lateral member main body, and simultaneously in which a fastening nut is disposed in the upper direction. The hole portion has a large-diameter hole with a larger diameter than the fastening nut, a notched portion notching the edge of the large-diameter hole. The stiffening member has a recessed wall portion recessed downward corresponding to the hole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Nakamoto
  • Patent number: 9846106
    Abstract: An apparatus and device for repetitive use in automotive testing is provided. The apparatus includes a frame dimensioned in the same shape as a bicycle frame. The frame includes a first support beam and a plurality of second support beams. The apparatus further includes an elastic member elastically coupling each of the plurality of second support beams to the first support beam so as to allow the frame to separate when impacted and be easily reassembled for further testing. The device includes a disk having a first radar transparent layer opposite a second radar transparent layer and a reflective film disposed between the first radar transparent layer and the second radar transparent layer. The reflective film has a radar cross section pattern similar to that of an actual bicycle wheel when seen by automotive radar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, The Ohio State University, Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley Yung-Ping Chien, Chi-chih Chen, Rini Sherony, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Jason Brink, Qiang Yi, Domenic Belgiovane
  • Patent number: 9802649
    Abstract: A body part of a vehicle includes a structural component and a deformation component. A connecting component is fastened to an end portion of the deformation component. The connecting component has a contact surface configured to come into contact with a mating contact surface of the structural component. A normal spacing is formed between the contact surface and the mating contact surface, and the connecting component is configured to form force-transmitting contact between the contact surface and the mating contact surface in the event of a crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Eduard Ewert, Ralf Keller
  • Patent number: 9789838
    Abstract: Airbag cushion covers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cover comprising a weakened pattern configured to facilitate separation of the cover during deployment of an airbag cushion. The weakened region may comprise a first tear seam comprising a first shape defined by a first line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions, and a second tear seam comprising a second shape defined by a second line comprising at least one of regions of curvature and angled regions. In some embodiments, the first shape may comprise, or at least substantially comprise, a reflected image of the second shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: John F. Witt, Jr., David W. Schneider, Jan Pontus Söderström, Uriel Hernandez Padilla
  • Patent number: 9725857
    Abstract: The crash cushion includes: a rail installed on the ground surface; a front support that is installed on a front end of the rail and is pushed backward along the rail when a shock is applied to the front support; a rear support installed on a rear end of the rail; and a shock absorber that is installed extending from the front support to the rear support and disposed at a predetermined height from the ground surface. The shock absorber includes a punch and a pipe, and it absorbs shock in such a way that the pipe is expanded in diameter by the punch. The crash cushion is installed on a road and can effectively absorb shock caused by a vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SHINSUNG CONTROL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyu-Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9725108
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly includes a shroud comprising an outer tube that supports a steering wheel through a bearing and an inner tube that is fixed to a part of the vehicle, the column assembly being able to collapse telescopically by the outer tube moving over the inner tube, the assembly further including an energy absorbing strap that is fixed to the inner tube and a plough which is fixed to the outer tube, whereby in use the assembly is so arranged that upon a telescopic collapse the relative movement between the inner tube and the outer tube forces a part of the plough through the strap to progressively peel away a part of the strap from the remainder of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: David Michael Sharman, Stephen George Moulson, Jason Hales
  • Patent number: 9683623
    Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder comprising a working end and a boosting chamber. The working end includes a first volume of gas and the boosting chamber includes a second volume of gas. A temperature control valve assembly is disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and includes an over-pressure valve configured to release the second volume of gas into the working end when the pressure within the boosting chamber increases above the normal pressure range of operation. A valve is disposed in the wall of the cylinder, in the working end thereof, and is configured to yield, to thereby vent the first volume of gas to atmosphere, when the pressure within the interior volume of the working end increases above the normal pressure range of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joel Colombo, Michael P. Balogh
  • Patent number: 9676418
    Abstract: A vehicle crossmember assembly including a pair of main rails, a crossmember, and a pair of pedestals is provided. The main rails are laterally spaced apart. The crossmember is transverse to the main rails. The pedestals extend between and connect lateral ends of the crossmember to the main rails. Each pedestal has a lower end disposed adjacent to the crossmember and an upper end that projects upwardly from the crossmember. Fasteners connect the pedestals to the main rails. Each pedestal has a sleeve disposed at the upper end. Each sleeve has a sleeve wall defining a bore that receives one of the fasteners and each sleeve has a slit in the sleeve wall. Each slit provides a release path through which one of the fasteners can pull through the sleeve wall during an impact event, allowing the pedestals to detach from the main rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Abdul Kareem Mohammed, Zheng Qin, Hassan H El-Hor, Rajkumar Rajagopalan, Rebecca L Tanguay, Michael G Dreer, Amanda J French, Alan J Demorow
  • Patent number: 9616931
    Abstract: A releasable joint configured to attach a cradle to an underbody of a vehicle subjectable to an external force includes a fastener, an attachment portion of the cradle, and a partial sleeve. The fastener attaches the cradle to the underbody. The attachment portion of the cradle encircles the fastener and includes a breakaway portion that fractures when the external force exceeds a threshold force. The partial sleeve is attached to and disposed within the attachment portion of the cradle and partially encircles the fastener so as to form an opening that provides a horizontal pathway for the fastener to move through to exit the cradle when the breakaway portion fractures. The cradle may separate from the underbody at the releasable joint with no vertical motion of the cradle relative to the underbody when the external force exceeds the threshold force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Balbir S. Sangha, Zohir Molhem, Frederick M. Marquardt, Munho Kim
  • Patent number: 9568062
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a frictional damping insert including a body constructed and arranged to be incorporated into a product and to provide frictional damping of the product, the body including lines of weakness constructed and arranged to segment the body into separate sections upon exposure to a molten material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Walker, Michael D. Hanna, James G. Schroth
  • Patent number: 9511792
    Abstract: A resin pin which is passed through a first resin-pin passing hole of a first plate, and a second resin-pin passing hole of a second plate to couple the second plate to a predetermined position of the first plate is sheared in a secondary collision, and causes the second plate to release from the predetermined position in a column movement direction. A slide plate which extends along the upper surface of the first plate has a resin-pin visual check hole. A highly hard collar is received by the second plate, placed in the first resin-pin passing hole, and fitted to a shaft portion of the resin pin. In the resin pin, axial elastic projections which apply a pressing and urging force to the slide plate are disposed at positions avoiding a range where, in a secondary collision, the resin-pin visual check hole is passed in the column movement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Magaki, Shigeru Hoshino, Shunsuke Nunomura
  • Patent number: 9481336
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vehicle steering arrangement comprising a steering wheel and a torque transmitting steering column arrangement arranged to connect the steering wheel with front wheels of a vehicle. The steering arrangement comprises at least a first steering column part connected to the steering wheel and a second steering column part connected to the front wheels. The first and second steering column parts are connected to each other by a decoupling device adapted to decouple the first and second steering column parts from each other when an accident is detected so that the second steering column part can rotate in relation to the first column part. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising such a steering arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fredrik Heurlin, Harald Hasselblad
  • Patent number: 9446795
    Abstract: A structure includes a front side member which may be disposed at left and right sides, respectively and includes a front end positioned at a vehicle front end, a fender apron member which includes a front end positioned at the vehicle front end based on the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a fender apron front lower reinforcing member which connects and reinforces the front end of the front side member and the front end of the fender apron member, a sub-frame which is engaged to the front side member at its lower side, and a connection member of which a first end may be engaged to the fender apron front lower reinforcing member and of which a second end may be engaged to an connecting portion between the sub-frame and the front side member and the sub-frame to be movable when the connecting portion and the sub-frame receive an impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Daewoo Jung, Joomin Jang
  • Patent number: 9409601
    Abstract: A rear region of an axle support is connected to at least one supporting body component in the front, lower region of the passenger compartment of the vehicle body by way of at least one support extending rearward. The support is connected to the supporting body component by a pyrotechnically releasable connecting element. A guide is arranged between the rear end region of the support and the supporting body component, which guide permits only an displacement of the guided end region of the support rearward as viewed in the direction of travel if the connection is released by the pyrotechnic connecting element between the support and the supporting body component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Franz Hoiss
  • Patent number: 9376073
    Abstract: A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ajay Kumar Gupta, Narayana Venugopal, John Charles Caris, Mark Wlotkowski, Charles Ko, Leonard Anthony Shaner
  • Patent number: 9376143
    Abstract: A deflector assembly for a vehicle having a bumper and a frame rail that are connected by a crush-can. The deflector assembly absorbs impact forces in a small overlap rigid barrier test by directing the impact from the barrier in a lateral direction toward the frame rail. A guide and follower, such as a wheel-shaped roller, a ball-shaped roller, a sliding shoe, or a fastener is received in a guide member that defines a guide surface extending longitudinally to guide a back end of the deflector assembly in a full frontal impact in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, Jeffrey Lawrence Laya, Matt Alan Niesluchowski, Jeffrey Dan Rupp
  • Patent number: 9340226
    Abstract: A steering wheel is coupled to a steering gear via a steering shaft, an intermediate shaft, a clutch input shaft and a clutch output shaft. When viewed in a vehicle transverse direction, a tilt angle ? of the clutch input shaft relative to the horizontal plane is set to be smaller than a tilt angle ? of the intermediate shaft relative to the horizontal plane. A steering column is supported by a vehicle body via a tilt pivot for adjusting a tilt position. Even when the steering column is located at any tilt position, the relationship of ?<? is set to be maintained when viewed in the vehicle transverse direction. The center position of a universal joint between the steering shaft and the intermediate shaft is misaligned with the center position of the tilt pivot when viewed in the vehicle transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Osonoi, Takuya Narasaki, Noriki Kubokawa
  • Patent number: 8955655
    Abstract: With an apparatus for the shock absorption of rope structures, in particular for rockfall, land slide and snow barriers, at least one intermediate piece (1; 1?) deformable by tensile forces is provided which is accommodated within a rope subjected to tension. The intermediate piece (1, 1?) comprises one or more longitudinal elements (7, 8, 20) which can respectively be in the form of a strip, bar, wire, rope and/or strand. The longitudinal element or elements (7, 8, 20) are connected by their one end (7a, 8a; 20a) to the one rope end. On the other hand, they are guided about a deflection element (10; 10?) connected to the other rope end. Means are provided by means of which the deflection angle of the longitudinal element or elements formed upon loading the intermediate piece (1, 1?) is substantially sustained. The shock absorption characteristics can thus be better defined and optimised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Geobrugg AG
    Inventors: Hans Peter Von Allmen, Andrea Roth
  • Patent number: 8925679
    Abstract: A fall restraint system includes a cable for attachment to a fall restraint harness assembly of a worker. The cable can be attached to a boom arm cantilevered on a mast carried from the ground or can be stretched between two points on opposed walls. A shock absorber is provided for absorbing at least part of the shock forces so as to reduce the loading applied to the support system. This comprises an elongate member with a movable member or sleeve mounted on it for longitudinal movement. The movement is resisted by a friction brake or a compressible material contained within a tube so that the sleeve moves along the tube in response to loads exceeding the normal load to reduce the loading on the cable while compressing the material in the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Tuffbuilt Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Vetesnik
  • Patent number: 8886402
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for an actively variable shock absorbing system for actively controlling the load response characteristics of a shock absorbing strut. In one embodiment the shock absorbing system comprises a controllable valve adapted for actively varying a load response characteristic of the shock absorbing strut. The shock absorbing system further comprises an electronic control system comprising an input for receiving a signal from a sensor, an algorithm adapted to determine an optimal position for the controllable valve in view of the sensor signal, and an output for sending a control signal to the controllable valve to place the valve in the optimal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Armorworks Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Ken-An Lou
  • Patent number: 8851250
    Abstract: The invention relates to an active vibration isolation system which detects structural vibration of the mass to be isolated via a sensor and also takes account of these disturbance variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Integrated Dynamics Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Heiland
  • Publication number: 20140224580
    Abstract: An energy absorber assembly for use with a safety harness comprises a connector, a bracket assembly, a fastener, and an energy absorber. The connector is configured and arranged to operatively connect to the safety harness. The fastener operatively connects the bracket assembly and the connector, and the fastener releases the bracket assembly from the connector when subjected to a predetermined load. The energy absorber operatively connects the bracket assembly and the connector, and the energy absorber includes a first portion and a second portion that separate to absorb shock after the bracket assembly is released from the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: D B INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Scott C. Casebolt, David A. Schlangen
  • Patent number: 8752810
    Abstract: A fluid strut includes a frangible locking member including a generally cylindrical locking pin mounted to an outer cylindrical housing of the strut and extending radially inwardly toward a gas spring cylinder. The locking pin is movable between operative and inoperative positions. In the operative position, the spring-loaded frangible locking pin extends into engagement with the gas cylinder and can advance radially to a locking position once the outer housing extends beyond the location of the gas cylinder. In an inoperative position, the locking pin is held in a retracted position. The end of the locking pin has a reduced diameter, such that, if a purposeful force is placed upon the strut when in a locked position, the pin can shear, allowing the rod to be retracted within the cylinder and the closure member to be closed without damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Suspa Incorporated
    Inventors: Ryan T. Anderson, Troy A. Waterman, Kevin Thomas Braat
  • Publication number: 20140124315
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing member may include a cylindrical member configured to receive an impact load applied axially and capable of being axially compressed by the impact load, a wood member received within the cylindrical member without contacting each other and having an impact load-resistance strength greater than the cylindrical member, and a foam material capable of positioning the wood member with respect to the cylindrical member and filled in a clearance formed between an outer surface of the wood member and an inner wall surface of the cylindrical member partially or over the entirety thereof by foaming. The foamed foam material has a strength that does not prevent the cylindrical member from radially inwardly deforming when the cylindrical member is axially compressed with the wood member by the impact load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA SHATAI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nobuhisa Okuda
  • Patent number: 8596432
    Abstract: While comprising filled minor compartments being filled with an inclusion in which a liquid makes the major component, and vacant minor compartments being filled with the air, at least one of the vacant minor compartments adjoins the filled minor compartments, and a fragile section is formed in at least one of ribs that demarcate the filled minor compartments and the adjoining vacant minor compartments. After the fragile section has fractured, shock energy can be absorbed furthermore by means of circulation resistance to the inclusion that flows from the filled minor compartments to the vacant minor compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiharu Totani, Muneo Furutani, Kiyoshi Suenaga, Takehiko Shiraki, Shigeru Yabuya, Katsuhiro Katagiri, Katsushi Ito
  • Patent number: 8579542
    Abstract: Arresting beds for decelerating vehicles, especially passenger air-crafts unable to stop on available run-way, including a vehicle arresting system. The vehicle arresting system also includes a bed filled with foamed glass aggregate with particle sizes ranging from 0.25 cm to 15 cm and nominal void fractions from about 70 to 98%, and a top cover covering the upper surface of the bed of foamed glass aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Norsk Glassgjenvinning AS
    Inventor: Jon A. Narmo
  • Publication number: 20130292219
    Abstract: An energy absorber is provided that includes first and second strips of webbing, a plurality of tear yarns and first and second connection portions. The plurality of tear yarns couple a central section of the first strip of webbing to a central section of the second strip of webbing to form a mid portion of the first and second strips of webbing. The mid portion of the first and second strips of webbing has a centrally located unattached portion without tear yarns. The first connector portion couples a first webbing first end portion of the first strip of webbing and a second webbing second end portion of the second strip of webbing to a first connector. The second connector portion couples a first webbing second end portion of the first strip of webbing and a second webbing first end portion of the second strip of webbing to a second connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Judd J. Perner
  • Publication number: 20130283709
    Abstract: A building structure including a plurality of vertical elements extending from a ground surface with at least a first of the vertical elements connected to a second of the vertical elements by a coupling member, the coupling member includes a damping element for damping vibrations in the building structure resulting from relative movement between the first and second vertical elements due to lateral loads applied to the building structure. The damping element undergoes deformation due to the relative movement between the vertical elements causing the damping material to be activated in shear. At least one of a first and second fuse member is connected to at least one of first and second ends of the damping element respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Constantin Christopoulos, Michael Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8469165
    Abstract: An interconnecting strut includes two coaxially arranged strut elements which may be displaced relative to one another in the longitudinal direction of the interconnecting strut, two end stops defining the mutual displaceability of the two strut elements, as well as damping elements, which when a specific permissible displacement is exceeded, damp the displacement movement of the strut elements before reaching the end stops, in which the damping elements consist of a material which is plastically deformable in the occurring force range, the damping elements being compressed for damping the displacement movement in the longitudinal direction and, at the same time, being subjected to a cross-sectional enlargement transversely to the longitudinal direction, due to the compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Susanne Versluis
  • Publication number: 20130153350
    Abstract: Shock absorbers for integration into protective structures generally take the form of hollow, fluid-filled, compressible cells. In various embodiments, the cell enclosure includes one or more orifices, or vents, through which a fluid (such as air or water) can escape from the inner chamber formed by the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: VINCENT FERRARA, ALEXANDER REYNOLDS
  • Publication number: 20130033056
    Abstract: An energy absorbing system for blast mitigation is provided for a suspended support element, such as a gunner seat or medical stretcher, in a vehicle. An energy absorbing element is located in series within at least one suspension element of the seat or stretcher. The energy absorbing element includes an extensible section having a contracted, folded configuration and an extended configuration. A retention element, such as stitching or entangled interlocking fibers, retains the energy absorbing element in the contracted configuration. The retention element remains intact when the energy absorbing element supports a load from the person on the seat or stretcher and fails over a period of time when an explosive force is applied to the vehicle from underneath, causing the vehicle to move upwardly, the extensible section thereby extending in length and absorbing energy. Injury to the person can thereby be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: George C. Tunis, III, Scott Kendall
  • Patent number: 8256516
    Abstract: A system and a method provide a downhole mechanical energy absorber that protects downhole tools from impact loads and shock loads that occur during run-in contacts, tool drops, perforating blasts, and other impact events. A continuous localized inelastic deformation of a tube is a primary energy absorber in a load limiting design of the downhole mechanical energy absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Starboard Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: John P. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 8118286
    Abstract: An impact energy dissipation device for the prevention of high-speed vehicles and more specifically automotive vehicles, aircraft, helicopters, components and the like from receiving high-speed impact energy directly onto their structures in case of a collision. The device is to isolate high-speed impact energy from the crashworthy structures by breaking down the huge impact energy with many small manageable shear fragments. The device includes a slidable assembly with a series of resistive pins with predetermined shear strength, staggered in two tandem rows to shear in a controlled manner that only one pin is sheared at a time thereof bearing an approximate equivalent of one shear pin load transmission throughout a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Chin Wah Nyee Chong
  • Patent number: 8052195
    Abstract: Device for energy absorption in particular for an automotive vehicle seat upon impact, said device comprising a first element substantially in the form of a plate with a hole and a second element inserted in the hole, said first element comprising a series of cutouts that are successive along a deformation direction and define a series of yokes between each other extending along a direction of elongation transversal to the direction of deformation, said yokes having each a length along the direction of elongation, said length increases strictly from one yoke to the next according to the distance of the yokes in relation to the second element and the yokes having an overall concavity turned towards the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Faurecia Sieges d'Automobile
    Inventors: Christophe Aufrere, Ho-Sung Kang, Julien Meghira
  • Patent number: 8052350
    Abstract: A marine pipelaying vessel with a pipeline stinger connected to said vessel, preferably pivotable, and forming a downwardly directed support for pipeline to be laid. The vessel further includes a stinger suspension assembly between the stinger and the vessel from which the stinger is suspended at least during operation, preferably the stinger suspension assembly allowing to lower and raise said stinger. The stinger suspension assembly includes a sacrificial stinger impact absorber which is adapted to absorb impact energy resulting from a violent stinger motion, e.g. induced by a freak wave. Preferably, the impact absorber forms an elongatable structure, e.g. a telescopic structure, which is elongated under impact energy absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Itrec B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Eric Romeijn
  • Patent number: 8021075
    Abstract: Aircraft arresting beds at ends of runways may be subject to damaging effects of jet blast phenomena. Arresting units for that and other applications and which are resistant to such effects are described, with related methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Silvia C. Valentini, Graham Kent Thompson, Jr., Yijian Shi, Hugh Kenneth DeLong, III, Randall Craig Ohneck, Richard David Angley
  • Patent number: 8021074
    Abstract: Aircraft arresting beds at ends of runways may be subject to damaging effects of jet blast phenomena. Arresting units for that and other applications and which are resistant to such effects are described, with related methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Silvia C. Valentini, Graham Kent Thompson, Jr., Yijian Shi, Hugh Kenneth Delong, III, Randall Craig Ohneck, Richard David Angley