GB1257078A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,257,078. Shock absorbing bumper. H. GRANIG. 5 Feb., 1969 [5 Feb., 1968], No. 6255/69. Heading B7J. [Also in Division F2] A bumper bar 2 is connected to a vehicle by telescopic cylinders 1 which are extended on actuation of a switch by an occupant immediately prior to a collision by means of compressed gas from a cartridge in a source 20, the telescoping of the cylinders 1 on impact being controlled by a vent 103 and a further supply of gas, so that they act as shock absorbers, lessening the risk of vehicle damage and occupant injury. As the cylinders telescope, slack in a cable 16 attached to the bumper bar 2 will be taken up by a vehicle mounted spring-biased drum 22, Figs. 2, 3, which on rotation moves a finger 26 on a pin 29 from a groove 24 via a helical groove 25 to a groove 24<SP>1</SP>, the pin 29 thus pivoting a bell-crank lever 30 to move an actuator 31 which releases firing pins (57), Fig. 5 (not shown), which fire a number of cartridges, the number being controlled in dependence on the vehicle velocity, to provide the further gas supply. The vent 103 is actuated by a lostmotion means 107, 108, Fig. 8, linked to the bell crank 38 by members 105, 40 and 40<SP>1</SP>. The size of the vent 103 is controlled by the amount of lost-motion, which is varied by rotating the member 105, by means of a shaft 104 linked to the vehicle speedometer. The bumper bar 2 may be retracted by the vehicle engine which is coupled to the drum 22 by means of a gear rim 23, a pinion 49, a shaft 50 and a coupling arm 35 engageable with a V-belt pulley, Figs. 2, 3. The drum 22 is disengaged from the engine when the bumper bar 2 is completely retracted, by a stop 47 on the cable 16 acting through a linkage 44, 46, 43, Fig. 3, to retract the shaft 50 against the force of a spring 42. The bumper bar 2 is pivotally connected to the cylinders 1 with some lateral freedom to accommodate an oblique impact.