Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention is related to a device to reduce collision impact force in a vehicle.

Background of the invention

[0002] Crumple zones are parts of a vehicle designed to deform and crumple in case of a collision. They absorb kinetic energy from the impact and prevent occupants from receiving this energy in large quantities. As the crumple zone deforms and changes shape, the time taken for an occupant to come to rest increases. This means that the acceleration (deceleration) of a body within the cockpit is reduced and this reduction accounts for a decrease in force felt by occupants.

[0003] A US6601873 patent discloses a motor vehicle with a supporting structure provided at one end of a safety passenger compartment with a crumple zone and two wheel arches located in the vicinity of the crumple zone on the sides. A wheel is located in each respective wheel arch held by wheel guide members. A deflecting area extends diagonally to a central lengthwise axis of the motor vehicle for the associated wheel, between the safety passenger compartment and the rolling circumference of the two wheels in the straight-ahead position of the deflecting surface for the associated wheel against which the wheel moved by the crash-produced deformation of the crumple zone against the deflecting surface is deflected past the end of the safety passenger compartment. The deflecting surfaces are diagonally downwardly directed deflecting ramps by which the wheels are directed toward the safety passenger compartment and below the floor of the motor vehicle as the crumple zone collapses.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a device to reduce collision impact force in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0005] Figure 1 illustrates a device to reduce collision impact force in a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The device 10 comprises a crumple zone 11 made on a portion of the vehicle 12. The device 10 comprises multiple angled hinges 14 formed and connected to each other in the crumple zone 11 for redistributing the collision impact force. The device 10 comprises a connecting rod 16 for connecting the crumple zone 11 and an airtight piston 18 for absorbing the collision impact force via deformation.

[0006] Further the construction of the device 10 and the components of the device 10 is explained in detail. The device 10 comprises a rubber bladder 20 connected to the airtight piston 18 for receiving the collision force. The rubber bladder 20 is designed in such a way that, an inner wall of the rubber bladder 20 is made in the form of a zig-zag pattern 24. The zig-zag pattern 24 of the rubber bladder 20 produces low pressure inside the bladder 20 causing air to get trapped inside the bladder 20 and the airtight piston 18. However, it is to be noted that, the rubber bladder 20 interior design is not limited to only zig-zag pattern 24 but can be of any other design that is known to a person skilled in the art, that is used to produce low pressure.

[0007]The airtight piston 18 moves in the linear movement along with the connecting rod 16 during the collision. According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting rod 16 is made of any kind of metal or alloy that can withstand large amount of force/pressure and which moves in a linear direction to carry the collision force from the crumpled zone 11 towards the airtight piston 18 and the rubber bladder 20. The air-tight piston 18 and the rubber bladder 20 are positioned on a bottom surface of the vehicle 12 as shown in the figure.

[0008]The present invention provides the new design of the crumpled zone 11 by identifying the points where the angled hinges 14 are placed and connected to each other. The newly designed crumple zone 11 ensures the direction of the movement of the force during collision. This change in design of the crumple zone 11 would relatively help in converting the amount of crumple area 11 into linear distance with the help of a at least one plate 26 movement.

[0009]The device comprises the at least one plate 26 fitted in between of any of two the angled hinges 14 in the crumpled zone 11, such that, an air bag operation during collision is not intervened in a direction of crumpling of the crumple zone 11. The position of the at least one plate 26 is made after a predefined distance from a start point of the crumple zone 11. For instance, the predefined distance is 20% away from the start point of the crumple zone 11. The dimensions and number of plates 26 fitted between any two of the angled hinges 14 is based on an at least one vehicle parameter. The vehicle parameter is chosen from a group of vehicle parameters comprising a vehicle type, vehicle speed, engine speed and the like. For instance, for a heavy-duty vehicle, the number of plates 26 will be more when compared to the passenger cars. The movement of the at least one plate 26 will be in same linear direction as the connecting rod 16 that pushes the piston 18. The multiple angled hinges 14, the at least one plate 26, the connecting rod 16, the air-tight piston 18 and the rubber bladder 20 together forms the device 10 that is used to reduce the collision force.

[0010]A method of working of the device is explained in detail. The crumple zone 11 comprises multiple angled hinges 14 for absorbing the collision force. The multiple angled hinges 14 location are identified and is made accordingly in the vehicle 12, such that, the direction of the collision force and the impact of the collision will be altered and reduced. In the new design of the crumple zone 11, the additional ankles /angled hinges 14 are identified and connected to each other introducing additional ankles 14 to ensure better deformation of the crumple zone 11 which improves absorbing the collision force via deformation.

[0011]During a collision, when the other vehicle , hits the current vehicle 12, the device 10 converts the deformation in the crumple zone 11 to linear distance movement. The linear distance is then fed into air-tight piston 18 via the connecting rod 16 and the piston 18 in turn moves, forcing the air to fill the rubber bladder 20. The Zig Zag pattern/design 24 on the inner wall of the rubber bladder 20 and the volume design of the bladder 20 makes the air to fill quickly. Meanwhile the collision force still pushes the piston 18 further causing the air to compress and the compression of air causes a low pressure to drop in the rubber bladder 20, at the same time high pressure in the piston 18. Thus, the difference in the pressure between the rubber bladder 20 and the piston 18 that to the atmospheric pressure tends the air to push back the piston 18 opposing the collision force which acts like a cushion. The cushioning effect thus created would greatly reduce further collision impact to the driver cabin, thus improves the safety of the driver/ passenger in vehicle 12.

[0012]During normal working condition of the vehicle 12, when there is no collision force no air compression takes place in the device 10. During the collision, the impact is further fed to the piston 18 via the connecting rod 16. The air quickly fills the area in the rubber bladder 20 causing the air to compress. During the high collision impact, the piston 18 cover greater distance causing the air to further compress greatly. The air is forced inside the rubber bladder 20 causing the bladder 20 to inflate, due to its thick outer wall the bladder 20 withstands the air pressure. Thus, causing low pressure in the bladder 20 and high pressure in the air-tight piston 18 which in turn causes a pressure difference. The air in the bladder 20 tends to oppose the piston 18 in the cylinder which creates a virtual cushioning effect against the collision force.

[0013]With the device 10 disclosed in the invention, the safety of the vehicle 12 is improved by redirecting the collision force towards the air-tight piston 18 and the rubber bladder 20 rather than the force moving towards the cockpit of the driver of the vehicle. The new design reduces the initial force of the crash and effectively redistributes the force to reduce the impact on passengers.

[0014] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim:

1. A device (10) to reduce collision impact force in a vehicle (12), said device (10) comprising :
- a crumple zone (11) made on a portion of said vehicle (12);

characterized in that :
- multiple angled hinges (14) are formed and connected to each other in said crumple zone (11) for redistributing said collision impact force;
- a connecting rod (16) for connecting said crumple zone (11) and an airtight piston (18) for absorbing said collision impact force via deformation.

2. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a rubber bladder (20) connected to said airtight piston (18) for receiving said collision force.

3. The device (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein an inner wall (22) of said rubber bladder (20) is made in the form of a zig-zag pattern (24).

4. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said zig-zag pattern (24) of said rubber bladder (20) produces low pressure inside said bladder (20) causing air to get trapped inside said bladder (20) and said airtight piston (18).

5. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airtight piston (18) moves in a linear movement along with said connecting rod (16) during said collision.

6. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprises at least one plate (26) fitted in between of any of two said angled hinges(14) in said crumpled zone (11), such that, an air bag operation during collision is not intervened in a direction of crumpling of said crumple zone (11).

7. The device (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said dimensions and number of plates (26) fitted between any two of said angled hinges (14) is based on an at least one vehicle parameter.

8. The device (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one plate (26) is positioned after a predefined distance in said crumpled zone (11).

9. The device (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein a movement of said at least one plate (26) is in same linear direction as the connecting rod (16) that pushes the airtight piston (18).

10. The device (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple angled hinges (14) forming the crumpled zone (11) produces a pressure difference between the air in said piston (18) and inside said rubber bladder (20) that to an atmospheric pressure , causing said air to act as a cushioning effect during a collision impact.