GB2435245A

GB2435245A - Vehicle safety cell and luggage compartment

Info

Publication number: GB2435245A
Application number: GB0603016A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Alexander Smith; Carolyn Yndra Smith
Original assignee: Michael Smith & Associates Ltd
Current assignee: Michael Smith & Associates Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-15
Filing date: 2006-02-15
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-15
Also published as: GB2435245B; GB0603016D0

Abstract

By relocating the space previously assigned for cargo carrying at the rear of a motor vehicle to a new location between the forward engine compartment and the passenger cabin a Vehicle Safety Cell can be engineered into the vehicles structure that will provide protection from high speed impacts through the use of an energy absorbing core and additionally a practical storage facility for both small and large items. The energy absorbing core or block 4C is positioned in line with the transversely mounted engine 4A and has cargo carrying spaces above (figure 5) and to either side 4D thereof. Airbags (figure 6) can be inflated into any empty cargo space to support the cushioning effect of the safety cell.

Description

!II 2435245

VEHICLE SAFETY CELL

Background

Over the last 50 years motor vehicle design has followed the conventional format of arranging the three basic components -A I Engine compartment B / Passenger cabin C I Cargo space in a line-ahead layout ( see Fig 1) with only one or two designs of significance placing the engine at the rear and resulting in the cargo space (boot/trunk) being placed at the front. IN ALL DESIGNS THE PASSENGER CABIN HAS REMAINED ENTRENCHED IN THE CENTRE SPACE.

The widespread development of the transverse mounted engine and associated front wheel drive system (see Fig 2) has provided significant additional space for vehicle designers to utilize. THIS HAS NOT LED TO ANY FUNDEMENTAL CHANGES TO THE OVERALL LAYOUT OF THE THREE SPACE CATAGORIES.

The growing emphasis on vehicle safety and the need to reduce road fatalities and injuries has lead to a universal adoption of an effective seatbelt system and the growing introduction of air bags to cushion occupants within the passenger space.

With most vehicle accidents involving head on collision either into another vehicle or a stationary object, seat belts and air bags have significantly reduced the casualty rate in low to medium speed impacts. High speed accidents still lead to an unfortunately high level of serious injuries with life long consequences to the individual, their families and the community. Of growing concern is the effect of unsecured cargo whether it be shopping bags, golf clubs or other heavy objects that in an accident move through the vehicle at the same speed the vehicle was moving at prior to impact. The injuries caused to passengers by these objects moving through the passenger cabin at high speed are often fatal.

Energy dissipating engineering solutions have helped a great deal to reduce the full effect of these types of collisions however they have not addressed the fundamental change that is required to significantly raise survival levels..

Modern vehicle design appears to place great emphasis on visual appeal of the exterior profile, passenger space and enhancements and performance features of the engine unit which embraces the two dominant components -engine (A) and passenger ( B) and treats the third -cargo( C) as virtually an after thought. * 2/

Statement of Invention

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: DRAWINGS(D1 /2, 2/2) Fig. 1 Illustrates a traditional front engine passenger vehicle layout of 50 years ago with a longitudinal engine compartment A followed by the passenger cabin B and completed by the cargo space C. Fig 2 Represents a current vehicle profile similar to Fig 1 but incorporating a transverse engine, front wheel drive layout with the additional space created by the transverse engine being assigned to the passenger cabin.

Fig 3 Shows the introduction of the Vehicle Safety Cell between the engine compartment of Fig 2 and the passenger cabin whilst retaining the same passenger cabin space and overall vehicle length.

Fig 4 A plan view of Fig 3 showing the location of the front wheel drive transverse engine 4A, the Vehicle Safety Cell 4B, the central energy absorbing core 4C and the deep side lockers 4D.

Fig 5 A cross section through the Vehicle Safety Cell at position XY as shown on Fig 4 illustrates the lift up access lids 5A to the cargo space, the side pockets 58 located on each side of the energy absorbing core 5D and the through storage area 5C for larger items. Ducting 5E is provided for the exhaust to one side and electrical and hydraulics to the other.

Fig 6 A front view of the cross section XY showing the heavy duty air bags 6A, 6B, 6C and 60 inflated into the vacant cargo space providing additional resistance to an impact.

The Vehicle Safety Cell as this invention is termed seeks to introduce a fundamental change to vehicle layout by bringing THE CARGO COMPARTMENT AHEAD OF THE PASSENGER CABIN creating both a buffer zone against front end impact and a comprehensive and practical cargo carrying space. A design change made more possible by the introduction of the transverse mounted engine and front wheel drive system (see Fig 3). The overall length of this revised layout vehicle remains the same as for a vehicle of conventional design.

Locating the cargo space to this area not only provides a practical and flexible storage area more in keeping with todays needs but more importantly places additional distance between the passenger and the point of impact. This additional space can be engineered with a combination of materials and reactive technology to absorb/dissipate a much greater impact effect than a vehicle of conventional design.

The inclusion of a collapsible energy absorbing core together with the activation of heavy duty air bags into the vacant storage spaces will greatly enhance the protection level of the occupants in the rear passenger space.

The Vehicle Safety Cell has the essential elements to lift passenger safety to a new level. In terms of its practical application it would be expected to occupy approximately 10 -20% of the overall vehicle length i.e. 450 -900mm on a 4.5m vehicle.

Much as the parachute required the ejector seat to make the step up to high speed flight in order to continue its life saving function so the Safety Cell enables the seat belt and passenger air bag to operate more successfully at a higher impact speed in open road collisions.

The development of" run-flat" puncture absorbing tyres which effectively enables the elimination of the spare tyre now allows the rear section of the vehicle to be engineered solely to provide maximum protection against rear impact if access is no longer required for cargo carrying or spare tyre storage.

Description of Invention.

Fig 4 shows a plan view of the front section of a vehicle with a transverse mounted engine and front wheel drive (4/A). Immediately behind this area is the Safety cell ( 4/B) with its central energy absorbing block (4/C) surrounded by cargo space (4/D Fig 5 is a front elevation through the cross section XY shown in Fig 4 of the Safety Cell demonstrating the lift up side opening cargo doors ( 5/A), the deep side lockers (5/B) and the large through space (5/C) accessible from either side. The energy absorbing core (5/0) lines up directly with the transverse engine block and other heavy mechanical components of the engine bay and is designed to receive this in a progressively collapsing pattern in a front impact. Ducting channels ( 5/E) provide for the location of exhaust pipe to one side and electrical/hydraulic systems to the other.

Fig 6 is the same view but showing the four internal heavy duty air bags (6/A, 6/B, 6/C and 6/D) activated and filling the cargo area to support the overall cushion affect of the Safety Cell in responding to the impact.

It will be appreciated that the invention broadly consists in the parts, elements and features described in this specification, and is deemed to include any equivalents known in the art which if substituted for the described integers, would not materially alter the substance of the invention 4'6

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS

Claim I A Vehicle Safety Cell consisting of a full height and width compartment engineered into the structural framework of a vehicle and complementary to the overall styling requirements of an exterior design, between a forward engine bay of a front wheel drive vehicle but not excluding a vehicle with an alternative drive system, and a vehicle passenger cabin representing approximately 10 to 20% of a vehicles overall length,for the purpose of providing additional protection from front end collisions and as a secondary function to provide for the carriage of cargo in a variety of compartments whereby a Vehicle Safety Cell comprising an enclosed central energy absorbing core surrounded on two or three sides by cargo space, has an appropriately engineered structure that is positioned directly in line between the heavy mechanical components of a forward engine bay and a passenger cabin and that will retain its physical features in all collisions except the most extreme collisions at which time it will progressively collapse as the engine compartment is forced back towards the passenger cabin absorbing the energy of the impact and providing the passenger cabin with a higher level of protection to passengers in high speed impacts.

Claim 2 The Vehicle Safety Cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the secondary function is to provide a traditional cargo carrying space, normally incorporated in a boot/trunk of a conventional design, through lift-up access panels located either side of a vehicle between the engine compartment and the base of the forward windshield by which items can be deposited either in side lockers or can be stowed across the width of a vehicle directly above and to the side of the energy absorbing core as claimed in claim 1.

Claim 3 A Vehicle Safety Cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein, incorporated within the cargo space as claimed in claim 2 is a heavy duty air bag system that when activated by a vehicle impact situation will inflate and occupy all the unfilled cargo space within the Vehicle Safety Cell as claimed in claim 1 to further inhibit the potential for damage to a passenger cabin in the event of a front end collision.