SAFETY AUTOMOBILE WITH RELEASABLE COUNTER-IMPACT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT

Abstract

The disclosure of the present invention relates to a safety automobile having a releasable passenger pod connected to the vehicle chassis with a counter-impact retention system that is configured to reduce perceived impact and to move the passenger pod away from the impact zone of a crash.

Claims

1. A safety automobile comprising: a chassis, the chassis including, a receiver tub, and, a counter-impact retaining system, a passenger pod, the passenger pod configured to be attached within the receiver tub, a release mechanism between the receiver tub and the passenger pod, and, the counter-impact retaining system attached from the chassis to the passenger pod.

2. The safety automobile of claim 1 wherein the safety retaining system comprises: a high tension counter-balance spring, at least one cable reel, at least one retention cable running from the at least one cable reel to the passenger pod, and, the counter-balance spring configured to rapidly wind the at least one retention cable onto to the at least one cable reel.

3. The safety automobile of claim 2 including at least one supplemental high speed electrical motor.

4. The safety automobile of claim 2 including a least one cable reel brake.

5. The safety automobile of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism is a hydraulic ram.

6. The safety automobile of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism is one of a spring-loaded ram and a pneumatic cylinder ram.

7. The safety automobile of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism is at least one frangible coupling.

8. The safety automobile of claim 1 wherein the passenger pod comprises one of at least one of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass.

9. The safety automobile of claim 8 wherein the passenger pod includes semi-rigid foam.

10. The safety automobile of claim 1 wherein the chassis having hydraulic rams configured to absorb crash impact forces and to actuate the release mechanism.

11. A safety automobile comprising: a chassis, the chassis including, a receiver tub, and, a counter-impact retaining system, a passenger pod, the passenger pod configured to be attached within the receiver tub, a release mechanism between the receiver tub and the passenger pod, the counter-impact retaining system attached from the chassis to the passenger pod, the counter-impact retaining system including, at least two cable reels, a retention cable running from each of the at least two cable reels to the passenger pod, a high-speed motor engaged with each of the at least two cable reels, the high-speed motor configured to rapidly play-in and play-out the retention cable, and, a brake system engaged with each of the at least two cable reels.

12. The safety automobile of claim 11 wherein the safety retaining system includes a high tension counter-balance spring.

13. The safety automobile of claim 11 wherein the release mechanism is a hydraulic ram.

14. The safety automobile of claim 11 wherein the release mechanism is one of a spring-loaded ram and a pneumatic cylinder ram.

15. The safety automobile of claim 11 wherein the release mechanism is at least one frangible coupling.

16. The safety automobile of claim 11 wherein the passenger pod comprises one of at least one of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and fiberglass.

17. The safety automobile of claim 16 wherein the passenger pod includes semi-rigid foam.

18. A safety automobile comprising: a chassis, the chassis including, a receiver tub, and, a counter-impact retaining system, a passenger pod, the passenger pod configured to be attached within the receiver tub, a release mechanism between the receiver tub and the passenger pod, and, the counter-impact retaining system comprising at least one elastomeric cable attached from the chassis to the passenger pod.

19. The safety automobile of claim 18 wherein the at least one elastomeric cable is one of a steel cable, a Kevlar cable, and coil spring.

20. The safety automobile of claim 18 wherein the release mechanism comprising at least one of a hydraulic ram, a pneumatic ram, a spring ram and a frangible coupling.

21. An operator control module comprising; a steering wheel, an electronic control suite, and, foot controls.

22. The operator control module of claim 21 wherein the module can be installed within a passenger compartment of a vehicle for either right-hand or left-hand operation.

23. The operator control module of claim 21 wherein the module is movable between positions for right-handed and left-handed operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The following description of the embodiments can be understood in light of the Figures which illustrate specific aspects of the embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the embodiments. In the Figures the physical dimensions of the embodiment may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals or word descriptions in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions may be omitted.

[0024] FIGS. 1A through 1H the safety automobile showing passenger pod detachment during a frontal impact at different speeds,

[0025] FIG. 2A and 2B the safety automobile showing passenger pod detachment in rear impact crashes,

[0026] FIG. 3 the safety automobile showing passenger pod detachment in a side impact,

[0027] FIG. 4A one embodiment of a counter-impact retention system of the present invention,

[0028] FIG. 4B one embodiment of a counter-impact retention system cable arrangement,

[0029] FIG. 5 is a side view of the safety automobile, and,

[0030] FIG. 6 is perspective view of the operator's consul.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] The safety automobile 100 is a revolutionary design which allows vehicle occupants to suffer little or no injuries in a 60 mph frontal impact into a barrier or other vehicle as depicted in FIGS. 1A through 1H. This design also allows few or no injuries from a similar speed impact to the rear or side impact as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. This is accomplished by utilizing a carbon fiber safety pod 110 which encloses the occupants of the vehicle shown in both FIGS. 1 and 2. It should be noted that all of the occupants of the vehicle still must wear seatbelts and are protected by airbags for both front and rear passengers. The safety pod 110 is not ejected from the rest of the vehicle in low-speed impacts of less than 10 miles an hour. In impacts higher than 10 mph the safety pod 110 breaks away from a receiver tub 101 much like a ski boot breaks away from a ski when sufficient forces are applied to the ski-like binding. The safety pod 110 is then propelled out of the crash zones with the utilization of cables 240 (FIGS. 4A and 4B) which are attached to the base of the safety pod 110. As shown in FIG. 4A, the cables 240 are coiled around a shaft 260 which is energized by a torsionally coiled spring 230, an electric motor 210, and cable brakes 251 controlled by sensors and on-board computers. In a side impact crash, sensors control the rate of the release of the cable 240. In front and rear collisions this allows the safety pod 110 to be moved out of the area of collision damage. In the case of a side impact collision the cables 240 are utilized to keep the safety pod 110 from being jettisoned too far away from the remaining vehicle components. In all cases the remnants of the non-pod segments of the vehicle 100 are left behind to absorb the impact with another vehicle or barrier while the high-strength carbon fiber construction of the safety pod 110 along with seatbelts and airbags protect the vehicle occupants.

[0032] In this approach, the movement of the passenger pod 110 is unique, as shown and described FIGS. 1A through 3. The safety pod 110, in conjunction with the receiver tub 101, guides the passenger pod 110 up and out of the crushed zone, utilizing the rest of the vehicle 100 to collapse and absorb the crash energy. Motion induced by the counter-impact mechanism 200, may in some situations, increase the G forces acting on the passengers, however they are protected from injury by headrests, seatbelts, airbags and a collapsible steering/brakes/accelerator and instrument module.

[0033] In one embodiment, the energy absorbed from the front and rear shock absorbers 410 would create a hydraulic or pneumatic reaction that would break the passenger pod 110 free of its ski binding like mounts or attachment mechanisms 310 to the chassis in FIG. 5. The hydraulic or pneumatic piston has a pressure valve that senses a sufficient impact to cause the attachment mechanisms 310 to disengage. It is also contemplated to utilize dynamic sensors to electronically deactivate the attachment mechanisms 310. The passenger pod 110 may also be attached within the receiver tub 101 using a plurality of frangible couplings 120.

[0034] FIGS. 4A and 4B detail the counting impact system 200 including a drive-take up motor 210, having a pinion gear 212 engaged with reciprocal gear 211 fixed to shaft 260. A counter-balance spring 230 and differential 220 are used to supplement take-up power of the drive motor 210. Each cable reel 250 can be independently slowed using a brake mechanism 251. Take-up cables 240 extend from the reel 250 to an attachment point 270 on passenger pod 110. It is contemplated that in another embodiment, each reel 250 will be controlled by an independent high speed take up motor 210, the balance of the cable 240 tension and length would be controlled using a programmable logic controller.

[0035] In another embodiment, cables 240 can be replaced by at least four elastomeric cables which connect from attachment points on the vehicle 100 to at point proximate each of the four corners of the passenger pod 110. The properties of the cable 240 such that they stretch at a controlled rate which will soften impact forces felt inside of the passenger pod 110.

[0036] FIG. 6 is one embodiment of the operator console or module 150 within the passenger pod 110. The operator console 150 includes; a steering wheel 151, electronic controls 152, turn signal lever 153 and foot controls 154. The operator console 150 is configured to contain all operator control elements for the vehicle and is configured to be installed or moved, as a module, between the right-hand side and the left-hand side of the passenger pod 110; allowing transportation or sales of the safety vehicle 100 within the various markets having differing traffic laws and preferred operator control configurations.

[0037] It is to be understood that the above mentioned arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications or alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.