Patent US3740871A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3740871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crash dummy viscous neck
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1972-06-02
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1992-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A simulated neck construction and arrangement is provided for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy of the type used in vehicular crash testing. The simulated neck comprises a hydraulic mechanism or control utilizing a hydraulic housing attached to one of the structures and a plate means attached to the other of the structures. A pivot means between the housing means and plate means couples the two for relative tilting movements. A dampening means carried by the housing means and engaged with the plate means controls the tilt or wobble movement of the housing means relative to the plate means and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Inventors
- 👤 R Berton
- 👤 R Daniel
- 👤 C Reuter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63H; A63H3/00; A63H3/003; A63H3/36; A63H3/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A neck simulation means for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy, comprising: a hydraulic mechanism interposed between the torso structure and the head structure for controlling tilting movements of the head structure under excessive decelerations, the hydraulic mechanism including a housing means attached to one of the structures and a plate means attached to the other of the structures, a pivot means between the housing means and the plate means coupling the two for relative tilting movements therebetween, and dampening means carried by the housing means and engaged with the plate means to control the tilting movements of the one relative to the other and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A neck simulation means for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy, comprising: a hydraulic mechanism interposed between the torso structure and the head structure for controlling tilting movements of the head structure under excessive decelerations, the hydraulic mechanism including a housing means attached to one of the structures and a plate means attached to the other of the structures, a pivot means between the housing means and the plate means coupling the two for relative tilting movements therebetween, and dampening means carried by the housing means and engaged with the plate means to control the tilting movements of the one relative to the other and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 1, in which: the dampening means comprises a plurality of piston chambers in the housing means, the piston chambers being spaced in a circle around the pivot means, a corresponding plurality of spring-loaded pistons in the piston chambers in plate means engagement, and dampening fluid flowable through passage-ways communicating with selective piston chambers to provide controlled resiStance to movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A neck simulation means corresponding to claim 2, in which: variable orifice means project into the passageways to permit adjustment of the flow rate of the dampening fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A neck simulation means for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy, comprising: a hydraulic mechanism interposed between the torso structure and the head structure for controlling tilting movements of the head structure under excessive decelerations, the hydraulic mechanism including a hydraulic fluid housing attached at one end to one of the structures, wobble plate means attached to the other of the structures, pivot means coupling the wobble plate means to the housing, and viscous dampening means carried by the housing and engaged with the wobble plate means to control tilting movement of the latter about the pivot means and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A neck simulation means for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy, comprising: a hydraulic mechanism interposed between the torso structure and the head structure for controlling tilting movements of the head structure under excessive decelerations, the hydraulic mechanism including a hydraulic fluid housing attached at one end to one of the structures, wobble plate means attached to the other of the structures, pivot means coupling the wobble plate means to the housing, and viscous dampening means carried by the housing and engaged with the wobble plate means to control tilting movement of the latter about the pivot means and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 4, in which: the wobble plate means is attached to the head structure and comprises a socket plate receiving a ball element to form the pivot means and a mounting plate to which the head structure is attached, the two plates being isolated from metal to metal contact with each other by a rubber isolation section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 5, in which: the viscous dampening means comprises a plurality of piston chambers in the housing, the piston chambers being spaced in a circle around the pivot means, a corresponding plurality of spring-loaded pistons in the piston chambers in wobble plate engagement, and dampening fluid flowable through passageways communicating with alternate piston chambers to provide controlled resistance to movement of the pistons against spring means providing the spring-loading.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 6, in which: adjustable orifice means in the piston chamber communicating passageways controls the rate of fluid flow,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 4, in which: the viscous dampening means comprises a plurality of piston chambers in the housing, the piston chambers being spaced in a circle around the pivot means, a corresponding plurality of spring-loaded pistons in the piston chambers in wobble plate engagement, and dampening fluid flowable through passageways communicating with alternate piston chambers to provide controlled resistance to movement of the pistons against spring means providing the spring-loading.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 8, in which: adjustable orifice means in the piston chamber communicating passageways controls the rate of fluid flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A neck simulation means for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy, comprising: a hydraulic mechanism interposed between the torso structure and the head structure for controlling tilting movements of the head structure under excessive decelerations, the hydraulic mechanism including an inverted housing means, a mounting means attaching the head structure to the base of the inverted housing means, a support plate means attached to the torso structure, pivot means coupling the inverted housing means to the plate means, and dampening means carried by the housing means and engaged with the plate means yieldably controlling tilting movement of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
A neck simulation means for coupling the head structure to the torso structure of an anthropomorphic dummy, comprising: a hydraulic mechanism interposed between the torso structure and the head structure for controlling tilting movements of the head structure under excessive decelerations, the hydraulic mechanism including an inverted housing means, a mounting means attaching the head structure to the base of the inverted housing means, a support plate means attached to the torso structure, pivot means coupling the inverted housing means to the plate means, and dampening means carried by the housing means and engaged with the plate means yieldably controlling tilting movement of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 10, in which: the pivot means comprises a ball and socket connection between the housing means and the support plate means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 11, in which: the mounting plate means comprises two parallel spaced plates, the two plates being isolated from metal to metal contact with each other by a rubber isolation section thereby isolating the head structure from the torso structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 12, in which: the dampening means comprises a plurality of piston chambers in the inverted housing means, the piston chambers receiving a corresponding plurality of spring-loaded pistons, the pistons being in abutting relation to the support plate means, and viscous fluid flowable through passageways communicating with alternate piston receiving chambers to provide controlled resistance to movement of the pistons and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 13, in which: variable orifice means project into the respective passageways to permit adjustment of the flow rate of the dampening fluid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 11, in which: the dampening means comprises a plurality of piston chambers in the inverted housing means, the piston chambers receiving a corresponding plurality of spring-loaded pistons, the pistons being in abutting relation to the support plate means, and viscous fluid flowable through passageways communicating with alternate piston receiving chambers to provide controlled resistance to movement of the pistons and thereby of the head structure relative to the torso structure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A neck simulation means according to claim 15, in which: variable orifice means project into the respective passageways to permit adjustment of the flow rate of the dampening fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |