US5535842A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety arrangement for collision-related disconnection of an electrical energy source from a motor vehicle supply circuit
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1994-06-13
•
Granted: 1996-07-16
•
Expires: 2014-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A safety arrangement for motor vehicles includes a cable separator responsive to a collision sensor for disconnecting an electrical energy source from a power supply circuit for the vehicle. One form of cable separator includes a knife and a source of propellant energy which drives the knife at least partway through a power cable so as to interrupt the flow of current to the vehicle power circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernd Richter
- 👤 Walter Zimdahl
- 👤 Heiko Barske
- 👤 Ingo Rennert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H39/00; H01H39/006; B; B60; B60K; B60K28/00; B60K28/10; B60K28/14; H01H1/00; H01H1/58; H01H2001/5877; H01H2039/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a source of electrical energy, a motor vehicle power circuit, a continuous integral conductive member connecting the source of electrical energy to the motor vehicle power circuit, separator means actuatable by release of stored propellant energy for destroying the integrity of the continuous integral conductive member to at least partially separate the source of electrical energy from the motor vehicle power circuit, and collision-sensing means for actuating the separator means in response to sensing of a vehicle collision.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising a source of electrical energy, a motor vehicle power circuit, a continuous integral conductive member connecting the source of electrical energy to the motor vehicle power circuit, separator means actuatable by release of stored propellant energy for destroying the integrity of the continuous integral conductive member to at least partially separate the source of electrical energy from the motor vehicle power circuit, and collision-sensing means for actuating the separator means in response to sensing of a vehicle collision.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 including spring means providing the propellant energy for actuating the separator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 comprising pyrotechnic means providing the propellant energy for actuating the separator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the separator means comprises a knife.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the knife has a concave edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the separator means comprises a housing capable of being clamped onto the continuous integral conducting member and a snap closure for retaining the housing clamped onto the continuous integral conducting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the separator means includes reset means for restoring the connection between the motor vehicle power circuit and the source of electrical energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 7 including motor vehicle control means responsive to the reset means for limiting operation of the motor vehicle to an emergency operating mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the collision-sensing means is arranged to actuate at least one other safety device in the motor vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the separator means comprises a shear element in the continuous integral conductive member capable of destroying the integrity of the continuous integral conductive member in response to propellant energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the shear element is a weak point in the continuous integral conductive member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the continuous integral conductive member is a sleeve and the shear element is an at least partly encircling annular groove in the sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the sleeve is engaged by a cartridge containing a propellant to provide the propellant energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the cartridge is arranged to threadedly engage the sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the sleeve constitutes a pin-like connector connecting a terminal attached to the source of energy and a contact plate connected to a cable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A safety arrangement according to claim 15 including a prestressed resilient member between the terminal and the contact plate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3277255A
Cited
DE2327261A1
Cited
FR2253366A5
Cited
US4224487A
Cited
US4417519A
Cited
US4581504A
Cited
DE3417328A1
Cited
DE3744264A1
Cited
EP0398307A1
Cited
US5327990A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-16 | 2000-01-15 | 2000-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-16 | 2004-01-15 | 2004-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-16 | 2008-01-15 | 2008-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |