Personal protection device for fixing on the underside of a rail vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10960905-B2
Application number	US-201916700429-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2019
Priority date	Dec 20, 2018
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

An airbag module and a rail vehicle with an airbag module are described herein. The airbag module includes a support flap with a front end and a rear end. The rear end of the support flap is thereby pivotably mounted by means of a first pivot bearing, wherein the airbag module is convertible from a closed state into an open state by pivoting the support flap and the front end of the support flap thereby moves toward the track. The airbag module includes an airbag fixed on the airbag module. The airbag is folded in the closed state of the airbag module, and is unfolded in the open state of the airbag module. In its unfolded state, the airbag projects beyond the front end of the support flap, so that the unfolded airbag and the support flap together form an impact protection for a person on the track. Furthermore, a rail vehicle with one or a plurality of airbag modules is described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An airbag module for fixing on an underside of a rail vehicle between the rail vehicle and a track, the airbag module comprising:
a bracket for fixing the airbag module on the underside of the rail vehicle;
a support flap with a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end of the support flap is pivotably mounted by a first pivot bearing, wherein the airbag module is convertible from a closed state into an open state by pivoting the support flap, and the front end of the support flap thereby being movable toward the track;
a guide element with a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the guide element is pivotably mounted by a second pivot bearing and, in an open state of the airbag module, the rear end of the guide element is pivoted toward the track;
a third pivot bearing, which moveably connects the support flap and the guide element to each other; and
an airbag, fixed on at least one of the support flap and the bracket, the airbag being folded in the closed state of the airbag module and unfolded in the open state of the airbag module, and the airbag projecting past the front end of the support flap in the unfolded state so that the unfolded airbag and the support flap together form an impact protection for a person on the track,
wherein a pivot bearing, selected from the group consisting of the first pivot bearing, the second pivot bearing, and the third pivot bearing, is a displaceable pivot bearing.

2. The airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein, in the open state of the airbag module, the rear end of the guide element is located vertically lower than the front end of the support flap.

3. The airbag module according to claim 1 , further comprising a gas pressure device for filling of the airbag during opening of the airbag module.

4. The airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein, in the closed state of the airbag module, the guide element is fixed in an area of the rear end via a releasable locking means, and wherein the locking means is releasable to release the guide element and to convert the airbag module into the open state.

5. The airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein, in the closed state of the airbag module, the support flap is fixed in an area of the front end via a releasable locking means, and wherein the locking means is releasable to release the support flap and to convert the airbag module into the open state.

6. The airbag module according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring device which is tensioned in the closed state of the airbag module, and wherein, after the release of the spring device, the spring device pivots the support flap and the guide element to open the airbag module.

7. The airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot bearing pivotably connects the support flap and the bracket, wherein the second pivot bearing pivotably connects the guide element and the bracket, and wherein the second pivot bearing is the displaceable pivot bearing.

8. The airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein the first pivot bearing pivotably connects the support flap and the bracket, wherein the second pivot bearing pivotably connects the guide element and the bracket, and wherein the first pivot bearing is the displaceable pivot bearing.

9. The airbag module according to claim 7 , wherein the bracket comprises a guide rail for displacing the first pivot bearing.

10. The airbag module according to claim 9 , wherein the first pivot bearing is fixed on a roller or a sliding pad, and wherein the roller or the sliding pad is arranged within the guide rail.

11. The airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises a storage unit open toward the support flap, which, in the closed state of the airbag module is closed by the support flap, and which forms a receptacle into which the airbag is inserted.

12. A rail vehicle comprising an airbag module according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag module is fixed on an underside of the rail vehicle between the rail vehicle and the track.

13. The rail vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the airbag module is fixed on the rail vehicle such that, in the closed state, the airbag module does not project past at least one of a front end and sides of the rail vehicle.

14. The rail vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the rail vehicle comprises at least two airbag modules each according to claim 1 , wherein the rail vehicle defines a direction of travel, wherein the two airbag modules are arranged laterally adjacent when viewed in the direction of travel and, wherein, with respect to a center line of the rail vehicle, the two airbag modules are arranged on different sides of the rail vehicle.

15. The rail vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the rail vehicle comprises at least three airbag modules each according to claim 1 ,
wherein a first airbag module is fixed on the rail vehicle such that the first airbag module is located between the rails, when viewed in a direction of travel, and
wherein a second airbag module is fixed on the rail vehicle such that the second module is located on the left side of the left rail, when viewed in the direction of travel, and
wherein a third airbag module is fixed on the rail vehicle such that the third module is located on the right side of the right rail, when viewed in the direction of travel.

16. The airbag module according to claim 8 , wherein the bracket comprises a guide rail for displacing the second pivot bearing.

17. The airbag module according to claim 16 , wherein the second pivot bearing is fixed on a roller or a sliding pad, and wherein the roller or the sliding pad is arranged within the guide rail.

Assignees

• Bombardier Transp Gmbh

Inventors

• Fel Landri

Classifications

• B60R21/36

  using airbags · CPC title

• B61F19/04 Primary

  Bumpers or like collision guards · CPC title

• B61F19/00 Primary

  Wheel guards; Bumpers; Obstruction removers or the like (for vehicles in general B60R19/00) · CPC title

• B61F19/08 Primary

  of the drop-down type · CPC title

• B60R19/205

  inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags · CPC title