Testing fixture for vehicle rollover simulation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016223433-A1
Application number	US-201514613868-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A testing fixture for a vehicle includes a tube and a piston slideably disposed in the tube. A seat belt D-ring is mounted t the piston. An actuator is supported on the tube in communication with the piston through the tube for moving the piston relative to the tube to an extended position in a designated time interval during a simulated vehicle rollover. The piston defines teeth, and a ratchet is supported on the tube and engages the teeth of the piston for preventing movement of the piston relative to the tube toward the retracted position during or after the simulated vehicle rollover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A testing fixture for a vehicle, the testing fixture comprising:
a tube; a piston slideably disposed in the tube and including teeth; a seat belt D-ring mounted to the piston; an actuator supported on the tube in communication with the piston through the tube; and a ratchet supported on the tube and engaging the teeth of the piston for preventing movement of the piston into the tube.

2 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratchet includes a pawl pivotally mounted to tube.

3 . The texting fixture as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a spring between the pawl and the tube.

4 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuator is a gas inflator and wherein the tube defines a chamber receiving the piston, the chamber being in communication with the gas inflator.

5 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tube defines a slot and the piston defines holes along the slot with the stopping pin engaged with one of the holes.

6 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a shear pin engaged with one of the holes of the piston.

7 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a shear hole defined in the tube and the piston, and further comprising a shear pin engaging the tube and the piston in the shear hole.

8 . A testing fixture for a vehicle, the testing fixture comprising:
a tube; a piston slideably disposed in the tube; an actuator supported on the tube in communication with the piston through the tube; and a ratchet supported on the tube in contact with the piston for preventing movement of the piston into the tube.

9 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a seat belt D-ring mounted to the piston.

10 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 8 wherein the piston defines teeth engaging the ratchet.

11 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 8 wherein the ratchet includes a pawl pivotally mounted to tube.

12 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a stopping pin engaged with the piston, and further comprising a slot defined in the tube and receiving the stopping pin.

13 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a shear hole defined in the tube and the piston, and further comprising a shear pin engaging the tube and the piston in the shear hole.

14 . The testing fixture as set forth in claim 8 wherein the tube defines a slot and the piston defines holes along the slot and wherein a stopping pin engages one of the holes and a shear pin engages one of the holes.

15 . A vehicle rollover testing device comprising:
a cage for supporting a vehicle; a testing fixture for mounting to the vehicle; the testing fixture including a tube, a piston in the tube, an actuator in communication with the piston, and a ratchet on the tube for preventing movement of the piston into the tube; and a seat belt D-ring mounted to the piston.

16 . The testing device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the piston defines teeth engaging the ratchet.

17 . The testing device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the ratchet includes a pawl pivotally mounted to tube.

18 . The testing device as set forth in claim 15 wherein the tube defines a slot and the piston defines holes along the slot with the stopping pin engaged with one of the holes.

19 . The testing device as set forth in claim 18 further comprising a shear pin engaged with one of the holes of the piston.

20 . The testing device as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a shear hole defined in the tube and the piston, and further comprising a shear pin engaging the tube and the piston in the shear hole.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Belwafa Jamel E
• Barnhart Michael
• Mccoy Robert William

Classifications

• F15B15/261

  using positive interengagement, e.g. balls and grooves, for locking in the end positions · CPC title

• G01M17/0078 Primary

  Shock-testing of vehicles · CPC title

• G01M17/007 Primary

  Wheeled or endless-tracked vehicles (G01M17/08 takes precedence) · CPC title