Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02443321 2003-09-15
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CA 02443321 2003-09-15
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The revolutionary safety device that
protects occupants in convertibles during
an accidental rollover or iersiort
Ta~a~e of Contents
l dntroduction...... , ................. ................. ............ _ .
.................... ................... 1
2 Artist s Conception
...............................................................................
... 1
3
OperationalOvervieyv........................................._.................
...................1
3.1 DEVICE SAFETY
....................._.........._...................,..........................
........_........,_....... 1
3.2
MAINTENANCE....................................................................
,.............................._...,....2
3_3
MATERIALS....,.....,....".........,....,......,..............................,.
....................,..........,.........2
3.4 DESIGN DRA~7JINGS
._........................................................................,_...
.....,..........,.... 2
3.5 WEIGI-
3T........................................................._...................
........................,................2
4
Design........................................._~.............................,
............._...............2
4.1
NAME...........................................................................
........................................,.....2
4.2
LoCATION..............._........._._..................................._.......
...._........................,..........._.2
4.3
CONCEPT........"...............,................,....,.........,..........,....
.,....,....................................2
4.4
PowER..._._........................................................_...........
.............................................2
4.5 DIMENSION
...............................................................................
................................. 2
4.6 OPERATION
.............................................................,.................
................................. 2
4.7
PROCESS........................................................................
.............................................3
4.8 AcTUATORS
..........._...................................,...............................
................................ 3
4.9 SOLENOID
.......................................,.......................................
......................_............ 3
5 Angle Sensing Rollover Warning and Protection System........................
3
5. ! INCLINATION MEASUREMENT
,..............................................................................
..... 5
5.2 SAFETY IACKS.............................._....................-
........................................................ 7
5.2.1.
Pneumaticjacks......................_......................,...................
..............................7
5.2.2. Electromechanical jacks
..............................,................................................
... 7
5.2.3. Locking Mechanism:
..............._._........_.....__..................._.........._..............
......... 7
5.3 ELECTRONIC
UNIT.................................._......................................._
.......................,... 8
5.4 BILL OF
MAT'ERIALS.......,......................................._.....................
............................ 1O
r
5.5 SAFETY
MECHAIvISMS...................................................,................
.......................... 10
CA 02443321 2003-09-15
~ Ir~~~"~CIe~Cti01'1
The InvisibleRoof TM, sometimes referred to as a CSD, (Convertible Safety
Device),
has been designed to save lives and prevent serious injury in the event of a
catastrophic accident. In this accident, a car (or other mode of
transportation without
a roof} flips or rolls over. This CSD will instantly deploy (much like an
airbag) to
provide a physical barrier between the ground and the occupants. The CSD can
be
adapted to be installed in any vehicle that does not have a permanent roof.
For
example:
Boats (High Speed & Other)
All Terrain irehicles(ATYaJ
CTolf Carts
Trucks
The premise of the installation of the InvisibleRoof ~ is that it will be
designed into
the original vehicle. To maintain the structural integrity of the system, it
will not be
offered as an optional retrofit.
2 Artist's Conception
Please see the attachment.
3 Operational Overview
lnvisibleRoof'z''' is envisaged as twin actuators, joined by a cross-brace,
(located in
the rear of the car body} that operate pneumatically. Sensors will constantly
determine the tilt of the vehicle, and when that tilt exceeds 45°
(degrees), the
actuators will be driven out of the car body to a predetermined length. They
will lock
in place and as the car rolls or flips the cross-brace between these 'arms'
will act as a
roll cage, preventing the car body from coming in contact with the surface.
3.1 ~evice Satet~
Accidental deployment of the InvisibleRoof TM is unlikely. This is because
thc;
electronic sensors and levelers control the actuator's functions.
As even the steepest hills only approach a grade of 15-2t!° (degrees),
deployment
happening under normal driving conditions is nat considered possible. There
are
other circumstances in which a vehicle might be tilted. (e.g. towing etc.)
Again, the
system will not deploy because those angles also do not approach the
45° threshold.
The system is set in the READY mode at all times.
CA 02443321 2003-09-15
3.2 Ailaintenance
The InvisibleRoof TM does not require scheduled or on-going maintenance.
i~lhen it is
installed, it must be calibrated to (+/-) 0-I° of 45°. It will
not require further
calibration unless the device itself activates.
3.3 ti~aterials
Materials will be of the highest quality, and will be selected at the time of
design.
3.4 Design Drawings
InvisibleRoof TM assembly drawings are to be included with this document.
Detailed
drawings are required and will be produced for both. manufacture and
installation.
3.5 Weight
Total weight of the system is a consideration in its design and
implementatioua. ~nce
materials and components have been selected, this will be determined and
changes
will be made if required.
4 Design
4.1 ~la~ne
InvisibleRoof T~, or generically known as a 'Convertible Scafe~y Device'.
(CSD)
4.~ location
This safety system will be installed behind the rear seat of the convertible
or other
mobile system.
4.3 Concept
To provide a strong and invisible safety device that will deploy instantly as
a roll
cage on vehicles without a roof in the event of a catastrophic accident.
POWeP
Its electronic components and sensors will be powered by the vehicle's
battery. The
actuators will be driven by pneumatics.
4.5 Dimension
The overall length and size of the aetuatc~r shafts will be chosen based on
the
dimensions (height, width and weight) of the vehicle on which they are to be
installed.
4.6 ~peration
~ The device will be activated within a fraction of a second after the
vehicle is tilted on any axis to greater than 45°.
2
CA 02443321 2003-09-15
~ In order to detect this tilt, an electronic leveler will continuously
monitor the vehicle's 'balance'. It will be installed as close to the
centre point of the vehicle as possible.
~.7 Process
Vehicle tilts suddenly to an angle greater than 45°. (-t-/-) 0-
1°
~ The leveler diagnoses this condition and sends a signal to the
solenoid.
~ The solenoid activates both actuators, which causes them to extend
and lock in their optimum position.
4.8 Actuators
Actuators are pneumatically operated. They will be chosen independently for
each
vehicle type.
4..9 Solenoid
The appropriate solenoid will be selected for the system.
5 Angle Sensing Rollover 111!'arning and Proteotson System
This is a vehicle angle sensing system that warns the driver about possible
rollover
situations and takes protective measures in case of a rollover to reduce
injury.
The system comprises of a dual-axis inclination measurement unit located at
the
center of gravity of vehicle which issues a warning signal as soon as the roll
or pitch
angles of the vehicle exceed a pre-specified amount with respect to the road.
This
signal is then run through a decision making and electronic unit. The
electronics,
enabled once the engine is on, will send out warning signals to the driver
(buzz, light,
etc) if the vehicle angle is approaching certain limits (e.g. X35 degrees) or
the rate of
change of this angle is too much.
As soon as the X45 degrees limit is violated (where the vehicle rollover is a
possibility), the electronic circuits will activate a pair of fast-action
safety jacks at the
rear ofthe vehicle. The released jacks which can be either pneumatic or
electromechanical actuators will provide protection for passengers by
absorbing the
impact and weight of the rolled vehicle.
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Compressed Air Starter
Tank ~ .
Decision illiaking inclination meter
& Electronics
Air Cylinders Warning De~rice
(Safety Jacks) ~ I I (Buzz, Light, etc)
Two ~~...__, Switch
actuator ',
options
Electromechanical
Actuator
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5.1 Inclination lwleasurement
A fairly small window .for taking action (< 1 sec) requires nearly real-time
response
from the inclination meter. There are quite a few single- and mufti-axis
inclinometers
on the market that can be used to measure the instantaneous angle of the
vehicle.
In addition to the inclinometers commercially available, the following simple
mechanism can detect the roll and/or pitch angles going beyond the X45 degree
limit.
It consists of a pendulum, a ball joint and a metallic semi-sphere. The ball
joint
connecting the pendulum to the semi-sphere allows free movements of the
pendulum.
As a result, the pendulum will always be aligned witlx the gravity vector.
The pendulum is made electrically insulated from the metallic semi-sphere
while its
tip is electrically wired to the semi-sphere. As soon as the inclination angle
of the
vehicle chassis and the semi-sphere secured to it exceeds X45 degrees in any
direction, as shown in the following picture, the pendulum tip makes contact
with the
semi-sphere, building a short circuit and consequently activating the safety
jacks.
-r'°"'~ '~"~-"'~.,.d,,~ metallic semi-sphere
6a11 joint
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:,'~ h
~' r ~ 1
l H
y' f'
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'~ electrically ,
wired to
,,;sue-' semi-sphere
The following picture shows the circular contours the pendulum tip may travel
for
different vehicle tilt angles. Evidently, any inclination angle of the semi-
sphere
beyond 45 degrees is detected, no matter what the axis of rotation is. The
rotation
axis could be x-axis (pitch), y-axis (roll) or any other line in the xy-plane.
CA 02443321 2003-09-15
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1
py
rJ~
na
r~
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A high inertia pendulum ensures it will not experience erratic oscillations in
the face
of jerks or road bumps. Moreover, it is possible to incorporate a time-
integrating
logic into the electronic unit that will differentiate between a momentary
short circuit
(very likely due to jerks, road bumps, etc) and a rather sustained contact
(for
example, of 0.1-0.2 sec duration; most likely due to a large tilt angle of the
vehicle),
in order to minimize the chances of an erroneous activation of the safety
mechanisms.
More specifically, energy storage devices (such as capacitors) can be used to
build a
circuit that outputs the time integration of the input waveforan, thus slowing
down the
rate of changes and suppressing unnecessary fluctuations at the output.
The fallowing picture shows a typical ball joint:
6
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5.2 Safety Jacks
In case of a rollover, a pair of safety jacks is released to ensure safety of
passengers.
Again there is a small window of time during which the jacks should be fully
extended. These jacks can be implemented via an air pressure-based (pneumatic)
approach or an electromechanical approach.
5.2.1. Pneumatic jacks
The safety jacks can be in the form of air cylinders that will extend once the
electronic unit activates either an air tank's (solenoid) valve or an air
compressor. In
the case of the air tank, the valve is normally closed and is fully opened
once an input
voltage is applied to it. In either case, the air pressure supplied by the
compressed air
tank or the compressor will extend the air cylinders quickly. A locking
mechanism,
(description follows), can be used to keep the jacks fully extended when they
face the
weight of the rolled vehicle, even if the air pressure has been depleted.
5.2.2. Electromechanical jacks
Another method for implementing these fast-action jacks is to use the
following 4-bar
linkage assembly. This mechanism converts the rotational motion of an electric
motor to the linear motion of a bar. This mechanism has the advantage that it
can be
put to test from time to time, while this may not be cost-effective if a one-
time-use
filled air tank is being used to do the same task. Similar to 13.1, a locking
device is
used to keep the bar fully extended as it faces the weight of the rolled
vehicle.
__..__._~_.r~"_..~.___ °
e~
°° °~
~~ o
~° °'w°
o ,~
FOr ROtary
locking motor
5.2.3. Locking Mechanism:
A view of a possible arrangement for a locking device is ihustrated on the
next page.
This mechanism is very similar to a door lock and involves a latch proximate
to the
main shaft. (Le. the air cylinder shaft or the end bar of the linkage
assembly. This
depends on the choice of actuator). When the main shaft moves to the left, the
latch
moves the two tongues away and passes through them. However, the shaft is not
able
to move in the reverse direction, meaning that this mechanism will lock the
shaft in
its extended mode.
7
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5a3 Eiectr~nie Unit
1
Based on the input/output characteristics of the inclination meter and the
safety jacks,
the electronic unit has to be designed. For example, if the inclination meter
outputs
an analog voltage between 0 to 10 V in proportion to tFne tilt angle, and if
supplying
24 volts can activate the pneumatic or electromechanical actuator, the block
diagram
of the electronic unit will be as seen on the following page:
8
CA 02443321 2003-09-15
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CA 02443321 2003-09-15
hTote: This system could be design as a kit for the installation on the rear
end of the
convertibles. Details on design and preparation of the kit could be; available
in separate
package.
11
