Reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly and methods for operating the same

Abstract

A reversibly deployable energy absorbing assembly includes a rigid support structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; a flexible covering sealingly engaged with the rigid support structure to define an inflatable interior region; a gas source in fluid communication with the at least one inlet; an inlet control valve positioned intermediate the gas source and the at least one inlet; and an actively controlled pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one outlet. The inlet control valve and the pressure relief valve are adapted to provide a response suitable for use in vehicle impact management.

1 . An energy absorption assembly comprising:
 structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet;   an elastic covering at least partially defining an interior region in fluid communication with said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet of the structure;   a gas source in selective fluid communication with the at least one inlet;   an inlet control valve operative to control fluid communication between the gas source and the at least one inlet; and   a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The energy absorption assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an energy absorbent material disposed in the interior region. 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body defining an interior surface;   a selectively deployable energy absorbing assembly comprising structure having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, a flexible covering at least partially defining an interior region in fluid communication with said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, a gas source in selective fluid communication with the at least one inlet, an inlet control valve operative to control fluid communication between the gas source and the at least one inlet, and a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the at least one outlet;   wherein the interior surface is operatively connected to the energy absorbing assembly such that deployment of the energy absorbing assembly expands the interior surface.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising an energy absorbent material disposed in the interior region. 
     
     
         5 . An energy absorbing assembly, comprising:
 a support structure;   a flexible covering operatively connected to the support structure and at least partially defining an interior region;   an energy absorbing material disposed in the interior region;   a flexible member disposed within the interior region and configured to change in size or shape in response to an activation signal.   
     
     
         6 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the energy absorbing material is selected from the group consisting of foam, fabric, and rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the energy absorbing assembly forms a door pillar surface, a headrest surface, a floor surface, a seat surface, a dashboard surface, a steering wheel surface, a door surface, a ceiling surface, or a combination comprising at least two of the foregoing interior vehicle surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible member includes piezoelectric material disposed thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the covering is elastic. 
     
     
         10 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body defining an interior surface;   an energy absorbing assembly including support structure, a flexible cover operatively connected to the support structure and at least partially defining an interior region, an energy absorbing material disposed in the interior region, a flexible member disposed within the interior region and configured to change in size or shape in response to an activation signal;   wherein the interior surface is operatively connected to the energy absorbing assembly such that said change in size or shape of the flexible member expands the interior surface.   
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible member includes piezoelectric material disposed thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the interior surface is one of a door pillar surface, a headrest surface, a floor surface, a seat surface, a dashboard surface, a steering wheel surface, a door surface, and a ceiling surface. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible covering is elastic. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible covering defines the interior surface. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the energy absorbing material is between the flexible member and the covering. 
     
     
         16 . The energy absorption assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible member disposed in the interior region and being configured to change in size or shape in response to an activation signal. 
     
     
         17 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible member includes piezoelectric material disposed thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the energy absorbing material is between the flexible member and the covering. 
     
     
         19 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible strip is a bimorph actuator. 
     
     
         20 . The energy absorbing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the flexible member is configured to assume a convex shape in response to the activation signal.