CHRYSLER HOPES "SUPER-CUSHION" FILLS NEED FOR PASSIVE RESTRAINT

CHRYSLER HAS DESIGNED A RESTRAINT SYSTEM THAT OFFERS THE SAME PROTECTION TO PASSENGERS AS THEIR COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN OFFERS THE DRIVER. IT IS A PASSIVE SYSTEM CONSISTING OF A KNEE RESTRAINT PANEL WHICH ABSORBS ENERGY AND LIMITS FORWARD MOTIONS, AND CHEST LEVEL ENERGY ABSORBING CUSHIONS MADE OF TUBULAR CONTAINERS FILLED WITH PLASTIC FOAM OR THINWALL METAL TUBES. THE CUSHIONS HAVE BEEN TESTED WITH DUMMIES AND SEEM TO OFFER PROTECTION CLOSE TO THAT OFFERED BY THE AIR BAGS UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS. MOREOVER, THE CUSHIONS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE, WITHOUT DELAY FOR DETECTION AND ACTUATION, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE RELIABILITY PROBLEMS OF SENSITIVE AND SOPHISTICATED ACTUATORS. FINALLY, THE COST OF THE CUSHIONS MAY BE HALF THE COST OF ANY FEASIBLE SYSTEM INVOLVING SPLIT SECOND ACTUATION. /HSL/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 79, No 5, PP 17-20
• Corporate Authors:

  Dow Chemical /Argentina

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Haeusler, R
• Publication Date: 1971-5

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Constraints; Costs; Cushioning materials; Dummies; Energy absorption; Passengers; Protection
• Old TRIS Terms: Cushioning
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221483
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Literature
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 13 1971 12:00AM