Showing papers by "Saab Automobile AB published in 1993"

The Influence of Seat-Back and Head-Restraint Properties on the Head-Neck Motion During Rear-Impact

Abstract: One type of production-car front-seat with a head-restraint was tested in simulated low-velocity rear-impacts using a Hybrid III-dummy fitted with a modified neck (RID-neck). The seat was modified in various ways to test the influence of different seat properties on the head-neck motion during the impact. The results show that it is possible to influence the head-neck kinematics to a great extent by modifying the properties of the seat-back and the head-restraint. It was possible to virtually eliminate the neck extension motion during the rear-impact and this will hopefully result in a significant decrease of the neck injury risk in real world rearimpacts.

Reinforced door aperture frame for reducing deformation from offset collisions

Abstract: An extra U-shaped pressed plate profile (20) is arranged at the connection (13) between the A-pillar (3) and sill (5), inside a closed hollow beam running around the door aperture, which plate profile runs from the front lateral wall of the A-pillar obliquely rearwards to the lower lateral wall of the sill beam, thereby providing a double wall with spaced plates (26, 27) The double wall enables a local plastic deformation zone to be provided for impact of the wheel against the door aperture frame, and enables the wheel to be locked so that it does not migrate up the A-pillar, thereby providing controlled deformation and absorption of crash forces without the entire door aperture frame collapsing The rear plate (27) forms a secondary closed hollow beam inside the door aperture frame which, during the deformation of the front plate (26), retains a closed stable door aperture frame with adjoining sections of the A-pillar (3) and sill (5) Controlled deformation behavior, substantially reduced floor penetration and reduced deformation of the door aperture are obtained at low cost and little required increase in weight of the vehicle body

Exhaust gas flow system for an internal combustion engine fitted with a supercharger, and method used for such a system

Abstract: Exhaust flow system for a split exhaust flow in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine (3) fitted with an exhaust-driven supercharger (2) of the turbocompressor type, whose exhaust system incorporates a catalytic exhaust cleaner (58; 58'), where each cylinder of the engine has both a first exhaust valve (51), from which released exhaust gas is fed to a first exhaust collector (53) common to the cylinders, which collector is connected directly to the exhaust turbine inlet by a first exhaust branch pipe (54), and a second exhaust valve (52), from which released exhaust gas is fed to an exhaust pipe (56), which incorporates a silencer (61). At least one valve (50) adjustable according to the operating conditions of the engine (3), is arranged downstream from the second exhaust valves (52) of the cylinders, in their connection (59, 55, 57) to the exhaust pipe (56) between the exhaust turbine outlet (20) and the silencer (61).

An apparatus and method for the environmental control of vehicle interiors

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the air condition and heating within a vehicle interior compartment. The system includes a fan (13), heat exchangers (14, 15), temperature sensors (26, 27, 28) and a solar sensor (29) and temperature control (47) for setting a desired temperature. The system includes a control unit (47) which is operative to calculate a theoretical interior temperature TI based only upon information from sensors (26, 29) sensing the external heat load on the compartment, a sensor (27) sensing the temperature on the air supplied to the compartment and blowerfan current representative of the volume of air supplied to the compartment. The control unit (47) compares this theoretical interior temperature TI with the preset temperature TISet, calculates the difference ΔTI, and then controls air flow and mixed temperature TM to readjust or maintain the interior temperature within the compartment (19) in level with the preset temperature TISet.

Method and device for varying the compression of an internal combustion engine

Abstract: Method and adjusting device for varying the compression of an internal combustion engine with a cylinder receiving section (2) which is pivotably mounted in the crankcase section (4) of the engine supporting the crankshaft, about a tilting shaft bearing (8) on one side of the engine, to effect a variation in the engine compression. A tilting mechanism (70) acting between the crankcase section and the cylinder receiving section is arranged on the side of the engine opposite the tilting shaft bearing (8), enabling the distance between the two engine parts to be varied. A hydraulic adjusting device (76, 78) is connected to the tilting mechanism (70) for adjusting the lateral tilting of the cylinder receiving section (2) relative to the crankcase section (4). The adjusting device operates mainly without the supply of external driving force and uses hydraulic pressure energy stored in a pressure accumulator (96) which is charged with pressure energy derived from the compression and combustion in the engine cylinders and is transmitted to the accumulator (96) via the tilting mechanism (70) and the adjusting device (76, 78). The tilting mechanism comprises a mechanism which is rotatably mounted in the crankcase section (4) and whose variation in torsional position corresponds to the variation in the distance between the cylinder receiving section and the crankcase section. The torsional movement of the mechanism (56, 72) is used for varying the effective length of a hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement (78) connected between the crankcase section (4) and the cylinder receiving section (2), the moving piston (82) of which arrangement divides the interior of the cylinder housing (80) into two variable chambers (92, 94), one (94) of which can be hydraulically connected to a reservoir (108) and the other (92) to the pressure accumulator (96).

Process for the indication of abnormalities in vehicles driven by internal combustion engines

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for indicating abnormal conditions in a motor vehicle by inducing misfires through the absence of fuel supply. The fuel supply is interrupted cylinder by cylinder in such a manner that the supply is interrupted during a proportion of the total number of injection cycles of the respective cylinders during a first fuel supply sequence, after which the next cylinder interrupts the fuel supply for a proportion of the total number of injection cycles of that cylinder during a subsequent fuel supply sequence. The interruptions of the fuel supply take place preferably as a predetermined number of injection cycles during a fuel supply sequence, and when each injection supply sequence is of equal length or includes a certain number of injection cycles. This can give rise to a distinct signal quality from the engine, in the form of irregular, uncomfortable engine running, whilst each individual cylinder is subjected to the least possible disturbance, apart from an ideal operating condition. High cylinder temperature can be maintained for complete combustion and a low proportion of uncombusted fuel reaches the catalytic converter, which reduces the emissions from the engine.

Energy absorbent bumper for motor vehicles

Abstract: A motor vehicle bumper for energy absorption. A support part of the bumper is supportable on the vehicle and is generally U-shaped with horizontally extending arms. A cover supported on the support includes respective wall sections that extend in from the top and bottom of the cover and cooperate with vertically outwardly extending flanges on the legs of the U. The wall sections of the cover are simply locked to the flanges of the support. A body of energy absorbing material is disposed in the cover and in the support and is pressed against the wall sections of the cover upon deformation of the cover by application of more than a predetermined force to press the energy absorbing material against the cover wall sections to prevent those wall sections from separating from the flanges of the legs of the U-shaped support in the event of collision or application of more than a predetermined force to the cover of the bumper.

Device and method of correcting the fuel amount supplied to Otto engines

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method which can be applied primarily to computer controlled fuel systems for Otto engines, with sequential injection of fuel in each cylinder to the inlet valves. In order to obtain the fastest possible response with the smallest possible number of calculations of the fuel flow, the invention is characterised in that it is the initiation of the opening or closing of the injection valve which immediately gives rise to a calculation of the instantaneous fuel demand. When the injector is activated for opening (61) or closing (60, 60'), an interrupt is generated which, in the case of automatic opening, activates one complete calculation of the instantaneous fuel demand on the basis of the parameters which are detected at the time of opening or, at the time of closing, on the basis of a limited number of parameters which are indicative of the load enrichment requirement at the time of closing. Calculation for closing can be completed by the microprocessor with a limited number of instructions before the injector has begun to close. Thus a counter-command for opening the injector, caused by the fuel enrichment requirement, results in a single coherent, but extended injection (55).

The structural optimization system OPTSYS

Abstract: OPTSYS is a modular structural optimization system with well defined interfaces to FE-programs and codes for aeroelasticity A mathematical programming approach is adopted were a sequence of convex approximations of the initial problem is solved, using the MMA method This approach makes it possible to take all design criteria into account simultaneously Gradients are calculated semi-analytically OPTSYS can treat design variables associated to the shape of the structure, the element cross section properties or the material direction in the case of composite materials Design criteria can be defined on weight, moment of inertia, displacement, stress, eigenfrequency, local buckling, flutter and aileron efficiency Recent developments has concerned dynamic response and acoustics Other important ingredients are; the integration of a preprocessor to define shape variables, the treatment of discrete variables and the possibility to deal with substructured FE models The capabilities and methods will be discussed and illustrated with applications on aircraft and automotive structures

Device and method of regulating the start of fuel injection in an otto engine

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method which can be applied primarily to computer controlled fuel systems for Otto engines, with sequential injection of fuel in each cylinder to the inlet valves. In order to utilize the capacity of the hot inlet valves for evaporating the fuel, in normal operating cases, the invention is characterised in that the start of injection (60) is continuously adapted to the prevailing fuel demand and the injection time consequently required, so that the injection D is substantially completed before the inlet valve A towards which the injector is directed will begin to open (50). The control of the start of injection according to the invention provides, by simple means, improved evaporation of the fuel and more homogeneous fuel-air mixture, which in turn provides a more complete combustion and reduced emissions.

Starting system for internal combustion engines which can be driven by different fuels

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for the supply of fuel to internal combustion engines with different mixing ratios of methanol and petrol, and continuous transition during operation between different mixtures thereof. The arrangement comprises a main tank (2) and a slave tank (4), which slave tank must be isolated from the main tank so that its mixing ratio is not varied by filling, enabling engine (1) to be started on the same fuel as that on which it was stopped. Engine (1) is supplied with fuel by a fuel pump (7) arranged in the slave tank (4), which fuel pump also drives an ejector (6) arranged in main tank (2), so that fuel is entrained from main tank (2) to slave tank (4). Only one fuel pump (7) is therefore required. Because ejector (6), in controlled dependence of the engine temperature, supplies the fuel to slave tank (4) through a rising pipe (20) which discharges above the highest fuel level in slave tank (4) and main tank (2) respectively, a safely isolated slave tank (4) is obtained during the warming up phase, followed by rapid mixing of the fuel in slave tank (4) with the fuel present in main tank (2).

System and method for air-conditioning of vehicles preventing window inside fogging

Abstract: System and method for air-conditioning of vehicles preventing window inside fogging. An air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle having a compartment (33) with a windscreen (32) heated by an air flow of controlled temperature, and which includes in the system an evaporator (7), a blower or fan (36) for drawing air over the evaporator (7) and ducting (11, 34) for air distribution. In order to prevent misting of the inside of the windscreen after the vehicle has been parked with the engine shut off the fan (36) is deactived and preferably also the fresh air intake being closed, for a time period after switching on the air-conditioning system.

Top mechanism for the retractable top of an open automobile

Abstract: A mechanism for the retractable top of an open automobile, comprising a plurality of frame elements (1,2) pivoted one after the other to be turnable relative to each other, the frame elements (1,2) comprising a first frame element (1) which is the foremost frame element on the free end of the top and a second frame element (2) which is the frame element adjacent to the first frame element. The first frame element (1) comprises a pair of first side rods (51), which are substantially longitudinal to the vehicle, and the second frame element (2) comprising a pair of second side rods (52), which are substantially longitudinal to the vehicle, and the side rods (51,52) being disposed to be turnable relative to each other in a vertical plane. The top mechanism further comprises an operating rod (7) arranged to cause the turning of the first side rod relative to the second side rod in connection with the processes of stretching the top mechanism over and of folding it up. The first side rod (51) and the second side rod (52) are connected to each other by means of a quadrangular linkage composed of two crank levers (8,9) of different lengths, and that the operating rod (7) is turnably pivoted to a crank lever (8), whereby the first side rod is turnable in completely controlled manner relative to the second side rod, throughout the turning movement.

A vehicle radiator grille, a headlight housing and a method of mounting the grille onto a vehicle

Abstract: A method of mounting a grille (30) between a pair of spaced headlight housings (15) on a vehicle (11). The grille (30) is fixed directly onto mounting points (24, 25) formed on the headlight housings (15). The grille (30) has upper and lower attachment means (34, 35) at each end that co-operate with attachment means on the headlight housings (15).

Link system for transmission of gearchange movements between a vehicle's gear lever and gearbox

Abstract: of EP0516600Link system for movement transmission between a gear lever and a gearbox in a vehicle, whereby the link system is coupled between a shift rod (2) and a gearchange shaft (4) which extends into the gearbox and whose bearing therein is arranged to absorb bending moments. The end of the shift rod (2) adjacent to the link system is supported by a journal bearing (32) mounted on the gearbox, and the link system includes a rigid planar link element (8), which at its opposing ends has parallel rotary articulations (14,30; 16,24) whereby the link element is coupled at one end to a crank (6) connected to the shift rod, and at the other end to a crank (10) fixed to the gearchange shaft (4).

Normalized detectivity as a function of diffusion length for SPRITE detectors

Abstract: This paper suggests a method for normalization of D* for SPRITE detectors with respect to MTF-limiting parameters, primarily the diffusion spread. The purpose of the normalization is to obtain a single performance parameter for the SPRITE detector to make it more objectively comparable with conventional detectors with discrete elements. The recalculation ratio is the rms noise calculated with a filter that compensates the impulse response back to a square pulse divided by the rms noise of the SPRITE element with no compensating filters. In this paper two filters are used: one that fully compensates back to a square impulse response, and one that compensates the MTF at two selected frequencies. The recalculation ratio is calculated as a function of diffusion length with the ratio element length/(carrier life time* scan speed) (L/vt) as a parameter. The results show very little variation with L/vt, so the results should be valid for most applications for the SPRITE detector.

Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Klimatisieren von Fahrzeugen unter Vermeidung eines innenseitigen Beschlagens von Fenstern

Abstract: Klimaanlage fur ein Fahrzeug mit einem Raum (33), der zumindest ein Fenster (32) aufweist, das mittels einer Luftstromung einstellbarer Temperatur heizbar ist, wobei die Klimaanlage umfasst: ein Verteilersystem (11, 34, 35), das Luftstromung zu dem Fenster lenkt, einen Kompressor (2), und ein mit dem Kompressor in Verbindung stehendes Warmetauschersystem (7, 8), das einen Verdampfer (7) und ein Geblase (36) zum Fuhren von Luft uber den Verdampfer (7) aufweist, und eine Steuereinrichtung (40), die mit dem Kompressor (2) und dem Geblase (36) verbunden ist, wobei die Klimaanlage weiter einen mit der Steuereinrichtung (40) verbundenen Umgebungsluft-Temperatur-Sensor (15) zum Ermitteln der Umgebungstemperatur auserhalb des Fahrzeugs und einen mit der Steuereinrichtung (40) verbundenen Solar-Sensor (18) zum Ermitteln der Intensitat der Sonneneinstrahlung aufweist, wobei die Steuereinrichtung (40) zum Aktivieren des Kompressors (2) ausgebildet ist, einen Zeitgeber zum Ermitteln einer ersten Zeitspanne, in der das Fahrzeug auser Betrieb gewesen ist, und...

Infrared surveillance system for surface-to-air defense

Abstract: A land-based, passive IR system for the detection of airborne targets has been developed at Saab Missiles. The system operates in the 8 - 12 micrometers region. It scans 360 degree(s) in azimuth and up to 45 degree(s) in elevation and detects targets automatically. The paper describes the system in general, and in more detail the principles of the signal processing, that enable automatic detection of targets in the thermal clutter of sky and terrain background. A unique concept for rejection of false alarms from small objects at short distance (birds) is also described.

Development of 3d multi-block mesh generation tools

Abstract: The paper describes the development and investigation of tools for some of the critical steps in the creation of a multi-block structured grid. We consider elliptic-interactive generation of meshes on solid surfaces, algebraic-interactive mesh generation for individual blocks, and smoothing procedures for multi-block meshes. Interactivity is used wherever suitable to improve the user interface, and object-oriented programming is proposed as an excellent vehicle for creation of software for complex geometrical objects such as grids. The tools are applied to test configurations, and a pilot multi-block mesh generator is developed which can serve as a skeleton for further tool development.