Patent ID: 6988577
Filing Date: 2006-01-24
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle having a suspension, the safety arrangement comprising: a crash sensor configured to sense a potential accident situation involving the vehicle and to generate a signal; a component of the suspension of the vehicle of adjustable length, located between at least each front wheel of the vehicle and a fixed part of the vehicle structure; the component of adjustable length comprising a chamber filled with a fluid and having a fluid outlet provided with a valve arrangement, said valve arrangement being actuable in response to said signal to permit fluid to escape from the chamber, thereby reducing the overall length of the chamber to lower at least the front part of the vehicle, relative to the ground, in response to the sensing of a potential accident situation; wherein said valve arrangement comprises a valve seat and a valve member, the valve member being moveable between a first position in which the valve member seals against the valve seat to prevent the flow of fluid between the valve member and the valve seat from within the chamber, and a second position in which the valve member is spaced from the valve seat to permit the flow of fluid between the valve member and the valve seat from within the chamber, the valve member initially being urged towards said first position by a pilot fluid supply at a pressure substantially equal to or greater than the pressure of the fluid within the chamber, there being provided an actuating arrangement to reduce the pressure of said pilot fluid supply below the pressure of the fluid within the chamber so as to move the valve member towards said second position; and wherein said valve member comprises a membrane fixed around its periphery and moveable between a substantially convex configuration and a substantially concave configuration, one side of the membrane being in fluid communication with the pilot fluid supply and the opposite side of the membrane sealing against the valve seat when the membrane adopts said first position.