	US 11,993,128 B2
	Apparatus for absorbing shock and control method thereof
Jong Won Kim, Chungcheongnam-do (KR)
Assigned to Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed by Hyundai Motor Company, Seoul (KR); and Kia Corporation, Seoul (KR)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/839,020.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0171079 (KR), filed on Dec. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173870 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01); B64C 39/02 (2023.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01); B64D 47/00 (2006.01); B64U 101/60 (2023.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01)

CPC B60H 1/00271 (2013.01) [B64C 39/024 (2013.01); B64D 9/00 (2013.01); B64D 47/00 (2013.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); B64U 2101/60 (2023.01); F25B 2400/16 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2507 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. An apparatus for absorbing shocks, the apparatus comprising:

at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object;

an air conditioner module installed in the moving object having a refrigerant; and

a supply pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member and providing the refrigerant of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member;

wherein the air conditioner module includes a refrigerant line circulating the refrigerant;

wherein the supply pipe is connected to the refrigerant line via a first valve member; and

wherein the first valve member is a three-way valve.

8. A control method of the apparatus for absorbing shocks according to claim 1, the control method comprising:

determining whether a predetermined situation of the moving object has occurred; and

supplying at least a portion of the refrigerant in a refrigerant line of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member installed in the moving object to inflate the at least one inflatable member, when the predetermined situation has occurred;

wherein, in the determining of whether the predetermined situation has occurred, a controller installed in the moving object is configured to determine whether the predetermined situation has occurred based on at least one of a failure signal, a fall signal, and a signal received from an input unit.

12. A control method of the apparatus for absorbing shocks according to claim 1, the control method comprising:

operating a cooling cycle of the air conditioner module in the moving object; and

determining by a controller whether a pressure of the refrigerant in the at least one inflatable member is equal to or greater than a target pressure; and

when the pressure of the refrigerant in the at least one inflatable member is less than the target pressure, increasing a flow rate of the refrigerant to the supply pipe until the pressure of the refrigerant the at least one inflatable member reaches the target pressure.

14. An apparatus for absorbing shocks, the apparatus comprising:

at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object;

an air conditioner module installed in the moving object having a refrigerant;

a supply pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member and providing the refrigerant of the air conditioner module to the at least one inflatable member; and

a recovery pipe connected between the air conditioner module and the at least one inflatable member to recover the refrigerant of the at least one inflatable member to the air conditioner module.

17. An apparatus for absorbing shocks, the apparatus comprising:

at least one inflatable member disposed in a moving object;

an air conditioner module installed in the moving object having a refrigerant;

a controller installed in the moving object configured to selectively control the operation of the first valve member together with the operation of the expansion valve;

wherein the air conditioner module includes a refrigerant line circulating the refrigerant; and

wherein the supply line is connected to the refrigerant line via a first valve member.