Arrangement for absorbing kinetic energy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093258-B2
Application number	US-201615271325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Mar 24, 2014
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An arrangement for absorbing kinetic energy acting on a front bumper of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, includes at least one pedestrian protection element which can be arranged on a cross member of the bumper, at least one absorption element which can be arranged on the cross member and is movable on the cross member in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the cross member between a front absorption position and a rear release position, and at least one locking device which can be arranged on the cross member by which the absorption element can be temporarily arrested in the absorption position thereof. The absorption element, in the absorption position thereof, is switched parallel to the pedestrian protection element in respect of a force initiated by the kinetic energy into the bumper.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for absorbing kinetic energy acting on a front bumper of a vehicle, comprising:
at least one pedestrian protection element that is arrangeable on a cross member of the bumper;
at least one absorption element that is arrangeable on the cross member and is movable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the cross member between a front absorption position and a rear release position; and
at least one locking device which is arrangeable on the cross member and by which the at least one absorption element is temporarily lockable in its absorption position,
wherein, in the absorption position, the absorption element is connected in parallel with the pedestrian protection element with regard to introduction of force into the bumper that is brought about by the kinetic energy.

2. The arrangement according to in claim 1 , wherein the absorption element is less rigid than the cross member at least in a direction of the introduction of force.

3. The arrangement according to in claim 1 , wherein at least two absorption elements are provided, wherein a first absorption element is arranged above the pedestrian protection element and a second further absorption element is arranged beneath the pedestrian protection element.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least two absorption elements are provided, wherein a first absorption element is arranged over or under the pedestrian protection element and a second absorption element is arrangeable in a region of an attachment of the cross member to a further component of the vehicle or of the bumper.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the pedestrian protection element is formed at least partially of a foam material.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement is for a motor vehicle.

7. A bumper system for a vehicle, comprising:
at least one bumper arrangeable on a front of the vehicle, the bumper comprising a cross member and an arrangement that absorbs kinetic energy acting on the bumper;
wherein the arrangement comprises:
at least one pedestrian protection element that is arranged on the cross member of the bumper;
at least one absorption element that is arranged on the cross member and is movable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle relative to the cross member between a front absorption position and a rear release position; and
at least one locking device which is arranged on the cross member and by which the at least one absorption element is temporarily lockable in its absorption position,
wherein, in the absorption position, the absorption element is connected in parallel with the pedestrian protection element with regard to introduction of force into the bumper that is brought about by the kinetic energy.

8. The bumper system according to claim 7 , wherein the absorption element is less rigid than the cross member at least in a direction of the introduction of force.

9. The bumper system according to claim 7 , wherein at least two absorption elements are provided, wherein a first absorption element is arranged above the pedestrian protection element and a second further absorption element is arranged beneath the pedestrian protection element.

10. The bumper system according to claim 1 , wherein at least two absorption elements are provided, wherein a first absorption element is arranged over or under the pedestrian protection element and a second absorption element is arrangeable in a region of an attachment of the cross member to a further component of the vehicle or of the bumper.

11. The bumper system according to claim 7 , wherein the pedestrian protection element is formed at least partially of a foam material.

12. The bumper system according to claim 7 , wherein the arrangement is for a motor vehicle.

13. The bumper system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one electronic controller via which the locking device is actuable, wherein
the electronic controller is set up to lock or unlock the locking device depending on a speed of the vehicle and detection by a sensor of an obstacle arranged in front of the vehicle.

14. The bumper system according to claim 13 , wherein
the electronic controller is set up to transfer the locking device exclusively from a release state in which the absorption element is not locked in its absorption position into a locking state in which the absorption element is locked in its absorption position, when:
the vehicle is in a parked state,
the vehicle is in a speed range of 0 km/h to 20 km/h when first started,
the vehicle has reverse gear engaged or is idling, subsequently to being first started,
the vehicle is moving at a speed in a range of 0 km/h to 20 km/h and at the same time an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle,
the vehicle is moving at a speed in a range of 55 km/h to 80 km/h and at the same time an obstacle is detected in front of the vehicle, and/or
the vehicle is moving at a speed in the range of 80 km/h to a maximum vehicle speed.

15. The bumper system according to claim 14 , wherein the electronic controller is set up to detect the state of the locking device.

16. The bumper system according to claim 13 , wherein the electronic controller is set up to detect the state of the locking device.

17. The bumper system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
at least two deformation elements via which the cross member is connected to further components of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Koestler Ulrich
• Koehler Arne
• Riedl Wilhelm
• Rudolph Tim

Classifications

• B60R2019/262

  with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed · CPC title

• B60R19/26 Primary

  comprising yieldable mounting means ({B60R19/38 takes precedence;} springs, shock absorbers, or means for damping vibrations per se F16F) · CPC title

• B60R2019/186

  Additional energy absorbing means supported on bumber beams, e.g. cellular structures or material · CPC title

• B60R2019/1873

  Cellular materials · CPC title

• B60R21/34

  Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians {(B60R19/02 takes precedence)} · CPC title