Deformation element for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle having such a deformation element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10358101-B2
Application number	US-201715852370-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2017
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

To improve the safety of passengers of a motor vehicle and road users in the case of a fronted collision, a deformation element is provided and has a cross-beam holder for mounting to a cross-beam and a bumper plate that can be positioned next to a bumper of a motor vehicle. The deformation element is characterized in that a friction device for adjusting and fixing the distance of the cross-beam holder from the bumper plate is provided between the bumper plate and the cross-beam holder, a first distance of the bumper plate from the cross-beam holder, starting from a normal position, being greater in a first position than a distance in a second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A deformation element, comprising:
a crossmember holder that mounts on a crossmember of a motor vehicle;
a bumper plate positionable adjacent to a bumper of the motor vehicle; and
a friction device arranged between the bumper plate and the crossmember holder, wherein
the friction device adjusts and fixes a distance from the crossmember holder to the bumper plate using a friction body disposed at least partially between a plunger connected to the bumper plate and a housing connected to the crossmember holder, and
a first distance from the bumper plate to the crossmember holder, which first distance corresponds to a normal position of the deformation element, is greater in a first position than a distance in a second position.

2. The deformation element as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
a first friction surface of the friction device between the crossmember holder and bumper plate and a second friction surface between the crossmember holder and bumper plate are formed so that the first friction surface allows adjustment and fixing of the bumper plate in the first position and blocks the bumper plate in the second position, whereas the second friction surface allows adjustment and fixing of the bumper plate in the second position and blocks the bumper plate in the first position.

3. The deformation element as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the friction device comprises the friction body on whose outer surface is at least partially arranged the first friction surface interacting with the crossmember holder and on whose inner surface is at least partially situated the second friction surface interacting with the bumper plate.

4. The deformation element as claimed in claim 3 , when the friction body is formed as a wedge.

5. The deformation element as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
the bumper plate is located on the plunger whose outer surface has a third friction surface that interacts with the second friction surface.

6. The deformation element as claimed in claim 5 , wherein
the crossmember holder is mounted on a sleeve, the sleeve having on an inner side a fourth friction surface that interacts with the first friction surface.

7. The deformation element as claimed in claim 3 , wherein
the crossmember holder is mounted on a sleeve, the sleeve having on an inner side a fourth friction surface that interacts with the first friction surface.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a crossmember;
a bumper;
at least one deformation element, the deformation element comprising:
a crossmember holder that mounts on the crossmember of a motor vehicle;
a bumper plate positionable adjacent to the bumper of the motor vehicle;
a friction device arranged between the bumper plate and the crossmember holder, wherein
the friction device adjusts and fixes a distance from the crossmember holder to the bumper plate using a friction body disposed at least partially between a plunger connected to the bumper plate and a housing connected to the crossmember holder, and
a first distance from the bumper plate to the crossmember holder, which first distance corresponds to a normal position of the deformation element, is greater in a first position than a distance in a second position.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein
a first friction surface of the friction device between the crossmember holder and bumper plate and a second friction surface between the crossmember holder and bumper plate are formed so that the first friction surface allows adjustment and fixing of the bumper plate in the first position and blocks the bumper plate in the second position, whereas the second friction surface allows adjustment and fixing of the bumper plate in the second position and blocks the bumper plate in the first position.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein
the friction device comprises the friction body on whose outer surface is at least partially arranged the first friction surface interacting with the crossmember holder and on whose inner surface is at least partially situated the second friction surface interacting with the bumper plate.

11. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 8 , wherein
a plurality of deformation elements are arranged in a vehicle transverse direction, and
the friction devices of the plurality of deformation elements have coefficients of friction that are not all identical.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the friction devices of the plurality of deformation elements have coefficients of friction different from one another.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Grehl Marco
• Akif Oeztzan
• Fichtinger Gerhard
• Riedl Wilhelm

Classifications

• F16F7/125

  Units with a telescopic-like action as one member moves into, or out of a second member (F16F7/124, F16F7/127, F16F7/128 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R19/34 Primary

  destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type · CPC title