Energy absorbing member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10513236-B2
Application number	US-201615777822-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 24, 2015
Publication date	Dec 24, 2019
Grant date	Dec 24, 2019

Abstract

An energy absorbing member (20) is formed of an aluminum alloy extruded material having a substantially quadrangular outer shape. Straight portions of a pair of long sides of a quadrangular shape are each segmented into three side walls (21a, 21b, 21c) by two arcuate internal projections (26) that project inward. Vertices of opposing internal projections (26) are joined by a rib (25). Accordingly, the energy absorbing member (20) is configured to have a shape in which three cylindrical portions having hollow portions (24a, 24b, 24c) are joined. Arc-shaped internal projections (23) that each project inward are provided in four corners of the quadrangular shape.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An energy absorbing member comprising:
a joined cylindrical body formed of an aluminum alloy material,
the joined cylindrical body including, in a cross section perpendicular to an axial direction of the aluminum alloy material,
a substantially quadrangular outer wall,
arcuate first internal projections projecting inward from four corners of the outer wall,
arcuate second internal projections projecting inward to segment each of straight portions of a pair of long sides of the outer wall into a plurality of sides, and
ribs that join vertices of the second internal projections opposing each other,

wherein when applied with a compressive load in the axial direction, the joined cylindrical body buckles and deforms continuously.

2. The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 , wherein
the joined cylindrical body further includes a third internal projection that is a part of the outer wall projecting inward, and
the third internal projection is located at a position of a wavelength which is ½ to one times a wavelength of an initial buckling from one end face of the outer wall, which serves as a compression surface, in the axial direction, and extends in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

3. The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 , wherein
a distance between the ribs adjacent to each other is greater than a distance between straight portions of short sides of the outer wall and the ribs.

4. The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 , wherein a radius of an arc of the first internal projection is larger than a radius of an arc of the second internal projection.

5. The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 , wherein one of end portions of the joined cylindrical body in the axial direction is sealed.

6. The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 , wherein a flange portion is formed at the one of end portions in the axial direction.

Assignees

• Uacj Corp

Inventors

• Yokota Tomoya
• Yamada Yutaka
• Sakai Yoshiharu

Classifications

• F16F7/12

  using plastic deformation of members {(F16F9/30 takes precedence; yieldable means for mounting bumpers on vehicles B60R19/26; yieldable or collapsible steering columns B62D1/192)} · CPC title

• B62D29/008

  predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded · CPC title

• B60R2019/182

  of light metal, e.g. extruded · CPC title

• B60R19/18 Primary

  {characterised by the cross-section;} Means within the bumper to absorb impact · CPC title

• B60R19/34

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