Deformation structure and pedestrian protection device having a deformation structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10525918-B2
Application number	US-201816131581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2018
Priority date	Mar 15, 2016
Publication date	Jan 7, 2020
Grant date	Jan 7, 2020

Abstract

A deformation structure has at least a first layer and a second layer, which are spaced apart from each other and displaceable relative to each other in the deformation direction or load direction. The first layer and the second layer have complementary protrusions and recesses, which are designed in such a way that the protrusions of the first layer can plunge into the recesses of the second layer and the protrusions of the second layer can plunge into the recesses of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer are connected to each other by deformable webs in such a way that, in the event of a high impulse in the deformation direction, the protrusions of the first layer plunge into the recesses of the second layer and the protrusions of the second layer plunge into the recesses of the first layer such that deformation of the deformation structure in the deformation direction occurs at a relatively low force level and, in the event of a low impulse in the deformation direction, the protrusions of the first layer hit the protrusions of the second layer such that further deformation of the deformation structure in the deformation direction occurs at a relatively high force level.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A deformation structure, comprising:
a first layer and a second layer, which are arranged spaced apart from each other in a deformation direction and displaceable with respect to each other, wherein
the first layer and the second layer have complementary protrusions and depressions, which are configured such that the protrusions of the first layer and the depressions of the second layer and also the protrusions of the second layer and the depressions of the first layer are insertable into one another,
the first layer and the second layer are connected to each other via deformable web elements such that, in an event of a high impulse in the deformation direction, the protrusions of the first layer enter into depressions of the second layer and also protrusions of the second layer enter into the depressions of the first layer, whereby deformation of the deformation structure in the deformation direction takes place at a low force level, and, in an event of a low impulse in the deformation direction, the protrusions of the first layer strike against the protrusions of the second layer, whereby deformation of the deformation structure in the deformation direction takes place at a high force level.

2. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first layer and the second layer are shiftable in a direction parallel to each other by deformation of the web elements.

3. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 2 , wherein
the web elements fail in a brittle and/or plastic manner in the event of the high collision impulse, and
the web elements act in a manner corresponding to a film hinge in the event of the low collision impulse.

4. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the web elements fail in a brittle and/or plastic manner in the event of the high collision impulse, and
the web elements act in a manner corresponding to a film hinge in the event of the low collision impulse.

5. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the web elements are configured as wall/surface elements which extend over an entire width of the first layer and of the second layer.

6. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first layer and the second layer are of substantially identical design.

7. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the protrusions of the first layer and the depressions of the second layer and also the depressions of the first layer and the protrusions of the second layer are arranged lying opposite one another in an initial position of the deformation structure.

8. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the deformation structure is formed from a plastics material.

9. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 8 , wherein
the deformation structure is integrally formed from the plastics material.

10. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the first layer and the second layer are each configured as a corrugated plate, and
the protrusions and the depressions have a trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.

11. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a number of additional layers, wherein two adjacent ones of said layers each form a first layer and a second layer.

12. The deformation structure as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the connecting webs are arranged in a layer intermediate space between two adjacent layers, and
the connecting webs of two adjacent layer intermediate spaces are oriented in opposite directions in respect of their shifting action.

13. A pedestrian protection device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a deformation structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
the deformation structure is arranged between a vehicle outer skin element and a body carrier element.

14. The pedestrian protection device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein
the outer skin element is a bumper cladding, and
the body carrier element is a bumper cross member.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Naderer Simon Konrad
• Fichtinger Gerhard
• Riedl Wilhelm
• Akif Oeztzan

Classifications

• B60R2019/186

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

• B60R19/18 Primary

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

• B60R21/34 Primary

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

• B60R2019/007

  Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision · CPC title