Tunable Energy Absorbers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207494-A1
Application number	US-201514601798-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 21, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An energy absorber according to various embodiments can include a structure having a predetermined cross-sectional profile. A hollow profile is formed within the structure. The pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the structure is configured based on a deceleration-time profile that includes a first period and a second period. The first period is defined by a substantially sharp and linear increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved. The second period is defined by a rapid decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle panel, comprising:
an inner surface facing an object and offset from the object, and an outer surface substantially opposite the inner surface; and an energy absorber disposed between the inner surface and the object and having a multiply-connected structure, wherein the multiply-connected structure includes:
a structure having a pre-determined cross-sectional profile; and
a hollow profile formed within the structure;
wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the structure is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by a substantially sharp and linear increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a rapid decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

2 . The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorber is configured to achieve a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value of less than or equal to 1000 during the impact.

3 . The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises a substantially involuted cross-sectional profile.

4 . The vehicle panel of claim 3 , wherein the substantially involuted cross-sectional profile includes at least one involuted surface configured to release accumulated elastic strain energy through one or both of plastic deformation and fracture during the impact.

5 . The vehicle panel of claim 4 , further comprising at least one indentation formed within the at least one involuted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

6 . The vehicle panel of claim 4 , further comprising at least one indentation formed within at least one of an internal surface and an external surface of the structure.

7 . The vehicle panel of claim 3 , wherein the hollow profile defines an open cavity and further comprising at least one crushable core member disposed within the open cavity.

8 . The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile comprises a non-involuted cross-sectional profile or an exvoluted cross-sectional profile.

9 . The vehicle panel of claim 8 , wherein the non-involuted cross-sectional profile or the exvoluted cross-sectional profile comprises at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface and at least one indentation formed within the at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

10 . The vehicle panel of claim 9 , further comprising at least one indentation formed within at least one of an internal surface and an external surface of the structure.

11 . The vehicle panel of claim 8 , wherein the hollow profile defines an open cavity and further comprising at least one crushable core member disposed within the open cavity.

12 . The vehicle panel of clam 1 ,wherein construction of the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the extruded structure comprises at least one characteristic satisfying the deceleration-time profile, and wherein the at least one characteristic is selected at least in part from an impact thickness, a fracture radius thickness, a base thickness, a fracture radius, an attack angle, a profile of a wall of the structure, a profile of an attachment surface, the object, and an indentation formed within the structure.

13 . The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: an extruded structure, a three-dimensional (3D) printed structure, a forged structure, a cast structure, and a machined structure.

14 . The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the second period follows the first period.

15 . A vehicle hood, comprising:
an inner surface of the vehicle hood facing the an object and offset from the object; an outer surface of the vehicle hood substantially opposite the inner surface; and an energy absorber including:
a structure having a predetermined cross-sectional profile;
a hollow profile formed within the structure; and
wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the structure is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by a substantially sharp and linear increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a rapid decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

16 . The vehicle hood of claim 15 , wherein the energy absorber is configured to achieve a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value of less than or equal to 1000 during the impact.

17 . The vehicle hood of claim 15 , wherein the desired cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises a substantially involuted cross-sectional profile.

18 . The vehicle hood of claim 17 , further comprising at least one indentation formed within at least one involuted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

19 . The vehicle hood of claim 17 , wherein the hollow profile defines an open cavity and further comprising at least one crushable core member disposed within the open cavity.

20 . The vehicle hood of claim 15 , wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile comprises a non-involuted cross-sectional profile or an exvoluted cross-sectional profile and at least one indentation formed within at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

21 . The vehicle hood of claim 20 , wherein the at least one hollow profile defines at least one open cavity and further comprising at least one crushable core member disposed within the at least open cavity.

22 . The vehicle hood of claim 15 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: an extruded structure, a three-dimensional (3D) printed structure, a forged structure, a cast structure, and a machined structure.

23 . An energy absorber comprising:
a structure having a predetermined cross-sectional profile; and a hollow profile formed within the structure; wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile of the structure is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by a substantially sharp and linear increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a rapid decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

24 . The energy absorber of claim 23 , wherein the energy absorber is configured to achieve a Head Injury Criterion (HIC) value of less than or equal to 1000 during the impact.

25 . The vehicle hood of claim 23 , wherein the desired cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises a substantially involuted cross-sectional profile.

26 . The vehicle hood of claim 23 , wherein the pre-determined cross-sectional profile comprises a non-involuted cross-sectional profile or an exvoluted cross-sectional profile and at least one indentation formed within at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

27 . The vehicle hood of claim 23 , wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of: an extruded structure, a three-dimensional (3D) printed structure, a forged structure, a cast structure, and a machined structure.

28 . A method of manufacturing an energy absorber comprising:
forming a structure having a pre-determine

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Hector Jr Louis G
• Sachdev Anil K
• Wang Jeff
• Muhammad Hanif
• Mankame Nilesh D

Classifications

• B60R21/34 Primary

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

• B60R2021/343

  using deformable body panel, bodywork or components · CPC title

• B62D25/12 Primary

  Parts or details thereof (locks E05B, {E05B83/16; devices for holding open E05C17/00, e.g. while carrying oversize objects E05C17/042}; hinges E05D; counterbalancing means E05F; {checks, stops, buffers E05F5/00; } springs, {e.g. pneumatic springs} F16F) · CPC title

• B60R19/00

  Wheel guards; Radiator guards, {e.g. grilles}; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions ({reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; } mudguards B62D) · 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