Energy absorbing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018304841-A1
Application number	US-201715490977-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2017
Priority date	Apr 19, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An energy absorbing device includes a deformable elongate member that is arranged such that the device, in use, deforms in a controlled manner upon the absorption of impact energy. The invention also provides a chassis and a vehicle incorporating the energy absorbing device.

First claim

1 . An energy absorbing device comprising a plurality of deformable elongate members shaped to absorb impact energy; and a container formed to control the absorption of impact energy by the plurality of deformable elongate members.

2 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformable elongate members are of variable lengths.

3 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformable elongate members are of variable thicknesses.

4 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 2 when dependent on 2, wherein the length of the plurality of deformable elongate members is uniformly distributed within a range of 40% to 80% the length of the container.

5 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 3 when dependent on 2, wherein the plurality of deformable elongate members are shaped to form a gradient of 15 degrees below the vertical.

6 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformable elongate members are comprised of at least a high ductile and high strength material.

7 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the 0.2% yield strength material characteristic of the container is at least greater than or equal to 600 Mpa.

8 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 7 , wherein the 0.2% yield strength material characteristic of the container is at least greater than or equal to 900 Mpa.

9 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the percent elongation material characteristic of the container is greater than or equal to 20% of the initial gauge length.

10 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the percent elongation material characteristic of the container is greater than or equal to 30% of the initial gauge length.

11 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the container is comprised of at least a high ductile and high strength material.

12 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the container is comprised of at least one of a polymer, an aluminium alloy and a magnesium alloy.

13 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the strength and ductility properties of the container are enhanced by at least one of a chemical process and a physical process.

14 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the at least one of a chemical process and physical process includes at least one of a mechanical treatment, laser sintering, a temperature treatment, a pH changing treatment, solvent swelling, a magnetic technique, the application of an electric current, light and a chemical oxidation technique.

15 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of deformable elongate members is hollow.

16 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the plurality of deformable elongate members is half the thickness of the container.

17 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the container has a transverse cross-section which is one of a polygon shape, an orbicular shape, a triangular shape, a frustum shape and a parallelogram shape

18 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a first fastening plate and a second fastening plate, the plates being attached to a first end and a second end of the container, respectively.

19 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first and second fastening plates have a thickness 1.5-2.5 times greater than the thickness of the container.

20 . An energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second fastening plate include cut-outs.

21 . A chassis for a vehicle including an energy absorbing device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing device is mounted between a bumper and a longitudinal rail of a vehicle.

22 . A vehicle including a chassis in accordance with claim 21 .

Assignees

• Univ City Hong Kong

Inventors

• Lu Jian
• Gao Yuan
• Tang Tao
• Yao Lu

Classifications

• B60R19/34 Primary

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

• B60R19/03

  characterised by material, e.g. composite (B60R19/18 takes precedence) · CPC title