Tunable energy absorbers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9718434-B2
Application number	US-201514601798-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 21, 2015
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

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 for facing an object and being offset from the object in use of the vehicle panel;
an outer surface substantially opposite the inner surface; and
an energy absorber disposed, for use of the vehicle panel, between the inner surface and the object, and comprising a structure having a cross-sectional profile forming a hollow;
wherein the cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises a substantially involuted cross-sectional profile.

2. The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the substantially involuted cross-sectional profile comprises at least one involuted surface configured to release accumulated elastic strain energy through one or both of plastic deformation and fracture during the impact.

3. The vehicle panel of claim 2 , further comprising at least one indentation in the at least one involuted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

4. The vehicle panel of claim 2 , further comprising at least one indentation in at least one of an internal surface and an external surface of the structure.

5. The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the hollow defines a closed cavity and the vehicle panel further comprises at least one crushable core member disposed within the closed cavity.

6. The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein the hollow defines a closed cavity and the vehicle panel further comprises at least one crushable core member disposed within the closed cavity.

7. The vehicle panel of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the cross-sectional profile is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by an increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

8. The vehicle panel of clam 7 , wherein:
construction of the cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises at least one characteristic selected so that the deceleration-time profile is met; and
the at least one characteristic includes one or more of 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 at the structure.

9. A vehicle hood, comprising:
an inner surface for facing an under-hood vehicle object and being offset from the object in use of the vehicle hood;
an outer surface substantially opposite the inner surface; and
an energy absorber comprising a structure having a cross-sectional profile forming a hollow;
wherein the desired cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises a substantially involuted cross-sectional profile.

10. The vehicle hood of claim 9 , further comprising at least one indentation in at least one involuted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

11. The vehicle hood of claim 9 , wherein the hollow defines a closed cavity and contains at least one crushable core member disposed within the closed cavity.

12. The vehicle hood of claim 9 , wherein the cross-sectional profile comprises a non-involuted cross-sectional profile or an exvoluted cross-sectional profile and at least one indentation in at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

13. The vehicle hood of claim 12 , wherein the at least one hollow defines at least one closed cavity and contains at least one crushable core member disposed within the at least closed cavity.

14. The vehicle hood of claim 9 , wherein a shape of the cross-sectional profile is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by an increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

15. The vehicle hood of claim 14 , wherein:
construction of the cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises at least one characteristic selected so that the deceleration-time profile is met; and
the at least one characteristic includes one or more of 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 at the structure.

16. A vehicle panel, comprising:
an inner surface for facing an object and being offset from the object in use of the vehicle panel;
an outer surface substantially opposite the inner surface;
an energy absorber disposed, for use of the vehicle panel, between the inner surface and the object, and comprising a structure having a cross-sectional profile forming a hollow; and
at least one indentation in at least one of an internal surface and an external surface of the structure.

17. The vehicle panel of claim 16 , wherein the cross-sectional profile comprises a non-involuted cross-sectional profile or an exvoluted cross-sectional profile.

18. The vehicle panel of claim 16 , wherein the least one indentation is in at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

19. The vehicle panel of claim 16 , wherein a shape of the cross-sectional profile is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by an increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

20. The vehicle panel of claim 19 , wherein:
construction of the cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises at least one characteristic selected so that the deceleration-time profile is met; and
the at least one characteristic includes one or more of 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 at the structure.

21. A vehicle hood, comprising:
an inner surface for facing an under-hood vehicle object and being offset from the object in use of the vehicle hood;
an outer surface substantially opposite the inner surface; and
an energy absorber comprising a structure having a cross-sectional profile forming a hollow; and
at least one indentation in at least one involuted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

22. The vehicle hood of claim 21 , wherein the cross-sectional profile comprises a non-involuted cross-sectional profile or an exvoluted cross-sectional profile and the indentation is in at least one non-involuted surface or exvoluted surface to promote fracture during the impact.

23. The vehicle hood of claim 22 , wherein the at least one hollow defines at least one closed cavity and contains at least one crushable core member disposed in the at least one closed cavity.

24. The vehicle hood of claim 21 , wherein a shape of the cross-sectional profile is configured based on a deceleration-time profile comprising:
a first period defined by an increase in magnitude of the deceleration of an impact until a maximum deceleration value is achieved; and
a second period defined by a decrease in the magnitude of the deceleration.

25. The vehicle hood of claim 24 , wherein:
construction of the cross-sectional profile of the structure comprises at least one characteristic selected

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

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

• B60R2019/007

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