GB2516177A - Energy absorbing element for a vehicle - Google Patents

Energy absorbing element for a vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2516177A
GB2516177A GB1415224.3A GB201415224A GB2516177A GB 2516177 A GB2516177 A GB 2516177A GB 201415224 A GB201415224 A GB 201415224A GB 2516177 A GB2516177 A GB 2516177A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
energy absorbing
absorbing element
ribs
inner member
vehicle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1415224.3A
Other versions
GB201415224D0 (en
Inventor
Kripesh Krishnadas
Malathesha Kunchur
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB1415224.3A priority Critical patent/GB2516177A/en
Publication of GB201415224D0 publication Critical patent/GB201415224D0/en
Publication of GB2516177A publication Critical patent/GB2516177A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B60R19/24—Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles
    • B60R19/26—Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles comprising yieldable mounting means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B60R19/24—Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles
    • B60R19/26—Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles comprising yieldable mounting means
    • B60R19/34—Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles comprising yieldable mounting means destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F7/00—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers
    • F16F7/12—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using plastic deformation of members
    • F16F7/125—Units with a telescopic-like action as one member moves into, or out of a second member
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D21/00—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted
    • B62D21/15—Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F2234/00—Shape

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Vibration Dampers (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

An energy absorbing element 10 for a vehicle, said element comprising at least one inner member 16 arranged at least partially in at least one outer member 12. A plurality of ribs 20 arranged in the outer member 12 and forming a fishbone pattern. The outer member 12 is connected to the inner member 16 by means of said ribs 20. Preferably, the ribs, the outer member and/or the inner member are made of a metallic material; said ribs are metallurgically joined to the inner and/or the outer member; the inner member 16 is tubular; the energy absorbing element 10 has a front side 24 and a rear side 26 on which the element 10 is connected to a vehicle structure element, wherein the ribs extend away from the inner member towards the rear side 26 angularly with respect to the longitudinal direction 28 of the energy absorbing element 10.

Description

Energy Absorbing Element for a Vehicle The invention relates to an energy absorbing element for a vehicle.
Energy absorbing elements for vehicles are well-known from the general prior art and from the mass production of vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles. Such an energy absorbing element is also referred to as a "deformation element" or "crash box" and deformable due to an accident thereby transforming kinetic energy into deformation energy. Thus, crash energy can be absorbed by the energy absorbing element so that decelerations and forces resulting from said decelerations and acting upon occupants of the vehicle can be kept low.
For example, energy absorbing elements can be found in JR 11020733, DE 19831 708 Al and JR 2009234377.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an energy absorbing element having a particularly high crash worthiness.
This object is solved by energy absorbing element having the features of patent claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.
The invention relates to an energy absorbing element for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle. The energy absorbing element comprises at least one outer member and at least one inner member arranged at least partially in the outer member. Moreover, the energy absorbing element comprises a plurality of ribs by means of which the outer member is connected to the inner member, the ribs being arranged in the outer member and forming a fishbone pattern. In other words, the ribs are arranged so as to form a fishbone structure which can be deformed due to an accident thereby transforming kinetic energy and, thus, crash energy in to deformation energy.
It has been shown that a particularly high amount of energy can be absorbed during an accident by means of the fishbone structure or fishbone pattern so that the energy absorbing element according to the present invention has a particularly high crashworthiness. Moreover, the fishbone pattern can act as a multi support structure in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the multi support structure being capable of reducing the impact effect gradually from the initial impact point to its end.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ribs are metallurgically joined to the inner member and/or the outer member. In other words the ribs are connected to the outer member and/or inner member by positive substance jointing, wherein the ribs can be connected to the outer member and/or the inner member by welding or bracing. Thus, a particularly high amount of energy can be absorbed during an accident. Furthermore, the energy absorbing element can be manufactured in a particularly cost-efficient way.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the inner member is configured as a tubular inner member so that a particularly high amount of energy can be absorbed.
Preferably, the ribs, the outer member and/or the inner member are made of a metallic material.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the energy absorbing element has a front side and a rear side on which the energy absorbing element is configured to be connected to a corresponding structure element of the vehicle. For example, the structure element is a longitudinal member of the vehicle, in particular the body of the vehicle.
Therein, the ribs extend away from the inner member towards the rear side angularly with respect to the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing element.
Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figure and/or shown in the figure alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
The drawing shows in the figure a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an energy absorbing element for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, the energy absorbing element comprising at least one outer member, at least one inner member arranged at least partially in the outer member, and a plurality of ribs by means of which the outer member is connected to the inner member, the ribs being arranged in the outer member and forming a fishbone pattern.
The figure shows an energy absorbing element 10 for a vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle. The energy absorbing element 10 comprises an outer member 12 which is made of, for example, a metallic material, the outer member 12 bounding a receiving space 14.
Moreover, the energy absorbing element 10 comprises an inner member 16 which is configured as a tubular inner member, i.e. a tube. For example, the inner member 16 is made of a metallic material. For example, the inner member 16 has a circular hollow cross-section 18. Furthermore, the inner member 16 is arranged at lest partially in the outer member 12. In other words, the inner member 16 is arranged at least partially in the receiving space 14.
The energy absorbing element 10 further comprises a plurality of ribs 20 which are made of, for example, a metallic material. As can be seen from the figure, the ribs 20 are also arranged in the receiving space 14 and between the outer member 12 and the inner member 16. Moreover, the ribs 20 form a fishbone pattern, wherein the ribs 20 extend angularly with respect to the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing element 10, the longitudinal direction being illustrated by a directional arrow 22. The energy absorbing element 10 has a front side 24 and a rear side 26 on which the energy absorbing element 10 is configured to be connected to a corresponding structure element of the vehicle. For example, said structure element is a longitudinal member of a body of the vehicle, the energy absorbing element 10 being configured to be connected to the longitudinal member. For example, the energy absorbing element 10 is configured to be arranged between the longitudinal member and a cross member of the vehicle, the cross member extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. With respect to the completely assembled state of the vehicle, the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing element 10 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
In the figure, a directional arrow 28 is shown, the directional arrow 28 illustrating a force acting upon the energy absorbing element 10 during an accident. As can be seen from the figure, the force resulting from, for example, a frontal impact of the vehicle acts upon the energy absorbing element 10 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, thus, in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing element 10. Since the ribs 20 form the fishbone pattern, the energy absorbing element 10 is capable of absorbing a particularly high amount of crash energy during the accident, the energy absorbing element 10 transforming said crash energy into deformation energy since the energy absorbing element 10, in particular the fishbone pattern deforms due to the frontal impact.
The respective ribs 20 extend away from the inner member 16 towards the rear side 26 angularly with respect to the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing element 10.
Thereby a particularly high amount of crash energy can be absorbed by means of the energy absorbing element 10.
Preferably, the ribs 20 are connected to the inner member 16 by brazing wherein brazed seams 30 can be seen in the figure. The brazed seams 30 result from connecting the ribs to the inner member 16 by brazing. Alternatively or additionally, the ribs 20 can be metallurgically joined to the outer member 12 by, for example, brazing.
The energy absorbing element 10 is a so called fishbone crash box which can be deformed due to an accident thereby absorbing a particularly high amount of energy. For example, in a frontal impact, at first the inner member 16 bears the force resulting from the frontal impact. The inner member 16 is supported on the outer member 12 by the ribs 20. Thus, the force can be transmitted from the inner member 16 via the ribs 20 to the outer member 12. As a consequence, the ribs 20 can collapse and/or fold backwards.
This means, the ribs 20 deform thereby transforming crash energy into deformation energy in a particularly efficient way. Therein, crash energy absorption starts at the first one of the ribs 20 and continues or proceeds to the following ribs 20 in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing element 10 thereby gradually absorbing energy and reducing impact forces acting upon the vehicle and occupants of the vehicle.
List of reference signs energy absorbing element 12 outer member 14 receiving space 16 inner member 18 hollow cross-section rib 22 directional arrow 24 front side 26 rear side 28 directional arrow braced scheme

Claims (5)

  1. Claims An energy absorbing element (10) for a vehicle, the energy absorbing element (10) comprising: -at least one outer member (12); -at least one inner member (16) arranged at least partially in the outer member (12); and -a plurality of ribs (20) by means of which the outer member (12) is connected to the inner member (16), the ribs (20) being arranged in the outer member (12) and forming a tishbone pattern.
  2. 2. The energy absorbing element (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ribs (20) are metallurgically joined to the inner member (16) and/or the outer member (12).
  3. 3. The energy absorbing element (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2.characterized in that the inner member (16) is configured as a tubular inner member (16).
  4. 4. The energy absorbing element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ribs (20), the outer member (12) and/or the inner member (16) are made of a metallic material.
  5. 5. The energy absorbing element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy absorbing element (10) has a front side (24) and a rear side (26) on which the energy absorbing element (10) is configured to be connected to a corresponding structure element of the vehicle, wherein the ribs (20) extend away from the inner member (16) towards the rear side (26) angularly with respect to the longitudinal direction (28) of the energy absorbing element (10).
GB1415224.3A 2014-08-28 2014-08-28 Energy absorbing element for a vehicle Withdrawn GB2516177A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1415224.3A GB2516177A (en) 2014-08-28 2014-08-28 Energy absorbing element for a vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1415224.3A GB2516177A (en) 2014-08-28 2014-08-28 Energy absorbing element for a vehicle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201415224D0 GB201415224D0 (en) 2014-10-15
GB2516177A true GB2516177A (en) 2015-01-14

Family

ID=51752254

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1415224.3A Withdrawn GB2516177A (en) 2014-08-28 2014-08-28 Energy absorbing element for a vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2516177A (en)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3759351A (en) * 1971-07-12 1973-09-18 Nash Bros Co Frangible energy absorbing bumper mounting device
GB1401212A (en) * 1971-07-01 1975-07-16 Mccord Corp Energy absorbing assembly particularly but not exclusively an energy absorbing bumper assembly for vehicles

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1401212A (en) * 1971-07-01 1975-07-16 Mccord Corp Energy absorbing assembly particularly but not exclusively an energy absorbing bumper assembly for vehicles
US3759351A (en) * 1971-07-12 1973-09-18 Nash Bros Co Frangible energy absorbing bumper mounting device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201415224D0 (en) 2014-10-15

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)