GB2519131A - Vehicle Energy-Absorbing Device - Google Patents

Vehicle Energy-Absorbing Device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2519131A
GB2519131A GB1317989.0A GB201317989A GB2519131A GB 2519131 A GB2519131 A GB 2519131A GB 201317989 A GB201317989 A GB 201317989A GB 2519131 A GB2519131 A GB 2519131A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
energy
absorbing
vehicle
load
base
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Withdrawn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
GB1317989.0A
Other versions
GB201317989D0 (en
Inventor
Donald Pi Hsiang Wu
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.)
Energy Control Ltd
Original Assignee
Energy Control Ltd
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 Energy Control Ltd filed Critical Energy Control Ltd
Priority to GB1317989.0A priority Critical patent/GB2519131A/en
Publication of GB201317989D0 publication Critical patent/GB201317989D0/en
Priority to GB1413454.8A priority patent/GB2519193A/en
Publication of GB2519131A publication Critical patent/GB2519131A/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B60R19/34—Arrangements for mounting bumpers on vehicles comprising yieldable mounting means destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
    • 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
    • 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

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Vibration Dampers (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle energy-absorbing device includes a base 20 and a load-bearing member 40, each being hollow and preferably circular or rectangular. A plurality of energy-absorbing strips 30, with spaces (32, Figure 3) between successive strips, are disposed about and between, and secured to, base 20 and load-bearing member 40, each having a guide portion 31 protruding arcuately outward. Base 20 may be secured to a frame 71 of a vehicle 70, and load-bearing member 40 may be secured to a bumper 721. In a crash, strips 30 may deform by arching outward at guide portions 31 to absorb impact energy, and protect frame 71 from deformation. Advantageously, impact energy is transmitted only through strips 30 and not in an uncontrolled manner. A plurality of successive energy-absorbing devices may be provided between frame 71 and bumper 721.

Description

VEHICLE ENERGY-ABSORBING DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an energy absorbing device, and more particularly to an impact energy-absorbing device which is mounted on a frame of a vehicle to absorb impact energy.
Description of the Prior Art
Most vehicles are provided at the front and rear bumpers with a crash box which is designed to reduce crash impact on the vehicle through deformation of the crash box when a crash occurs.
As shown in Fig. I, a conventional crash box 10 is a hollow box structure with two ends fixed between a vehicle frame (not shown) and the bumper Ii.
Between tile two ends of tile crash box I 0 are connected four buffer surfaces 12.
Each of the buffer surfaces 12 is fornied with a plurality of slots 13, and each two neighboring slots 13 define a rib 14. The crash box 10 defines a buffer area between the bumper 11 and the vehicle frame. When a crash occurs, the impact force applied to the bumper 11 is transmitted to the crash box 10 and forms a pressure between the two ends of the crash box 10 to compress the slots 13, so that the ribs 14 are pressed against one another, and the crash box 10 deforms to buffer the impact force applied to the vehicle.
However, when the crash box 10 deforms, a part of the crash impact is transmitted to the vehicle frame through the continuous portion I 5 of the buffer surffice 12 where there are no slots 13 hi the continuous portion 15, as indicated by the arrow as shown in Fig. 2, so that the bigger the impact force is, the poorer the buffer effect of the crash box 10 will be. The solution to this problem is to increase the proportion of the slots 13 to the area of the buffer surfaces 12, tile bigger the proportion of the slots 13 to the area of the buffer surfaces 12, the less impact force will be transmitted to the vehicle frame. However, the structure strength of the crash box 10 will also be reduced when the proportion of the slots 13 to the area of the buffer surfaces 12 increases.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle energy-absorbing device which is capable of absorbing impact energy applied to a vehicle when an impact occurs, so as to prevent the frame of the vehicle from deforrnatioii, and thus ensuring passengers' safety. Furtherniore, the impact energy must be transmitted through the energy-absorbing elements, so as to prevent the impact energy from being transmitted in an uncontrolled niannet To achieve the above objective, a vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention comprises a base, a plurality of energy-absorbing elements and a load-bearing member. The base is a hollow structure defined by a peripheral wall and provided with a connecting end and an assembling end which is assembled to a frame of a vehicle. Each of the plurality of energy-absorbing elements is an elongated structure and formed with a guide portion between two ends of the elongated piece, a line connected between the two ends of the energy-absorbing element is defined as a reference line, and the guide portion is arc-shaped and protruding outward from the reference line. The load-bearing member is a hollow structure defined by a peripheral wall and provided with a load-bearing end and an assembling end, the energy-absorbing elements are spaced apart a distance and disposed around the base and tile load-bearing member iii such a manner that one of the two ends of each of the energy-absorbing elements is fixed to the peripheral wall of the base and fixed at the connecting end of the base, and another of the two ends of each of the energy-absorbing elements is fixed to the peripheral wall of the load-bearing member and fixed at the assembling end of the load-bearing member.
The characteristic of the present invention is that energy-absorbing elements are disposed between the base and load-bearing of the vehicle energy-absorbing device, and each of the energy-absorbing elements is provided with the guide portion which protrudes out of the reference line, so that, in the case of a crash, stress will concentrate at the guide portion, and as a result, the respective energy-absorbing elements will be deformed by arching outward at the guide portion to absorb impact energy. After impact, the vehicle energy-absorbing device of the present invention will bulge into a spindle shape in an unrecoverable manner, so that the impact force can be absorbed by the unrecoverable deformation of the energy-absorbing elements, and the frame of the vehicle is protected from deformation for ensuring passengers' safety. Furthermore, between the load-bearing member and the base are connected the energy-absorbing elements, so that the impact energy must be transmitted through the energy-absorbing elements, preventing the impact energy from being transmitted in an uncontrolled mannet
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I shows that a conventional crash box is mounted to a bumper of a vehicle; Fig. 2 shows that the conventional crash box is subjected to an impact force; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 shows that the vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention is mounted on a vehicle; Fig. 6 shows that the vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention is deformed after being subjected to an impact force; Fig. 7A is an illustrative view showing that the vehicle energy-absorbing device hi accordance with the present invention is deformed after being subjected to a relatively small impact force; Fig. 7B is a side view of Fig. 7A; Fig. 8A is an illustrative view showing that the vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention deforms after being subjected to a relatively large impact force; Fig. 8B is a side view of Fig. 8A; Fig. 9 is a side view showing that two vehicle energy-absorbing devices in accordance with the present invention are coupled together; Fig. 10 shows that the two vehicle energy-absorbing devices as shown in Fig. 9 deform after being subjected to an impact force; Fig. ii shows another embodiment of a vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 12 shows that tile vehicle energy-absorbing device as shown in Fig. 11 deforms after being subjected to an impact force.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be clearer from the following description when viewed together with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustration only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention.
Referring to Figs. 3-5, a vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disposed between a frame 7 I of a vehicle 70 and a bumper 72 and comprises: a base 20, a plurality of energy-absorbing elements 30 and a load-bearing member 40.
The base 20 is a hollow circular structure defined by a peripheral wall and provided with a connecting end 21 and an assembling end 22 which is assembled to the frame 71 of the vehicle 70. The peripheral wall of the base 20 includes an outer annular surfacc 201 aiid au inner annular surface 202.
Each of the energy-absorbing elements 30 is an elongated structure (which is an elongated piece) and formed with a guide portion 3 1 between two ends of the elongated piece. A line connected between the two ends of the energy-absorbing element 30 is defined as a reference line N, and the guide portion 31 is arc-shaped and protrudes out of the reference line N. The energy-absorbing elements 30 are spaced apart a distance 32 and disposed around the base 20 in such a manner that one of the two ends of each of the energy-absorbing elements 30 is fixed to the outer annular surface 201 and fixed at the connecting end 21 of the base 20.
The load-bearing member 40 is a hollow circular or rectangular structure defined by a peripheral wall and provided with a load-bearing end 41 and an assernblmg end 42. In this embodiment, the peripheral wall of the load-bearing member 40 is a circular hollow structure and includes an outer annular surface 401 and an inner annular surface 402. The energy-absorbing elements 30 are spaced apart a distance 32 and disposed around the load-bearing member 40 in such a manner that another of the two ends of each of the energy-absorbing elements 30 is fixed to the outer annular surface 201 and fixed at the assembling end 42 of the load-bearing member 40. By such arrangements, the base 20, the energy-absorbing element 30 and the load-bearing member 40 are connected to form the vehicle energy-absorbing device which is a hollow structure with a protruding centre portion.
Referring then to Figs. 6 and 3-5. the vehicle energy-absorbing device is disposed between the frame 71 of the vehicle 70 and the front bumper 721, and when an impact force is applied to the front bumper 721 to make the vehicle 70 experience an impact energy in the direction from the front bumper 721 to the frame 71, and the impact energy will be transmitted sequentially from the front bumper 721, the load-bearing member 40, the respective energy-absorbing elements 30, the base 20 and finally to the frame 7 I of the vehicle 70. It is to be noted that between the load-bearing member 40 and the base 20 are connected the energy-absorbing elements 30, so that the impact energy must be transmitted through the energy-absorbing elements 30, preventing the impact energy from being transmitted in an uncontrolled manner.
Furthermore, each of the energy-absorbing elements 30 is provided with the gude portion 31 which protrudes out of the reference line N, so that, in the case of a crash, stress will concentrate at the guide portion 3 1, and as a result, the respective energy-absorbing elements 30 will be deformed by arching more at the guide portion 3 1 to absorb impact energy. After impact, the vehicle energy-absorbing device of the present invention will bulge into a spindle shape in an unrecoverable manner (as shown in Figs. 7 and 8), so that the impact force can be absorbed by the unrecoverable deformation of the energy-absorbing elements 30, and tile frame 71 of the vehicle 70 is protected from deformation for ensuring passengers' safety.
Referring then to Figs. 7A, 7B and Figs. 3-5, when a relative small impact force is applied to the bumper 72 and forms a pressure force between the load-bearing member 40 and the base 20, the respective energy-absorbing elements will bulge at the guide portion 3 1 (through plastic deformation) into a slim spindle shape, so as to prevent the frame 71 of the vehicle 70 from bearing too much impact energy.
It is to be noted that when the respective energy-absorbing clements 30 goes through plastic deformation, the deformed portion of the energy-absorbing elements will strain harden, at this moment, it requires a larger stress to make the energy-absorbing elements 30 deform fttrther. Hence, the ftirther the energy-absorbing elements 30 bulge outward, the more impact energy the energy-absorbing elements 30 absorb.
For example, as shown in Figs. 8A, 8B and 3-5, the vehicle energy-absorbing device of the present invention will bulge extremely into an almost flat lantern shape, wherein the guide portion 3 1 goes through a plastic deformation to a frirther extent but is still riot broken. Since the plastic deformation amount of the guide portion 3 1 is relatively large, and its strain harden amount is also large and accordingly able to resist a relatively large stress. Hence, the present invention is capable of absorbing a relatively large impact force with a relatively small deformation.
Referring then to Figs. 3-6, since the energy-absorbing elements 30 are spaced apart a distance 32 and connected between the base 20 and the load-bearing member 40, the deformation amounts of the energy-absorbing elements 30 are independent from one another when am impact occurs. Namely, when an impact occurs at the left side of the base 20, the energy-absorbing elements 30 close to the left side will deform more than those close to the right side, so that the impact energy at the impacted located can be absorbed more quickly and directly by the vehicle energy-absorbing device of the present invention.
Referring then to Figs. 9 and 10, two vehicle energy-absorbing devices of the present invention are coupled together and disposed between the frame 71 and the bumper 72 in such a manner that the load-bearing member 40B of one vehicle energy-absorbing device is fixed to the base 20B of another vehicle energy-absorbing device, and the energy-absorbing elements 30B are spaced apart a distance 32B from one anothet When an impact occurs, the combination of two
S
coupled vehicle energy-absorbing devices is capable of absorbing more impact energy, and the impact energy can be evenly distributed over die guide portions 3 I B. Furthermore, tile energy-absorbing elements 30B of the two vehicle energy-absorbing devices have different lengths.
Referring then to Figs. 11-12, another embodiment of a vehicle energy-absorbing device in accordance with the present invention is a hollow rectangular structure which includes a load-bearing member 40C, a base 20C, a plurality of energy-absorbing elements 30C directly fixed between the load-bearing member 40C and the base 20C and spaced apart a distance 32C, a long edge S1C and a short edge 52C. When an impact occurs, the long edge SIC can absorb more impact energy than the short edge 52C, so that the user can choose different energy absorb devices of different shapes to meet different demands.

Claims (10)

  1. WHAT IS CLAIMED 15: 1. A vehicle energy-absorbing device comprising: a base being a hollow structure defined by a peripheral wall and provided with a connecting end and an assembling end which is assembled to a frame of a vehicle; a plurality of energy-absorbing elements being an elongated structure and formed with a guide portion between two ends of the elongated piece, a line connected between the two ends of the energy-absorbing element being defined as a reference line, and the guide portion being arc-shaped and protruding outward from the reference line; a load-bearing member being a hollow structure defined by a peripheral wall and provided with a load-bearing end and an assembling end, the energy-absorbing elements being spaced apart a distance and disposed around the base and the load-bearing member in such a manner that one of the two ends of each of the energy-absorbing elements is fixed to the peripheral wall of the base and fixed at the connecting end of the base, and another of the two ends of each of the energy-absorbing elements is fixed to the peripheral wall of the load-bearing member and fixed at the assembling end of the load-bearing member.
  2. 2. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is a hollow rectangular or circular structure.
  3. 3. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load-bearing member is hollow rectangular or circular structure.
  4. 4. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the energy-absorbing pieces is an elongated piece.
  5. 5. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim I, wherein each of tile peripheral walls of the base and the load-bearing member includes an outer annular surface and an inner annular surthce, and each of the energy-absorbing elements has the two ends fixed to the base and the load-bearing member, respectively.
  6. 6. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim 5. wherein the base is a hollow rectangular or circular structure.
  7. 7. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the load-bearing member is hollow rectangular or circular structure.
  8. 8. The vehicle energy-absorbing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the energy-absorbing pieces is an elongated piece.
  9. 9. An energy-absorbing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 to 12 of the acconipanying drawings.
  10. 10. A vehicle having an energy-absorbing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
GB1317989.0A 2013-10-11 2013-10-11 Vehicle Energy-Absorbing Device Withdrawn GB2519131A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1317989.0A GB2519131A (en) 2013-10-11 2013-10-11 Vehicle Energy-Absorbing Device
GB1413454.8A GB2519193A (en) 2013-10-11 2014-07-30 Impact absorbing device for a vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1317989.0A GB2519131A (en) 2013-10-11 2013-10-11 Vehicle Energy-Absorbing Device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201317989D0 GB201317989D0 (en) 2013-11-27
GB2519131A true GB2519131A (en) 2015-04-15

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GB1317989.0A Withdrawn GB2519131A (en) 2013-10-11 2013-10-11 Vehicle Energy-Absorbing Device
GB1413454.8A Withdrawn GB2519193A (en) 2013-10-11 2014-07-30 Impact absorbing device for a vehicle

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1413454.8A Withdrawn GB2519193A (en) 2013-10-11 2014-07-30 Impact absorbing device for a vehicle

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Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113775682B (en) * 2021-11-12 2022-02-08 太原理工大学 Adjustable circular tube energy absorption/storage mechanism based on paper-cut structure

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB347447A (en) * 1930-04-02 1931-04-30 Ernest Deveaux Improvements in and relating to fenders or bumpers for vehicles
US3412628A (en) * 1966-07-14 1968-11-26 Koppy Tool Corp Shock absorbing structural member
GB1200464A (en) * 1966-11-24 1970-07-29 Nissan Motor Impact absorbing means for vehicles
US3564688A (en) * 1966-07-14 1971-02-23 Koppy Tool Corp Method for forming a shock absorbing structural member
US3724833A (en) * 1971-03-12 1973-04-03 D Sergay Reversible energy absorbing bumper system
JP2008302791A (en) * 2007-06-07 2008-12-18 Mazda Motor Corp Energy absorption member

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2624188A1 (en) * 1976-05-29 1977-12-08 Daimler Benz Ag LONGITUDINAL BEAM
DE19814842A1 (en) * 1998-04-02 1999-10-07 Wagon Automotive Gmbh Collision impact damping device for motor vehicle
JP5130878B2 (en) * 2007-11-19 2013-01-30 トヨタ自動車株式会社 Shock absorbing structure

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB347447A (en) * 1930-04-02 1931-04-30 Ernest Deveaux Improvements in and relating to fenders or bumpers for vehicles
US3412628A (en) * 1966-07-14 1968-11-26 Koppy Tool Corp Shock absorbing structural member
US3564688A (en) * 1966-07-14 1971-02-23 Koppy Tool Corp Method for forming a shock absorbing structural member
GB1200464A (en) * 1966-11-24 1970-07-29 Nissan Motor Impact absorbing means for vehicles
US3724833A (en) * 1971-03-12 1973-04-03 D Sergay Reversible energy absorbing bumper system
JP2008302791A (en) * 2007-06-07 2008-12-18 Mazda Motor Corp Energy absorption member

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201413454D0 (en) 2014-09-10
GB201317989D0 (en) 2013-11-27
GB2519193A (en) 2015-04-15

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