WO2009038383A1

WO2009038383A1 - Bumper reinforcement for an automobile

Info

Publication number: WO2009038383A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/005552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joon Yub Sung
Original assignee: Joon Yub Sung
Priority date: 2007-09-19
Filing date: 2008-09-19
Publication date: 2009-03-26
Also published as: KR100891473B1; KR20090030157A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bumper reinforcement for an automobile, in which slant connection parts are formed slantingly to connect both side tower parts, and reinforcement elements connect the slant connection parts or the tower parts, thereby improving resistance against impact, keeping proper deformation for the impact, and particularly preventing the damage to the side members.

Description

BUMPER REINFORCEMENT FOR AN AUTOMOBILE Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a bumper reinforcement for an automobile, in which slant connection parts are formed slantingly to connect both side tower parts, and reinforcement elements connect the slant connection parts or the tower parts, thereby improving resistance against impact, keeping proper deformation for the impact, and particularly preventing the damage to the side members. Background Art

[2] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional vehicle bumper 1 and a conventional bumper reinforcement 10 for an automobile. As shown in Fig. 1, the bumper reinforcement 10 for an automobile is mounted at a rear part of a bumper and absorbs the shock in the case of collision.

[3] Fig. 2 is a partially taken sectional view of the bumper reinforcement for an automobile as shown in Fig. 1.

[4] The bumper reinforcement 10 includes a main body 12 positioned in the shape of

"U" in the center of the bumper 1 along the shape of the bumper 1, and at least one or more towers 14 mounted at both ends of the main body 12 and having vertical side surfaces 16.

[5] The towers 14 are mounted to a vehicle body(not shown) at a base plate and serve to absorb compression or tension force generated from the body part of the bumper itself for preventing the compression or tension force from being transmitted to the vehicle body directly in the case of collision. In the case of collision, deformation is generated most at connection portions between inner surfaces at the innermost position of the towers and the main body.

[6] In the bumper mounted with the towers 14 having such vertical side surfaces, the towers and the reinforcement structure are deformed seriously by the force transmitted from a front or side collision as shown by portion A of Fig. 3. Further, such deformation is permanent so that the bumper should be changed entirely even by a weak collision.

[7] In order to resolve the problems, according to a bumper as disclosed in Korean patent

No. 0340464, coupling parts between a main body of a reinforcement and towers are formed on the slant for minimizing deformation caused by a collision and reducing the permanent deformation so as to extend the lifespan of the bumper.

[8] Even though the prior art bumper reinforcement is formed with coupling parts between the main body of the reinforcement and the towers on the slant so that slant surfaces 20 support the breakage of an upper plate 18 and a lower plate 19 and strengthen the connection parts for increasing load generation as shown in Fig. 5,

[9] the prior art bumper has, however, still a disadvantage that part C of the main body is broken and the collision energy absorbed by the bumper is not so high due to the breakage when impact more than a predetermined degree is applied to the bumper.

[10] The prior art bumper has further disadvantages that ends of the upper plate and the lower plate press a bumper cover at collision so that the bumper cover may be damaged and that the ends of the upper plate and the lower plate which are in linear contact with the bumper cover are bent so that the reinforcement may be broken partially.

[11] In the meantime, the present inventor has suggested a bumper reinforcement in

Korean Patent Application No. 2007-49151, in which the shape and the structure of connection parts connecting impact parts positioned at a front part and tower parts fixed to the vehicle body are modified to increase allowable stress so that a part of the bumper reinforcement is deformed properly corresponding to impact even when the impact is serious.

[12] Even though the prior art bumper reinforcement may be increased in the rigidity by the modification in the shape and structure, the prior art bumper reinforcement still has a disadvantage that the tower parts and side members mounted with the tower parts become damaged largely when strong shock is transmitted thereto via the front impact part by a rear-end collision.

[13] In other words, the strong shock transmitted via the central impact part advances in the opening direction of both the side members through the change in the impact direction, so that the side members become opened and damaged largely.

[14] Further, the impact parts mounted to the side members are damaged or deformed seriously in the opening direction. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[15] Therefore, the present invention is derived to resolve the above and any other disadvantages of the prior art.

[16] According to the present invention, there is an object to provide a bumper reinforcement for an automobile for preventing impact parts and side members from being deformed or damaged seriously in the opening direction.

[17] There is another object to provide a bumper reinforcement for an automobile for increasing durability and final allowable impulse. Technical Solution

[18] In order to achieve the foregoing objects, according to the present invention, a bumper reinforcement for an automobile including an impact part positioned in a center, and tower parts formed at rear parts of both side parts of the impact part to be attached to side members of a vehicle body, is characterized in that at least one or more reinforcement connection elements are provided to connect both the tower parts.

[19] The impact part may be connected to the tower parts by slant connection parts, wherein the impact part and/or the slant connection parts are formed with bead parts having folded section for increasing allowable stress.

[20] Further, one or more of the reinforcement connection elements may be fixed between the slant connection parts traversely.

[21] Further, one or more of the reinforcement connection elements may be fixed between the tower parts traversely.

Advantageous Effects

[22] According to the above structure of the bumper reinforcement of the present invention, the reinforcement connection elements are mounted in the opening direction between the tower parts and side members by collision, damage or deformation in the opening direction may be reduced largely.

[23] Further, the bumper reinforcement for an automobile according to the present invention may exhibit a proper deformation rate and proper allowable stress by controlling the number of the reinforcement connection elements.

[24] Therefore, according to the bumper reinforcement for an automobile according to the present invention, a shock absorbing capacity may be improved and the allowable stress may be increased. Brief Description of the Drawings

[25] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the preferred embodiments in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[26] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a typical bumper and a typical bumper reinforcement for an automobile;

[27] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a prior art bumper reinforcement for an automobile;

[28] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a prior art bumper reinforcement for an automobile;

[29] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing another prior art bumper of an automobile;

[30] Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A' of Fig. 4;

[31] Fig. 6 is an expanded cross-sectional view of an end of a prior art bumper reinforcement for an automobile;

[32] Fig. 7 is a view showing the prior art bumper reinforcement for an automobile, in which the bumper reinforcement is deformed together with side members;

[33] Fig. 8 is a front view of a bumper reinforcement for an automobile according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [34] Fig. 9 is an expanded view of Fig. 8; and

[35] Fig. 10 to Fig. 14 are perspective views showing principal parts in the mounting structure of reinforcement connection elements according to preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Mode for the Invention [36] Now, a bumper reinforcement for an automobile according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail in the structure and operation thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited thereto. [37] Fig. 8 is a front view of a bumper reinforcement for an automobile according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 9 is an expanded view of Fig.

8. [38] Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing principal parts a bumper reinforcement for an automobile according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is mounted with a reinforcement connection element 80. [39] Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing principal parts in the state that a plurality of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are mounted. [40] Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 are perspective views showing principal parts in the state that a plurality of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are mounted between slant connection parts 70 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [41] Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing principal parts in the state that a plurality of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are mounted respectively between the slant connection parts 70 and between tower parts 60. [42] Referring to Fig. 8 to Fig. 14, a bumper reinforcement includes an impact part 50 positioned at a front part to receive and absorb transmitted impact, and tower parts 60 mounted at both sides of the impact part 50 to be coupled with side members 90 of a vehicle body. The impact part 50 and the tower parts 60 are connected by the slant connection parts 70. [43] The impact part 50 and/or the slant connection parts 70 are formed with bead parts

54 and 74 each having folded sections for reinforcing allowable stress. [44] Therefore, section modulus is increased for improving a shock absorptive capacity and increase rigidity, so that the weight of a product may be reduced for same allowable stress and deformation may be reduced. [45] The slant angle of the slant connection part 70 is variable according to the required rigidity of the bumper reinforcement, wherein the slant angle is decreased if the required strength increases while the slant angle is decreased if the required strength decreases.

[46] At least one or more reinforcement connection elements 80 connect the slant connection parts 70 or the tower parts 60 to each other.

[47] One or more of the reinforcement connection elements 80 may be fixed between the slant connection parts 70 traversely.

[48] Further, one or more of the reinforcement connection elements 80 may be fixed between the tower parts 60 traversely.

[49] Now, the operation of the bumper reinforcement for an automobile will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

[50] Impact is transmitted to the slant connection parts 70 between the tower parts 60 via the impact part 50, as impact is applied to the front part of a bumper.

[51] In the present invention, the reinforcement connection parts 80 are further mounted between both the slant connection parts 70 and both the tower parts 60 so that it is possible to prevent the tower parts 60 and the side members 90 coupled with the tower parts 60 from deformation and damage particularly in the opening direction.

[52] Therefore, the side members 90 as well as the bumper reinforcement may be prevented from breakage, even when large impact is applied to the bumper.

[53] The mounting positions and numbers of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are controlled differently according to required strength and the degree of deformation.

[54] Fig. 10 shows the reinforcement connection element 80, which is fixed to the tower parts 60 by welding.

[55] The reinforcement connection element 80 is made of metal plate materials which may be coupled by welding since the bumper reinforcement is made of metal materials, wherein the reinforcement connection element 80 is preferably folded so that the section thereof is in the shape of "U" for increasing section modulus so as to improve the allowable tension strength in the lengthwise direction.

[56] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are fixed to boundaries between the slant connection elements 70 and the tower parts 60, as shown in Fig. 11.

[57] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are fixed in the middle of the slant connection elements 70 traversely, as shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13.

[58] According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of the reinforcement connection elements 80 are fixed to the middle positions of the slant connection parts 70 and the tower parts 60 as shown in Fig. 14, wherein the allowable stress is highest in this embodiment.

[59] It should further be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail of the invention as shown and described above may be made. It is intended that such changes be included within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

[1] A bumper reinforcement for an automobile comprising: an impact part positioned in a center of the bumper reinforcement; and tower parts formed at rear parts of both side parts of the impact part to be attached to side members of a vehicle body, characterized in that at least one or more reinforcement connection elements are provided to connect both of the tower parts.

[2] The bumper reinforcement for an automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impact part is formed with a bead part having a folded section, so that at least one or more of the reinforcement connection elements are fixed to the bead part traversely.

[3] The bumper reinforcement for an automobile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the impact part and the tower parts are connected by slant connection parts and the slant connection parts are formed with bead parts having folded sections, so that the reinforcement connection parts are fixed to the bead parts traversely.

[4] The bumper reinforcement for an automobile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reinforcement connection elements are respectively fixed to the slant connection parts and the tower parts traversely.