Tubular energy management system for absorbing impact energy
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B60R-019/02
B60R-019/34
B60R-019/24
출원번호
US-0997332
(2004-11-24)
발명자
/ 주소
Glasgow,Scott C.
Heatherington,David W.
Lyons,Bruce W.
출원인 / 주소
Shape Corporation
대리인 / 주소
Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt &
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
18인용 특허 :
33
초록▼
An energy-absorbing system includes a tube made of a continuous material, such as heat-treatable steel. The tube has first and second ring sections connected by an intermediate section. In one aspect, the intermediate section is flared and/or pinched to cause one tube section to predictably telescop
An energy-absorbing system includes a tube made of a continuous material, such as heat-treatable steel. The tube has first and second ring sections connected by an intermediate section. In one aspect, the intermediate section is flared and/or pinched to cause one tube section to predictably telescopingly roll upon impact. In another aspect, one section is annealed to optimize elongation and yield properties to facilitate rolling upon impact. By this arrangement, upon the bumper system receiving a longitudinal impact, the first and second ring sections telescopingly collapse with a predictable and consistent rolling collapse. Methods related to the above are also disclosed.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions
We claim: 1. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectively; the first and second tube sections being dimensionally different in size and the intermediate tube section having a shape transitioning from the first tube section to the second tube section; the first tube section being larger in size than the second tube section and including an outer surface defining a tubular boundary, the first end portion including a continuous band of deformed material flared outward radially beyond the outer surface and which acts to support and maintain a columnar strength of the first tube section upon longitudinal impact, the second end portion contrastingly being configured to initiate a telescoping rolling of the second tube section during impact as the first tube section maintains its columnar strength. 2. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are formed from a single sheet of material, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections is heat-treated to include different material properties. 3. The energy management tube defined in claim 2, wherein the intermediate tube section and also one of the first and second tube sections are heat-treated. 4. The energy management tube defined in claim 3, wherein the intermediate tube section and the one tube section are annealed. 5. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from steel. 6. The energy management tube defined in claim 5, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from a material having a yield strength of structural steel. 7. The energy management tube defined in claim 5, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from a material having a yield strength of at least about 35 KSI. 8. The energy management tube defined in claim 7, wherein the material has a yield strength of at least 80 KSI. 9. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from a heat treatable grade of material. 10. The energy management tube defined in claim 9, wherein the material in at least one of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections is heat-treated. 11. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from an annealable grade of material. 12. The energy management tube defined in claim 11, wherein the material in at least one of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections is annealed. 13. The energy management tube defined in claim 12, wherein the material in at least two of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are annealed to have different material properties, including annealing the intermediate tube section. 14. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from a material having properties at least equal to the yield, tensile and elongation properties of a structural steel. 15. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from a high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel. 16. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from an ultra-high-strength steel. 17. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are roll formed longitudinally in a continuous roll forming process. 18. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are formed in part by being compressed to reduce their size. 19. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second tube sections are longitudinally compressed to force the intermediate tube section to take on a pre-set shape, with the first and second end portions at least partially overlapping. 20. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, including an insert positioned inside the first tube section. 21. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, including a bumper beam attached to a free end of one of the first and second tube sections. 22. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, including a vehicle frame attached to at least one of the first and second tube sections. 23. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, including a cross car frame member attached to at least one of the first and second tube sections. 24. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second tube sections have similar geometric cross sectional shapes, but are different cross-sectional sizes. 25. The energy management tube defined in claim 24, wherein at least one of the first and second tube sections includes a rectangular cross section. 26. The energy management tube defined in claim 25, wherein at least one of the first and second tube sections includes a round cross section. 27. The energy management tube defined in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second tube sections includes a circular cross section at one location and a rectangular cross section at another location spaced longitudinally from the one location. 28. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectiveiy; the first tube section being dimensionally larger in size than the second rube section and the intermediate rube section having a shape transitioning from the first tube section to the second tube section; the intermediate section forming a continuous ring and, when cross sectioned longitudinally, being a non-straight wall segment where the first end portion defines a first radius on the wall segment and the second end portion defines a second radius on the wall segment, one of the first and second radii being smaller than the other radii; the end portion with the one smaller radius providing a relatively greater support for columnar strength than the end portion with the other larger radius; the end portion with the other larger radius being configured to initiate a telescoping rolling of the tube section with the larger radius; whereby, upon undergoing a longitudinal impact, the intermediate tube section and the second tube section roll predictably and sooner than the first end portion and sooner than the first tube section upon the intermediate section receiving forces from the longitudinal impact; wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are formed from a single sheet of material, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are heat-treated to include different material properties. 29. The energy management tube defined in claim 28, wherein the intermediate tube section and also one of the first and second tube sections are heat-treated. 30. The energy management tube defined in claim 28, wherein the intermediate tube section and the one tube section are annealed. 31. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectively; the first tube section being dimensionally larger in size than the second tube section and the intermediate tube section having a shape transitioning from the first tube section to the second tube section; the intermediate section forming a continuous ring and, when cross sectioned longitudinally, being a non-straight wall segment where the first end portion defines a first radius on the wall segment and the second end portion defines a second radius on the wall segment, one of the first and second radii being smaller than the other radii; the end portion with the one smaller radius providing a relatively greater support for columnar strength than the end portion with the other larger radius; the end portion with the other larger radius being configured to initiate a telescoping rolling of the tube section with the larger radius; whereby, upon undergoing a longitudinal impact, the intermediate tube section and the second tube section roll predictably and sooner than the first end portion and sooner than the first tube section upon the intermediate section receiving forces from the longitudinal impact; wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from steel. 32. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectively; the first tube section having a same shape as the second tube section and the intermediate tube section having a shape transitioning from the first tube section to the second tube section; the intermediate section forming a continuous ring and, when cross sectioned longitudinally, being a non-straight wall segment where the first end portion defines a first radius on the wall segment and the second end portion defines a second radius on the wall segment, one of the first and second radii being smaller than the other radii; the end portion with the one smaller radius providing a relatively greater support for columnar strength than the end portion with the other larger radius; the end portion with the other larger radius being configured to initiate a telescoping rolling of the tube section with the larger radius; whereby, upon undergoing a longitudinal impact, the intermediate tube section and the second tube section roll predictably and sooner than the first end portion and sooner than the first tube section upon the intermediate section receiving forces from the longitudinal impact; wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are formed from a single sheet of material, and wherein at least one of the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are heat-treated to include different material properties. 33. The energy management tube defined in claim 32, wherein the intermediate tube section and also one of the first and second tube sections are heat-treated. 34. The energy management tube defined in claim 33, wherein the intermediate tube section and the one tube section are annealed. 35. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectively; the first tube section having a same shape as the second tube section and the intermediate tube section having a shape transitioning from the first tube section to the second tube section; the intermediate section forming a continuous ring and, when cross sectioned longitudinally, being a non-straight wall segment where the first end portion defines a first radius on the wall segment and the second end portion defines a second radius on the wall segment, one of the first and second radii being smaller than the other radii; the end portion with the one smaller radius providing a relatively greater support for columnar strength than the end portion with the other larger radius; the end portion with the other larger radius being configured to initiate a telescoping rolling of the tube section with the larger radius; whereby, upon undergoing a longitudinal impact, the intermediate tube section and the second tube section roll predictably and sooner than the first end portion and sooner than the first tube section upon the intermediate section receiving forces from the longitudinal impact; wherein the first, second, and intermediate tube sections are made from steel. 36. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally, comprising: a first tube section; a second tube section aligned with the first tube section; and an intermediate tube section with first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectively; the first tube section having a same shape as the second tube section, and the intermediate tube section having a shape transitioning from the first tube section to the second tube section; and the intermediate tube section and one of the first and second tube sections being annealed to have different material properties than the other of the first and second tube sections, the different material properties including a change in yield and elongation properties and being adapted to facilitate deformation and shaping of the intermediate tube section upon the intermediate tube section receiving stress sufficient to deform the intermediate tube section; wherein the different material properties include increased elongation and lower yield properties adapted to support predictable and desired telescoping roll of the annealed one tube section during a longitudinal impact. 37. The energy management tube defined in claim 36, wherein the different material properties include increased elongation and lower yield properties adapted to support mechanically forming the one tube section, including changing a cross section of the one tube section to be different in size. 38. The energy management tube defined in claim 36, wherein the different material properties include increased elongation and lower yield properties adapted to support up-setting the intermediate tube section to a shape promoting rolling of material during a longitudinal impact. 39. An energy management tube adapted to reliably and predictably absorb substantial impact energy when impacted longitudinally comprising: a first tube section having a first resistance to deformation; a second tube section having a second resistance to deformation, the second resistance to deformation being greater than the first resistance to deformation; and an intermediate tube section connecting the first tube section to the second tube section; whereby, upon undergoing a longitudinal impact, the intermediate tube section and the first tube section roll predictably and sooner than the second tube section upon the intermediate tube section receiving forces from the longitudinal impact. 40. The energy management tube defined in claim 39, wherein the intermediate tube section includes a frustoconical area. 41. The energy management tube defined in claim 39, wherein the intermediate tube section includes first and second end portions integrally connecting the first and second tube sections, respectively, to the intermediate tube section. 42. The energy management tube defined in claim 41, wherein the intermediate tube section forms a continuous ring and, when cross sectioned longitudinally, has a non-linear wall segment where the first end portion defines a first radius on the wall segment and the second end portion defines a second radius on the wall segment, one of the first and second radii being smaller than the other radii; and the end portion with the one smaller radius being configured to initiate a telescoping rolling of the tube section with the larger radius. 43. The energy management tube defined in claim 39, wherein a first transition between the first end portion and the first tube section is at a first angle and a second transition between the second end portion and the second tube section is at a second angle, the first angle being different than the second angle. 44. The energy management tube defined in claim 43, wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle. 45. The energy management tube defined in claim 39 further including a component within the second tube section. 46. The energy management tube defined in claim 45, wherein the component is a bushing. 47. The energy management tube defined in claim 39, wherein the first, second and third intermediate tube sections are formed from a single piece of material. 48. The energy management tube defined in claim 39, wherein the first tube section, the second tube section and the intermediate tube section are made from steel. 49. The energy management tube defined in claim 39, wherein the second tube section is thicker than the first tube section, thereby making the second resistance to deformation greater than the first resistance to deformation.
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