Energy-absorbing knee bolster
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle component comprising:
- a crossbeam;
a cylinder having a chamber and fixed relative to the crossbeam;
a piston linearly movable in the chamber;
a panel fixed relative to the piston; and
a heterogeneous mixture enclosed by the piston in the chamber, the heterogeneous mixture including hydrophobic nanoporous particles and a liquid;
wherein the cylinder has an orifice between the chamber and a space outside the cylinder; and
the orifice allows the liquid in the chamber to exit the chamber through the orifice when the liquid is above a fixed pressure threshold and blocks the liquid in the chamber from exiting the chamber when the liquid is below the fixed pressure threshold.
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Abstract
A vehicle component may include a crossbeam, a cylinder, a piston, a panel, and a heterogeneous mixture. The cylinder has a chamber and is fixed relative to the crossbeam. The piston is linearly movable in the chamber. The panel is fixed relative to the piston. The heterogeneous mixture is enclosed by the piston in the chamber. The heterogeneous mixture includes hydrophobic nanoporous particles and a liquid.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A vehicle component comprising:
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a crossbeam; a cylinder having a chamber and fixed relative to the crossbeam; a piston linearly movable in the chamber; a panel fixed relative to the piston; and a heterogeneous mixture enclosed by the piston in the chamber, the heterogeneous mixture including hydrophobic nanoporous particles and a liquid; wherein the cylinder has an orifice between the chamber and a space outside the cylinder; and the orifice allows the liquid in the chamber to exit the chamber through the orifice when the liquid is above a fixed pressure threshold and blocks the liquid in the chamber from exiting the chamber when the liquid is below the fixed pressure threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification