Methods for modifying a crash deceleration pulse

• US 20050218696A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Pan, Hong, Aase, Jan H., Browne, Alan L., Johnson, Nancy L.
• Application Number:
  US11/092,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/187.20
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/00 Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; mudguards B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/40 in the direction of an obstacle before a collision , or extending during driving of the vehicle, i.e. to increase the energy absorption capacity of the bumper inflatable bumpers B60R19/20
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/007 Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1866 Cellular structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/343 using deformable body panel, bodywork or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/346 means outside vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F

Abstract

A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash comprising a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state; a support surface cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover a surface of the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states; and a means for deploying said volume-filling mechanical structure from said dormant state to said deployed state.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a crash deceleration pulse in a vehicle comprising:

disposing an energy management device in operative communication with a vehicular surface in a load path, wherein the energy management device comprises an open celled material expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, and an activation mechanism regulating expansion of the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state;

activating the energy management device in response to an impact event;

expanding the open celled material from the non-expanded state to the expanded state; and

impacting the expanded state of the open celled material and modifying a crash pulse associated with the impact event relative to a baseline in which the energy management device is not present.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reversing the expansion of the open celled material from the expanded state to the non-expanded state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein impacting the expanded state of the open celled material increases an effective deceleration level of the crash pulse.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective deceleration level is less than 20 Gs.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the crash pulse comprises dissipating crash energy, creating a load path, modifying a vehicle deceleration pulse, local stiffening a vehicle structure, stiffening closed section members, modifying occupant protection, modifying pedestrian protection, modifying vehicle compatibility, protecting vulnerable components, and combinations comprising more than one of the foregoing.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein protecting vulnerable components comprises positioning the device about a fuel tank when the energy management device is in the expanded state.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein dissipating crash energy comprises positioning the energy management device internally to rails of the vehicle, and/or in empty spaces of an engine compartment.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein creating the load path comprises positioning the energy management device internally to rails of the vehicle, and/or in a front portion of the rails, and/or in an s-bend region of the rails, and/or at rail kink and buckling points of the rail, and/or in empty spaces within an engine compartment, and/or between a tire and a rocker region, and/or within a wheel well and internal the central tunnel portion, and/or internal to a central armrest when the armrest is in the up position.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying the vehicle deceleration pulse comprises positioning the energy management device within empty spaces within an engine compartment, and/or internally to rails of the vehicle at locations responsive to frontal impact events, and/or behind or within a bumper of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein local stiffening a vehicle structure comprises positioning the energy management device internal to rails of the vehicle, and/or at internal to a rocker section, and/or internal to a B pillar.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein stiffening closed section members subjected to lateral loading, comprises positioning the energy management device internal to a rocker, and/or internal to a B pillar, an/or internal to a central tunnel, and/or internal to a central armrest when the armrest is in the up position.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying pedestrian impact protection comprises positioning the energy management device within a bumper, and/or within a hood.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying occupant impact protection comprises positioning the energy management device underneath a floor of the vehicle, and/or within a trim panel, and/or within deployable pusher blocks and/or within deployable head restraints.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying vehicle compatibility comprises positioning the energy management device internal to a rocker sections, and/or internal to a B-pillar, and/or internal to rails of the vehicle, and/or within a bumper.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the expanded state of the open celled material comprises a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to an anticipated crash axis, wherein the anticipated crash axis is substantially parallel to a cellular axis of cells of the open celled material.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the open celled material comprises plurality of cells having a honeycomb shape.