PLASTIC COMPOSITE BUMPER BEAM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20120306222A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), EELCEE SA (Inxide AB)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), EELCEE SA (Inxide AB)
• Inventors: Manson, Jan-Anders, Choi, Chihoon, Hahm, Yohan, Jonsson, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 293/120
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/03 characterised by material, e.g. composite B60R19/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1853 of reinforced plastic material

Abstract

Disclosed is a plastic composite bumper beam for a vehicle, which can achieve a reduction in weight and cost and has improved mechanical properties, structural strength, and crash performance, load introduction, load distribution to the fixation points, thus reducing the thickness of the bumper, compared to conventional plastic composite bumper beams. Therefore, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in design and the marketability due to the reduction in thickness of the bumper. More specifically, the plastic composite bumper beam for a vehicle includes a bumper beam body having the shape of a bumper beam and formed of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material; and an insert reinforcing member inserted into the bumper beam body, the insert reinforcing member having a loop shape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the bumper beam body.

Claims

1. A plastic composite bumper beam for a vehicle, comprising:

a bumper beam body having a front portion and side portions which are continuously formed along an entire circumference of the front portion and formed of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material; and

an insert reinforcing member inserted into the bumper beam body along a continuous single loop-type path including two partial paths parallel to the side portions, the insert reinforcing member having a loop shape and disposed in the longitudinal direction of the bumper beam body.)

2. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 1, further including one or more additional insert reinforcing members inserted in a single position or in a plurality of positions of the bumper beam body.

4. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 1, wherein the bumper beam body has flange portions which are continuously formed along the side portions of the bumper body, and the insert reinforcing member is inserted into a boundary between the side portions and the flange portions.

7. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 1, wherein the bumper beam body comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material selected from the group consisting of a glass mat-reinforced plastic (GMRP) composite material, a long fiber-reinforced plastic (LFRP) composite material, and a short fiber-reinforced plastic (SFRP) composite material.

8. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 7, wherein the insert reinforcing member comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material having a strength relatively higher than the bumper beam body.

9. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 8, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material of the insert reinforcing member is a continuous fiber-reinforced plastic composite material.

10. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 8, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material for the bumper beam body and the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material for the insert reinforcing member comprise reinforcing fibers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fiber, natural fibers, aramid fibers, and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene fibers.

11. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 8, wherein the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material for the bumper beam body and the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material for the insert reinforcing member comprise a same or a different matrix, wherein the insert reinforcing member is integrated with the bumper beam body during molding.

12. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 11, wherein the matrix of the fiber-reinforced plastic composite material is a material selected from a group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), and thermoset resin such as unsaturated polyester (UP), Epoxy (EP) Polyurethane (PUR).).

13. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 1, wherein the surface of the bumper beam body is reinforced with a woven, braided or knitted fiber-reinforced sheet or a continuous fiber-reinforced sheet fixed thereto.

15. The plastic composite bumper beam of claim 1, wherein the insert reinforcing member has an overall circular, elliptical, or polygonal cross section.

3. (canceled)

5-6. -6. (canceled)

14. (canceled)