Energy-absorbing systems

• US 3,995,901 A
• Filed: 05/20/1975
• Issued: 12/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Filbert, William C. Jr., Turner, Richard M., Souffie, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saifer, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US05/579,150
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 293/71 R, 293/71 P, 293/88, 114/219, 267/63 R, 267/140, 267/141, 267/153
• US Class Current: 293/136
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1866 Cellular structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1893 comprising a multiplicity of identical adjacent shock-absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/422 the stressing resulting in flexion of the spring
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2236/02 the stressing resulting in flexion of the spring

Abstract

An energy-absorbing device suitable as an automobile bumper using sinuous (corrugated), elastomeric ribs, which can be either attached to a connecting member at one end and unattached at the other end or unattached at both ends. These ribs buckle in a direction normal to the impact force and modulate that force.

Claims

1. An energy-absorbing member formed of an elastomeric composition having a tangent modulus of elasticity at 20°

C. of about 3,000-60,000 psi and shaped into at least one sinuous rib, the span of the rib being at least one and one-half full periods as determined along the axis passing half-way between the crests on opposite sides of the curve, and its length being at least five times but not more than one hundred times its thickness;

said rib being capable of buckling under the force component of impact in the direction of its length.

2. A member of claim 1 in which each rib has a thickness of about 0.05-0.75 inch;

a period of about 0.2-5 inches;

a span of about 0.3-60 inches; and

a maximum height of about 0.2-3 inches.

3. A member of claim 1 which is shaped into a module consisting of a plurality of ribs having substantially parallel axes supported by at least one connecting member.

4. A member of claim 3 wherein the ribs and the connecting member are made of the same material as a one-piece integrated construction.

5. A member of claim 4 wherein both end surfaces of the length dimension (L_R) of the ribs are free.

6. An energy-absorbing member of claim 4 which is placed between the body of an automobile and an outer member in such a manner that said energy-absorbing member together with said outer member form an automobile bumper.

7. A member of claim 1 which is formed into a rib having the axis joined on itself.

8. An energy-absorbing member of claim 7 which is placed between the body of an automobile and an outer member in such a manner that said energy-absorbing member together with said outer member form an automobile bumper.

9. A member of claim 1 made of a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and 1,4-hexadiene.

10. A member of claim 1 made of a glass fiber-reinforced elastomer composition.

11. A member of claim 1 made of a foamed elastomer composition.

12. A member of claim 1 wherein the rib is attached along one of the end surfaces of its length dimension to a connecting member, and the end surface at the other end is free.