Motor vehicle energy absorbing member

• US 6,312,028 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wilkosz, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US09/454,731
• Time in Patent Office: 703 Days
• Field of Search: 296/187, 296/188, 296/189, 296/203.01, 296/203.02, 296/203.03, 296/203.04, 296/146.6, 293/133, 293/136, 293/121, 495/02, 188/371, 188/377
• US Class Current: 293/133
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/18 characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1806 Structural beams therefor, e.g. shock-absorbing bumper beams made of cellular materials B60R19/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/1813 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/182 of light metal, e.g. extruded
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 Front or rear frames
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/121 the members having a cellular, e.g. honeycomb, structure

Abstract

A motor vehicle structural energy absorbing member (12) is light weight and is made in a manner to produce random or directionally oriented, elongated pores or voids (16) in a structural matrix (14) in a manner that permits tailoring of impact energy absorption in one or more direction(s) to provide an integral energy absorbing region.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle structural energy absorbing member, comprising:

a structural load-carrying matrix without a hollow structural member thereabout and voids in said matrix to provide an integral energy absorbing region.

2. The member of claim 1 wherein said matrix is selected from the group consisting of metallic material and ceramic material.

3. The member of claim 2 wherein said metallic material is selected from the group consisting of steel and aluminum.

4. The member of claim 1 wherein said voids are elongated preferentially along a longitudinal axis of said member.

5. The member of claim 1 which further includes a relatively solid region that is formed integral with said structural matrix and is connected to a second structural member of a motor vehicle.

6. The member of claim 5 wherein said relatively solid region is welded to said second member.

7. The member of claim 1 which further includes a relatively solid peripheral region that is formed integral with said structural matrix about said member.

8. A motor vehicle structural frame, comprising a first structural member and a second structural member connected thereto, said second structural member having a structural load-carrying matrix that is part of said motor vehicle structural frame without a hollow structural frame member about said second structural member and voids in said matrix to provide an integral energy absorbing region.

9. A motor vehicle bumper assembly, comprising a first structural member and a second structural beam member connected thereto, said second structural beam member having a structural matrix selected from the group consisting of a metallic material and a ceramic material and voids in said matrix to provide an integral energy absorbing region.

10. A motor vehicle door, comprising a first structural member and a second structural member connected thereto, said second structural member having a structural matrix selected from the group consisting of a metallic material and a ceramic material and voids in said matrix extending along a longitudinal axis of said second structural member to provide an integral energy absorbing region.

11. A motor vehicle structural frame, comprising a first structural member, a second structural member, and a third structural member connected therebetween, said third structural member having a structural load-carrying matrix that is part of said motor vehicle structural frame and voids in said matrix to provide an integral energy absorbing region, said third structural member having relatively solid, opposite ends that are connected to respective ends of said first structural member and second structural member.

12. A motor vehicle structural frame, comprising a first elongated structural member, a second elongated structural member, and a third elongated structural member connected therebetween, said third structural member having a structural load-carrying matrix that is part of said motor vehicle structural frame and voids in said matrix to provide an integral energy absorbing region, said voids being elongated preferentially along a longitudinal axis of said third structural member.