Energy absorbing element and motor vehicle body using the same

• US 7,926,868 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Hock, Theobald, Braunbeck, Bardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US11/916,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20080217935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,762 Days
• Field of Search: 293/132, 293/133, 293/154, 293/155, 296/187.03, 296/187.09, 296/187.11, 188/371, 188/377
• US Class Current: 296/187.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/34 destroyed upon impact, e.g. one-shot type
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/123 Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members F16F7/125, F16F7/128 take precedence

Abstract

An energy absorbing element for a motor vehicle body comprises a tube section that is roll-formed from a steel strip. The cross-section of the tube section has at least one concavity.

Claims

1. An energy absorbing element for a motor vehicle body of the type that includes a cross-member and a longitudinal member, the energy absorbing element comprising:

a tube section adapted to be mounted between the cross-member and the longitudinal member, the tube section formed from a single metal strip and including;

(i) a first generally rectangular hollow profile, (ii) a second generally rectangular hollow profile, and (iii) a double-walled web between the first generally rectangular hollow profile and the second generally rectangular hollow profile and cooperating therewith to define two longitudinal grooves each having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape; and

at least one weld seam joining the opposing longitudinal edges along the double-walled web.

2. The energy absorbing element according to claim 1, wherein the tube section comprises roll-formed steel.

3. The energy absorbing element according to claim 1, wherein the tube section has more than four edges in cross-section.

4. The energy absorbing element according to claim 1, wherein a mounting flange is welded onto a longitudinal end of the tube section for connection with a vehicle body part.

5. The energy absorbing element according to claim 1, wherein at a longitudinal end of the tube section a mounting flange is bent at an angle in one piece for connection with a vehicle body part.

6. A body of a vehicle, comprising:

a cross-member;

a longitudinal member; and

an energy absorbing element mounted between the cross-member and the longitudinal member, the energy absorbing element comprising;

a tube section formed from a single metal strip and having;

(i) a first generally rectangular hollow profile, (ii) a second generally rectangular hollow profile, and (iii) a double-walled web between the first generally rectangular hollow profile and the second generally rectangular hollow profile and cooperating therewith to define two longitudinal grooves each having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape; and

a weld seam joining opposing longitudinal edges of the tube section together along the double-walled web.