Device for absorbing kinetic energy, in particular for installing in a motor vehicle

• US 9,592,780 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Wendel, Bettina, Klinkert, Carsten, Dorfner, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H
• Application Number:
  US14/888,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20160068125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,067 Days
• Field of Search: 293/133
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/26 comprising yieldable mounting means B60R19/38 takes precedence; springs, shock absorbers, or means for damping vibrations per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2019/262 with means to adjust or regulate the amount of energy to be absorbed
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/34 Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians B60R19/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A device for absorbing kinetic energy includes a first stationary component and a second component that can be moved in relation to the first component, wherein at least one of the components converts energy by plastic deformation when a certain force level is exceeded, and comprising a coupling apparatus, which operatively connects the first component and the second component in such a way that the two components can be moved in relation to each other only with low energy conversion when the coupling apparatus is not activated and forces can be transmitted from one component to the other component when the coupling apparatus is activated. The movable component has a deformation element, which initially deforms in the event of a crash, so that a movement of the movable component occurs only thereafter, wherein the coupling apparatus is continuously in engagement with the two components and thus continuously produces a first low coupling force level and, when the coupling apparatus is activated, the coupling forces are increased from the first low coupling force level to a high coupling force level and plastic deformation of at least one component occurs.

Claims

1. A device for absorbing kinetic energy, comprising:

a stationary first component; and

a second component, movable relative to the first component, said movable component comprising a deformation element, said deformation element being configured so that a force resulting from a crash and acting on the deformation element causes the deformation element to undergo deformation prior to causing a movement of the second element relative to the first element; and

a coupling device, said coupling device comprising at least one bracket constantly operatively connecting the first and second components,

a locking element for moving the at least one bracket from a non-activated state outwardly toward the second component into an activated state,

wherein in the non-activated state the at least one bracket couples the first and second components with a first coupling force so as to allow movement of the first component in relation to the second component with low energy conversion, and in the activated state the at least one bracket couples the first and second components with a second coupling force higher than the first coupling force, so as to allow transmission of forces between the first and second component, wherein at least one of the first and second components undergoes a plastic deformation when the forces exceed a defined force level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is constructed for installation in a motor vehicle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is configured as a bolt, which is movable from an unlocked position into a locked position.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the stationary component is arranged on a baffle plate of a longitudinal member of the motor vehicle.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the movable component at least partially moves into the first component in the event of a crash when the coupling device is in the activated state.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the movable component and the stationary component are plastically deformable by folding in the event of a crash when the coupling device is in the activated state.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the first component is connected to a longitudinal member of the motor vehicle.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the second component at least partially moves into the longitudinal member in the event of a crash when the coupling device is in the deactivated state.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein in the activated state of the coupling device, the movable component at least partially moves into the longitudinal member in the case of a crash, and wherein the coupling device plastically deforms the movable component by means of shearing during the movement of the movable component into the longitudinal member.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein in the activated state of the coupling device, the movable component is blocked in the event of a crash and is plastically deformable by folding.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the longitudinal member is configured as a single-chamber hollow section or as a two-chamber section.