CN100450826C

CN100450826C - Bumper having separate energy absorber and fascia support

Info

Publication number: CN100450826C
Application number: CNB2005800195920A
Authority: CN
Inventors: D·埃文斯
Original assignee: NetShape Energy Management LLC
Current assignee: NetShape Energy Management LLC
Priority date: 2004-06-22
Filing date: 2005-06-22
Publication date: 2009-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-22
Also published as: CN1997534A

Abstract

A bumper system includes a beam having mounts adapted for mounting the beam to a vehicle, and a thermoformed energy absorber positioned on a face of the beam for distributing impact energy prior to deformation of the beam. The bumper system further includes a fascia support having a first section with a rear concave surface matably engaging a front surface of the energy absorber and a second section with fascia attachment structure adapted for securing a fascia to the fascia support in a supported position. By constructing different fascia supports, different fascia can be supported on the same beam and energy absorber combination, thus saving tooling costs and reducing the number of different parts that must be inventoried.

Description

Bumper/spoiler with independent energy absorbing buffer and fascia support

The application requires to submit on June 22nd, 2004, name is called the provisional application series No.60/581 of BUMPER HAVINGSEPARATE ENERGY ABSORBER AND FASCIA SUPPORT, 941, preceence, the whole contents of this application is here introduced with for referencial use.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of bumper system with rigid bar, plastic energy absorber and fascia support.

Background technology

Many vehicle bumper devices of having developed are equipped with cross bar and the energy absorbing buffer that is used for distributing and controlling Impact energy.Thereby use support that stringcourse usually is installed to and cover bumper system in the vehicle attractive in appearancely, wherein these supports are connected on all places and are connected on the various front end parts.But this can cause part more, and each part needs independently inventory and manually is connected to independently on the vehicle, and each part has increased the total expenses of vehicle.In addition, each extra support causes size to change potentially, and has produced quality Control.Provide part still less and more incorporate stringcourse installation system be desirable, here, this support is more directly left bumper system rather than is left other vehicle front part that is arranged on the bumper system back.

At least a prior art bumper system is equipped with by the made energy absorbing buffer of the sheet of vacuum-thermoform.But, be difficult to provide the connection location of micro-manipulation that stringcourse is installed on the sheet of vacuum-thermoform, this is because the restriction of the processing of vacuum-thermoform technology.Therefore, need such bumper/spoiler and energy process system, promptly this system synthesis expense low and have the advantage of flexibility of the thermoforming part of fascia support structure, wherein the fascia support structure provides best accuracy rate and firm connection location for stringcourse.

Therefore, need have above-mentioned advantage and the bumper system that has solved the problems referred to above.

Summary of the invention

In one aspect of the invention, bumper system comprises: cross bar, and it has connecting element, and these fabricated sections are fit to cross bar is installed on the vehicle; And energy absorbing buffer, it is arranged on the surface of cross bar, thereby distributes Impact energy before cross bar is out of shape.This bumper system also comprises fascia support, and this fascia support has: first, and its rear concave surface can engage the front surface of energy absorbing buffer ordinatedly; And second portion, it has the stringcourse connection structure, and this structure is adapted on the Support Position stringcourse being fixed on the fascia support.

In a narrower shape, thereby provide different stringcourses to use together with the combination of identical cross bar and energy absorbing buffer.

Those of ordinary skills describe below in study, be appreciated that when claim and accompanying drawing and understand of the present invention aspect these and other, purpose and feature.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the sectional elevation with the front-end architecture that embodies bumper system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the energy absorbing buffer of Fig. 2 and the transparent view that cooperates fascia support;

Fig. 3 is the decomposition diagram of Fig. 2; And

Fig. 4 is the sectional elevation with similar another front-end architecture of Fig. 1.

The specific embodiment

Bumper system 20 (referring to Fig. 1) comprising: cross bar 21, and it has connecting element 22, and these connecting elements are fit to cross bar 21 is installed on the vehicle; And hot formed energy absorbing buffer 23, it is arranged on the surface of cross bar 21, thereby distributes Impact energy before cross bar 21 is out of shape.Bumper system 20 also comprises fascia support 24, and this support 24 comprises the injection moulding part, and this injection moulding part has: first bottom 25, this bottom have the front surface that can engage energy absorbing buffer 23 ordinatedly and the back concave surface 26 of bumper/spoiler cross bar 21; And second top 27, it supports the top of stringcourse 29.Stringcourse connection structure 28 is set as desired, thereby on the settling position that better supports, stringcourse 29 is fixed on the fascia support 24.By structure different fascia support such as different fascia support 24A (referring to Fig. 4), different stringcourse 29A can be supported on the combination of identical cross bar 21 and energy absorbing buffer, have therefore saved tooling cost and have reduced the number of the different parts of necessary storage.

Cross bar 21 (referring to Fig. 1) has B shape cross-sectional plane.But, it is contemplated that principle of the present invention can be used as " D " shape, " C " shape or other shape with other cross bar.This a pair of vehicle mounts 22 comprises the plate on the rear surface that is connected to cross bar 21; And the tube portion 22 that extends back ', be used for cross bar 21 is connected to carriage frame.

Shown energy absorbing buffer 23 is vacuum-thermoforms.This makes energy absorbing buffer to be made by low cost processing, and wherein this processing can be carried out apace.But, should be appreciated that principle of the present invention can with the energy absorbing buffer of other energy absorbing buffer such as injection moulding, foam energy absorbing buffer and in vehicle bumper device field other known energy absorbing buffer use.In particular, the advantage of this layout is that given cross bar can be installed different fascia support with energy absorbing buffer, thereby allows the combination of identical cross bar and energy absorbing buffer to be used on the different vehicles.It should be noted that the bump absorption characteristic that the lower part of fascia support has its bump-absorption characteristic and can form to replenish cross bar and energy absorbing buffer is clearly stipulated to satisfy different bumps.This just allows identical cross bar and energy absorbing buffer to be used in the different automobile types of given vehicle class potentially, perhaps can be used on the front and rear bumper system of same model.

Shown hot formed energy absorbing buffer 23 comprises top flange and

end flange

31 and 32, and these flanges overlap onto on the top surface and basal surface of cross bar 21.

Flange

31 and 32 randomly comprises some pads, and these pads frictionally engage cross bar surface, top and cross bar surface, the end, thereby temporarily energy absorbing buffer 23 are being remained on the cross bar 21 between erecting stage.What it is contemplated that is to use other device as the connector portions of hook-type, independently by nail fixer, screw or the like.Energy absorbing buffer 23 also comprises basal wall 33 (referring to Fig. 3) and a plurality of from the formed forward squeezing tank of basal wall 33 (

squeezing tank

34,34A, the 34B that go out as shown).

Squeezing tank

34,34A, 34B have antetheca 35 and are needed roof, diapire and the sidewall 36-39 that carries out the best energy absorption possible formed thereby of special applications.Shown wall 35-39 comprises fluctuation and sweep, and these parts limit different box-shapeds, as " O " shape, " I " shape and null circle (dot-circle) shape.What it is contemplated that is, the countless distortion that can make different box shapes are as " I " shape, " X " shape, "T"-shaped or the like.It should be noted that antetheca 35, roof 36 and diapire 37 limit the shape that is suitable for being assembled to ordinatedly in the spill rear surface 26, and be as described below such.These parts that are arranged on the basal wall 33 between the adjacent tank 34 have enough flexibilities, thereby allow energy absorbing buffer 23 bendings, so that energy absorbing buffer 23 is with the surface of bending with the cross bar 21 that fits snugly in the aerodynamic force bending.

As top noticing, fascia support 24 comprises: lower part 25, and it has the spill rear surface 26 of the front portion that can engage cross bar 21 ordinatedly; And top 27, this part 27 has stringcourse connection structure 28.More particularly, top 27 comprises the cross bar part 42 that level is elongated, before this elongated cross bar is partly with/and roof 43, and this roof is fit to support special stringcourse (that is shown stringcourse 29) best.Thereby some set strengthening ribs 45 extend back from antetheca 43 wall 43 are reinforced.

Shown lower part 25 comprise three extend downwards

part

25A, 25B and 25C, each in these three parts has the C shape cross-sectional plane in the face of the back, this cross-sectional plane comprises antetheca 50 and relative sidewall 51.Each sidewall 51 has lagging dege 52, and this lagging dege is shaped as the front surface that can engage energy absorbing buffer 23 ordinatedly.Shown lagging dege 52 has spill bottom 53, be fit to be supported on the top of energy absorbing buffer 23 and the protrusion backward 54 on the cross bar 21, upwardly extending part 55, and second backward the protrusion 56.Second backward the protrusion 56 keeps and supports the top of stringcourse 29, this stringcourse along the front edge of vehicle startup unit room cover on vehicle across extension.

As needs, connection structure is arranged on the fascia support 24 so.For example, shown fascia support 24 comprises the connecting bore 46 of fixer, these fixers are connected to fascia support 24 and energy absorbing buffer on the cross bar 21, and comprise porose pad position 47, thereby friction be with 48 and stringcourse 23 be connected on the fascia support 24, and comprise side connecting bore 49, with fixing holder, wherein these fixers are connected to the top 27 of fascia support 24 in vehicle part such as the radiator support.Produce recess in level across

bottom

25A, 25B, 25C, promptly on this position, stringcourse is shaped as the installation friction and is with 48.Because fascia support 24 is injection mouldings, so it can provide point-device connection location and the porose structure boss that is used for installing the self-tapping attaching screw can be provided.In addition, fascia support 24 can be formed by the Zenoy that energy absorbing material such as GE company are produced.In addition, fascia support 24, especially bottom 25 are formed in order to best energy absorption possible.For example, squeezing tank can be molded into one or more among

part

25A, 25B, the 25C.

As shown in fig. 4, the second fascia support 24A can replace fascia support 24, and here, different stringcourse 29A need.For example, may produce this situation in special vehicle, in this vehicle, senior packing or the front end of revising (as may produce the front end of this modification to next model year from a model year) cause different stringcourse 29A.In shown layout, stringcourse 29A has much higher, more straight square appearance, and directly extend on substantially horizontal direction on the surface 61 that it has quite long vertical front surface 60 and extends back, this surface 61.

Be also contemplated that different energy absorbing buffers can replace energy absorbing buffer 23, as when " full load (fully-loaded) " vehicle is heavier than " zero load (non-loaded) " vehicle (this vehicle causes different bumper impact to require).For example, the injection moulding energy absorbing buffer can be used in heavier full load vehicle, and the energy absorbing buffer of thermal deformation is used in the zero load vehicle.

Should be appreciated that, under the situation that does not break away from the principle of the invention, said structure can be out of shape and improve, should be appreciated that in addition, these principles plan to cover with following claim, represent unless have clearly in addition with these claims of their language.

Claims

1. bumper system, it comprises:

Cross bar, it has connecting element, and these connecting elements are used for cross bar is installed to vehicle;

Energy absorbing buffer, it is arranged on the face of cross bar, thereby distributes Impact energy before cross bar is out of shape; And

Fascia support, this fascia support has: first, its rear concave surface can engage the front surface of energy absorbing buffer ordinatedly; And second portion, it has the stringcourse connection structure, and this structure is used on the Support Position stringcourse being fixed to fascia support.

2. bumper system as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, the second portion of fascia support extends above first, and comprises that the opening of expansion, the opening of these expansions are used for above cross bar atmosphere on every side being delivered to vehicle radiator.

3. bumper system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that energy absorbing buffer is Heat forming.

4. bumper system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that this device comprises second fascia support, and this second fascia support has: the bottom, and this bottom has second concave surface, and this second concave surface is identical with described rear concave surface shape; And top, it has second connection structure, and this second connection structure is different from described stringcourse connection structure, and described fascia support and described second fascia support can selectively be connected on cross bar and the energy absorbing buffer.