WO2002057119A1 - Bumper system - Google Patents

Bumper system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002057119A1
WO2002057119A1 PCT/GB2002/000175 GB0200175W WO02057119A1 WO 2002057119 A1 WO2002057119 A1 WO 2002057119A1 GB 0200175 W GB0200175 W GB 0200175W WO 02057119 A1 WO02057119 A1 WO 02057119A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bumper
leading surface
strengthening assembly
bumper system
chamber
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2002/000175
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael Ashmead
Original Assignee
Cellbond Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0101298A external-priority patent/GB0101298D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0125732A external-priority patent/GB0125732D0/en
Application filed by Cellbond Limited filed Critical Cellbond Limited
Publication of WO2002057119A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002057119A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B60R19/18—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R2019/007—Means for adjusting or regulating the crash absorption capacity of the vehicle, e.g. when detecting an impending collision
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B60R19/18—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
    • B60R2019/1806—Structural beams therefor, e.g. shock-absorbing
    • B60R2019/1833—Structural beams therefor, e.g. shock-absorbing made of plastic material
    • B60R2019/1846—Structural beams therefor, e.g. shock-absorbing made of plastic material comprising a cellular structure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/34—Protecting non-occupants of a vehicle, e.g. pedestrians

Abstract

A bumper system (10) comprising a bumper (14) having a protuberant profile defining a front surface (16) which is intended to make first contact with an obstacle (e.g. car or pedestrian) during a head-on collision. The bumper system (10) also comprises a strengthening assembly (18) for in use reinforcing the front surface (16) of the bumper (14) to increase bumper deformation resistance. The strengthening assembly (18) is controlled by a controller (20) in dependence upon vehicle speed. If vehicle speed is below a threshold level, the controller (20) activates the strengthening assembly (18) so as to increase the stiffness of the front surface (16) of the bumper (14). If vehicle speed is above the threshold speed the controller (20) deactivates the strengthening assembly (18) to decrease bumper deformation resistance, with the strengthening assembly remaining concealed behind the leading surface of the bumper.

Claims

12CLAIMS
1. A bumper system for a vehicle, comprising: a bumper having a leading surface for making first contact with a pedestrian-like obstacle in a head-on collision; a strengthening assembly for in use reinforcing the leading surface of the bumper to increase bumper deformation resistance; and a controller for controlling the bumper strengthening assembly in dependence upon vehicle speed; wherein the controller activates the strengthening assembly below a threshold speed to increase bumper deformation resistance and de-activates the strengthening assembly above the threshold speed to decrease bumper deformation resistance, with the strengthening assembly remaining concealed behind the leading surface of the bumper.
2. A bumper system according to claim 1, in which the leading surface is formed in such a way as to deform sacrificially and absorb impact energy steadily when not reinforced by the strengthening assembly.
3. A bumper system according to claim 1 or 2, in which the leading surface is part of a structure comprising a honeycomb or press-load core.
4. A bumper system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the strengthening assembly comprises a member moveable from a first position spaced from the leading surface of the bumper to a second position providing support for the leading surface of the bumper 13
profile when bumper deformation resistance is increased. 5. A bumper system according to claim 4 , in which the member comprises a plurality of projections arranged in a spaced-apart array.
5
6. A bumper system according to claim 5, in which each limb supports a discrete part of the leading surface of the bumper when the member is in the second position.
7. A bumper system according to claim 6, in which the discrete parts supported by the plurality of limbs are
10 distributed substantially evenly across the leading surface of the bumper.
8. A bumper system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , in which the strengthening assembly comprises a chamber, adjacent the leading surface of the bumper, for receiving
15 fluid, the chamber having an outlet and a valve for regulating fluid flow from the chamber through the outlet.
9. A bumper system according to claim 8, in which the strengthening assembly further comprises a pump for pumping fluid under pressure into the chamber, with the chamber
20 being configured to hold fluid at a pressure above ambient levels when the strengthening assembly is activated.
10. A bumper system according to claim 8 or 9, in which the chamber comprises a porous energy-absorbing structure, such as a honeycomb or pressload structure.
25 11. A bumper system according to claim 8,9 or 10, in which the controller controls the valve, increasing outlet aperture size in proportion to vehicle speed.
12. A bumper system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 14
in which the strengthening assembly comprises an anisotropic material which is stronger in one direction than another, and means for rotating the strengthening assembly to align one direction or the other with the leading surface as required.
13. A bumper system according to claim 12, in which the anisotropic material is selected from the group consisting of a press-load structure and a honeycomb structure.
PCT/GB2002/000175 2001-01-18 2002-01-16 Bumper system WO2002057119A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0101298.8 2001-01-18
GB0101298A GB0101298D0 (en) 2001-01-18 2001-01-18 Bumper system
GB0125732.8 2001-10-26
GB0125732A GB0125732D0 (en) 2001-10-26 2001-10-26 Bumper system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002057119A1 true WO2002057119A1 (en) 2002-07-25

Family

ID=26245582

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2002/000175 WO2002057119A1 (en) 2001-01-18 2002-01-16 Bumper system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2002057119A1 (en)

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3789948A (en) 1971-01-06 1974-02-05 J Hrebicek Motor speed actuated vehicle bumper
EP0323038A2 (en) * 1987-12-28 1989-07-05 Ladney, Michael, Jr. Improved vehicle bumper
US5106137A (en) * 1991-06-28 1992-04-21 Davidson Textron Inc. Vehicle bumper with combination foam and air bag energy absorber
US5460421A (en) 1994-05-31 1995-10-24 Chrysler Corporation Active impact column
WO1998006553A1 (en) 1996-08-14 1998-02-19 Cellbond Composites Limited Sacrificial energy absorbing structure
US5794975A (en) * 1996-01-25 1998-08-18 Daimler-Benz Ag Motor vehicle impact passenger protection arrangement
WO2000031434A1 (en) 1998-11-21 2000-06-02 Cellbond Limited Energy-absorbing structures
US6089628A (en) * 1998-09-02 2000-07-18 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Stiffener assembly for bumper system of motor vehicles

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3789948A (en) 1971-01-06 1974-02-05 J Hrebicek Motor speed actuated vehicle bumper
EP0323038A2 (en) * 1987-12-28 1989-07-05 Ladney, Michael, Jr. Improved vehicle bumper
US5106137A (en) * 1991-06-28 1992-04-21 Davidson Textron Inc. Vehicle bumper with combination foam and air bag energy absorber
US5460421A (en) 1994-05-31 1995-10-24 Chrysler Corporation Active impact column
US5794975A (en) * 1996-01-25 1998-08-18 Daimler-Benz Ag Motor vehicle impact passenger protection arrangement
WO1998006553A1 (en) 1996-08-14 1998-02-19 Cellbond Composites Limited Sacrificial energy absorbing structure
US6089628A (en) * 1998-09-02 2000-07-18 Ford Global Technologies, Inc. Stiffener assembly for bumper system of motor vehicles
WO2000031434A1 (en) 1998-11-21 2000-06-02 Cellbond Limited Energy-absorbing structures

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