Impact Absorber Having Sensing Amplifier

Abstract

Please substitute the new Abstract submitted herewith for the original Abstract: An impact absorber is provided for a bumper arrangement on a motor vehicle. The impact absorber can be fastened to a cross member of the motor vehicle and is designed to at least partially absorb the energy input acting on the impact absorber in the event of a collision and to provide the energy input to a force transfer portion, which can be operatively connected to a pressure sensor device, such that the collision can be detected by the pressure sensor device. The impact absorber has an absorption portion and a force transmission portion. The force transmission portion is designed to at least partially transfer input energy, acting in the event of the collision, to the force transfer portion, bypassing the absorption portion in some regions. The force transmission portion is designed such that it collapses in the event of input energy which is so high that the collision can be detected by the pressure sensor device without bypassing the absorption portion in some regions.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An impact absorber for a bumper assembly, having a crossbeam, of a motor vehicle, comprising: a force transmission portion; an absorption portion, and a force transfer portion, wherein the impact absorber is fastenable to the crossbeam of the motor vehicle and is provided to at least partially absorb an input of energy acting on the impact absorber during a collision and to provide the input energy to the force transmission portion, which force transmission portion is operatively connectable to a pressure sensor installation, so that the collision is detectable by the pressure sensor installation, wherein the force transfer portion is configured to transmit the input of energy acting on the impact absorber during the collision to the force transmission portion while at least partially circumventing regions of the absorption portion, and wherein the force transfer portion is configured such that the force transfer portion collapses in an event of an input of energy that is so high that the detection of the collision via the pressure sensor installation is possible without the circumvention of regions of the absorption portion.

12. The impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the force transfer portion collapses when the input of energy exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value being 633 J.

13. The impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the force transfer portion is at least in part received in the absorption portion and/or is configured to be stiffer than the absorption portion.

14. The impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the absorption portion and the force transmission portion are integrally configured.

15. The impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the absorption portion and/or the force transmission portion are made of an expanded plastic foam material, and/or the force transfer portion is made of a plastic material.

16. The impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the absorption portion and the force transmission portion form a U-shape when viewed in a cross section in a direction of travel, of which an open end is oriented in the direction of travel, and the force transfer portion is received in the U-shape, two mutually opposite legs of the U-shape are formed by the absorption portion, a connection portion which connects the mutually opposite legs, is formed by the force transmission portion, and the force transmission portion has a recess for receiving a pressure hose of the pressure sensor installation.

17. The impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the force transfer portion is formed by a plurality of force transfer segments that are disposed next to one another in the direction of main extent of the impact absorber.

18. The impact absorber according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the force transfer segments has a force-absorbing face for absorbing the force acting during the collision, and a force transmission face which faces the force transmission portion, the force-absorbing face and the force transmission face being operatively connected by a force transfer region.

19. A bumper assembly, comprising: a crossbeam; a pressure installation; and an impact absorber according to claim 11, wherein the impact absorber is disposed on the crossbeam.

20. A vehicle comprising: a bumper assembly according to claim 19; and an active front flap which is coupled to the pressure sensor installation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an impact absorber;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the impact absorber from FIG. 1; and

[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic lateral view of a front portion of a vehicle having the impact absorber from FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0049] The same reference signs are used for identical items in the description hereunder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a partially sectional, schematic lateral view of a front region of a motor vehicle 16. The motor vehicle 16 comprises a bumper assembly 22 which has a bumper trim 15, a crossbeam 14, and an impact absorber 1 provided on the crossbeam 14.

[0051] The crossbeam 14 and the impact absorber 1 extend in each case in the transverse direction of the vehicle 16, i.e. so as to be in particular substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel F, wherein the impact absorber 1 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 16 is disposed between the bumper trim 15 and the crossbeam 14. In the event of an impact, the energy acting on the bumper trim 15 can be dissipated by the impact absorber 1 and transferred to a pedestrian protection sensor assembly.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the impact absorber 1; FIG. 2 showing a cross-sectional view of the impact absorber 1.

[0053] The impact absorber 1, conjointly with the crossbeam 14 shown in FIG. 3, can form a bumper assembly 22, and has a force transfer portion 2 and an absorption portion 4. The impact absorber 1 on its rear side moreover has fastening installations 19 for fastening the impact absorber 1 to the crossbeam 14.

[0054] It is to be noted here that in the view shown in FIG. 1, an upper region of the absorption portion 3, above the force transfer portion 2, is not illustrated in order to show more clearly the construction of the force transfer portion 2.

[0055] The impact absorber 1 is provided to at least partially absorb the input of energy acting on the impact absorber 1 during a collision, the input of energy acting substantially counter to the direction of travel F. To this end, the impact absorber 1 has the absorption portion 3 and the force transfer portion 2.

[0056] Moreover, the impact absorber 1 is provided to provide the input of energy acting on the impact absorber 1 during a collision to the force transmission portion 13, which is operatively connected to a pressure hose 7, so that the collision is detectable by a pressure sensor installation which has the pressure hose 7.

[0057] The more specific construction of the impact absorber 1, and in particular of the absorption portion 3, is illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0058] When viewed in the cross section, the absorption portion 3 and a force transmission portion 13 form a U-shape. The open end of the U-shape is oriented in the direction of travel F, the latter here running parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction. Two mutually opposite legs 4, 5 of the U-shape are formed by the absorption portion 3. A connection portion 6, which connects the mutually opposite legs 4, 5, is formed by the force transmission portion 13. The force transfer portion 2 is in part received in the U-shape, wherein a front portion 20 of the force transfer portion 2 protrudes from the open end of the U-shape.

[0059] In the event of an impact on the bumper assembly 22, owing to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, a force or energy is initially applied to the front portion 20 of the force transfer portion 2 that protrudes from the absorption portion 3, as a result of which this front portion 20 is urged in the direction of the force transmission portion 13. A deformation of the force transfer portion 2 may also arise in the process. The force transmission face 18 is pushed onto the force transmission portion 13 in the process. The force transmission portion 13 transmits the force received by the force transmission face 18 to the pressure hose 7. The pressure variation generated in the pressure hose 7 can be detected by sensors (not illustrated), so that the impact is reliably detected.

[0060] More specifically, the force transmission portion 13 delimits a receptacle space, defined between the legs 4, 5, for the force transmission portion 2, thus forming a connection portion 6 between the upper leg 4 and the lower leg 5, on the one hand. On the other hand, the force transmission portion 13, on a side facing away from the receptacle space, or on a side facing the crossbeam 14, respectively, has a recess in the form of an elongate groove 8. A pressure sensor installation in the form of a pressure hose 7, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is disposed in the groove 8. In the embodiment, the force transmission portion 13 is thus disposed between the force transfer portion 2 and the pressure hose 7, so that a transmission of force from the force transfer portion 2 to the pressure hose 7 can take place by way of the force transmission portion 13. The force transmission portion 13 is designed to be deformable in order to enable a transmission of force to the pressure hose 7.

[0061] In this design embodiment, a force flux to the pressure hose 7 is thus possible while partially circumventing the absorption portion 3, as a result of which a reliable action on the pressure hose 7 and more reliable sensing or detecting of an impact is possible.

[0062] Moreover, the force transfer portion 2 here is designed or configured in such a manner that the force transfer portion 2 collapses in the event of an input of energy of such a magnitude that the detection of the collision is possible by means of the pressure sensor installation which has the pressure hose 7, without circumventing regions of the absorption portion 3.

[0063] This is presently implemented in that the force transfer portion 2 collapses, herein breaks, when the input of energy acting counter to the direction of travel F on the force transfer portion 2 exceeds a threshold value, or critical value, of 633 J, in particular 465 J, 405 J, or 323 J.

[0064] As a result of the force transfer portion 2 collapsing, herein breaking, at such a high input of energy that exceeds the threshold value, the force transfer portion 2 releases a deformation path in the vehicle longitudinal direction. However, the collision can continue to be sensed by means of the pressure hose 7, by way of a transmission of force via the force transmission portion 13.

[0065] The force transfer portion 2 is configured in the manner of a mesh and extends along, and in part within, the absorption portion 3. In the state assembled on the vehicle 16, the directions of main extent of the force transfer portion 2 and of the absorption portion 3 are oriented in the transverse direction of the vehicle 16.

[0066] The absorption portion 3 and the force transfer portion 2 are elongate components, each of which being integrally configured. Alternatively, the absorption portion 3 and/or the force transfer portion 2 can be configured in multiple parts. The absorption portion 3 is formed from an expanded plastic foam material which has positive absorption properties. In particular, the expanded plastic foam material is deformable in order to absorb impact energy. However, it is contemplated for other materials to be used for the absorption portion 3. The force transfer portion 2 is produced from a plastic material which has a higher stiffness than the expanded plastic foam material of the absorption portion 3, and in the embodiment shown is produced by injection-molding.

[0067] According to the embodiment, the force transfer portion 2 has a plurality of force transfer segments 11. The force transfer segments 11 extend transversely to the main direction of extent of the force transfer portion 2, or, in the state fastened to the vehicle 16, extend in the longitudinal direction, or the direction of travel F of the vehicle 16, respectively.

[0068] These individual force transfer segments 11 collapse when the input of energy onto the individual force transfer segment 11 exceeds the threshold value described above.

[0069] In the embodiment shown, the force transfer segments 11 are configured in an I-shape. According to the embodiment, the force transfer segments 11 have two flanges 9, 17. The flanges 9, 17 are connected by way of a web 10.

[0070] In the embodiment shown, the web 10 extends transversely to the direction of main extent of the force transfer portion 2, or in the longitudinal direction or direction of travel F of the vehicle, respectively, when the force transfer portion 2 is assembled on the vehicle 16. However, the web 10 may also be configured differently as long as a sufficient transfer of force between the flanges 9, 17 is possible. In particular, the web 10 may be configured to be curved or bent. Alternatively, the web 10 can extend so as to be inclined in relation to the direction of main extent and inclined in relation to the longitudinal direction, or the direction of travel F of the vehicle 16, respectively. One or a plurality of webs 10 of individual force transfer segments 11 can extend so as to be mutually parallel. Two force transfer segments 11 can be disposed in such a manner that the webs 10 thereof intersect. Alternatively, the flanges 9, 17 can also be connected by way of a plurality of webs, in particular while forming a shape deviating from the I-shaped design embodiment mentioned above. The flanges 9, 17 can also be connected by a honeycomb-type structure, wherein the webs that connect the flanges 9, 17 at least in part form the honeycomb structure. The flanges 9, 17 can be separate elements, or can be an integral component part of the web. For example, instead of being configured to be I-shaped, a force transfer segment can also be configured to be honeycomb-shaped, for example hexagonal. A flat side of such a honeycomb structure here can form or support a flange 9, 17. The honeycomb structure can be plastically or elastically deformed, i.e. collapse, when the threshold value described above is exceeded. Here too, a deformation path can be released as a result of the deformation of the honeycomb structure.

[0071] The flanges 9, 17 in the embodiment shown are disposed such that these flanges 9, 17 extend transversely to the direction of travel F when the impact absorber 1 is fastened to the vehicle 16. In particular, the flanges can extend so as to correspond to the desired external contour of a bumper, or follow the latter, respectively.

[0072] One of the flanges of the flanges 9, 17 of the force transmission segments 11 forms a front flange 17, and one flange forms a rear flange 9. The rear flange 9 is provided on a rear end portion of the web 10 and faces the force transmission portion 13. The rear flange 9 has a force transmission face 18 which faces the force transmission portion 13. Alternatively, the rear flange 9 per se can form the force transmission portion. In this case, the force transmission portion 13 in the region of the flange 9 can be omitted so that the force transmission face 18 can establish direct contact with the pressure hose 7.

[0073] The front flange 17 can be provided on a front end portion of the web 10. The front flange 17 is disposed in the region of the open end of the U-shape of the absorption portion 3. The front flange 17 has a force-absorbing face 21. The force-absorbing face 21 is oriented in the direction of travel F. Adjacent force transmission segments 11 are connected to one another by means of a connection web 12. In the embodiment shown, the webs 10 and the connection webs 12 are integrally formed. The connection webs 12 keep the force transmission segments 11 at a predetermined mutual spacing.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 1 Impact absorber [0075] 2 Force transfer portion [0076] 3 Absorption portion [0077] 4 Upper leg [0078] 5 Lower leg [0079] 6 Connection portion [0080] 7 Pressure sensor installation/pressure hose [0081] 8 Recess/groove [0082] 9 Rear flange [0083] Force transfer region/web [0084] 11 Force transfer segment [0085] 12 Connection web [0086] 13 Force transmission portion [0087] 14 Crossbeam [0088] 15 Bumper trim [0089] 16 Motor vehicle [0090] 17 Front flange [0091] 18 Force transmission face [0092] 19 Fastening installation [0093] 20 Front portion [0094] 21 Force-absorbing face [0095] 22 Bumper assembly [0096] F Direction of travel