Energy-absorbing device with a reduced initial peak load
View Patent ↗An energy-absorbing device ( 34 ) with a reduced initial peak load ( 50 ) for enhancing the management of crash energy in an end structure ( 30 ′) for a vehicle ( 30 ). The energy-absorbing device ( 34 ) has a deformable construction adapted for progressively folding along a longitudinal axis ( 60 ) under an oscillating crash load ( 34 ′). The oscillating crash load ( 34 ′) is comprised of a mean load ( 48 ) and a peak load ( 50 ) that is in close proximity to the mean load ( 48 ).
1. An energy-absorbing device for an end structure of a vehicle, comprising:
an outer tube attached to a vehicle frame; and
an inner tube within said outer tube and attached to said vehicle frame;
said outer tube and said inner tube having a deformable construction;
said outer tube adapted for progressively folding along a longitudinal axis under a first oscillating sub-load;
said inner tube adapted for progressively folding along said longitudinal axis under a second oscillating sub-load;
each of said first oscillating sub-load and said second oscillating sub-load having a peak sub-load and a cyclic minimum sub-load with said outer tube receiving said cyclic minimum sub-load when said inner tube receives said peak sub-load;
said first oscillating sub-load and said second oscillating sub-load comprising a total oscillating load absorbing crash energy.
2. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said outer tube and said inner tube is defined by a substantially thin wall.
3. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 1 wherein said inner tube has a first end portion and said outer tube has a second end portion offset from said first end portion of said inner tube along said longitudinal axis.
4. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 1 wherein said first oscillating sub-load is offset from said second oscillating sub-load by one-quarter of a wavelength.
5. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said outer tube and said inner tube is comprised of a substantially lightweight metal.
6. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 5 wherein said substantially lightweight material is comprised of aluminum.
7. An end structure for a vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame;
said energy-absorbing device recited in claim 1 and attached to said vehicle frame.
8. The end structure recited in claim 7 wherein said vehicle frame includes at least two sub-frames with said at least two deformable members respectfully mounted thereon for providing at least two load paths.
9. An energy-absorbing device for an end structure of a vehicle, comprising:
an outer tube attached to a vehicle frame; and
an inner tube within said outer tube and attached to said vehicle frame;
said outer tube and said inner tube having a deformable construction;
said outer tube adapted for progressively folding along a longitudinal axis under a first oscillating sub-load;
said inner tube adapted for progressively folding along said longitudinal axis under a second oscillating sub-load;
each of said first oscillating sub-load and said second oscillating sub-load having a peak sub-load and a cyclic minimum sub-load with said outer tube receiving said cyclic minimum sub-load when said inner tube receives said peak sub-load;
said first oscillating sub-load and said second oscillating sub-load comprising a total oscillating crash load for absorbing crash energy;
said inner tube adjacent to said outer tube and reinforcing said outer tube when said outer tube progressively folds.
10. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 9 wherein each of said first oscillating sub-load and said second oscillating sub-load has a cyclic maximum sub-load with said outer tube receiving said cyclic maximum sub-load when said inner tube receives said cyclic minimum sub-load.
11. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 9 wherein said inner tube has a first end portion and said outer tube has a second end portion offset from said first end portion of said inner tube along said longitudinal axis.
12. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 9 wherein said first oscillating sub-load is offset from said second oscillating sub-load by one-quarter of a wavelength.
13. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 9 wherein at least one of said outer tube and said inner tube is defined by a substantially thin wall.
14. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 9 wherein at least one of said outer tube and said inner tube is comprised of a substantially lightweight metal.
15. The energy-absorbing device recited in claim 14 wherein said substantially lightweight material is comprised of aluminum.