US3834686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic impact absorbing bumper
Assignee: United States Department of Health and Human Services
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Filing: 1972-10-24
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1992-10-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a hydraulic energy absorbing bumper system for vehicles that includes a bumper with two variable stroke hydraulic buffers affixed to the ends. Both the stroke and the resistance of the buffers vary in response to the impact received by the bumper, however the resistance presented by either buffer during any given stroke is constant throughout the length of the stroke. Torsion hinges coupling the buffers to the bumper allow the buffers to stroke unevenly during oblique impact yet remain parallel. The bumpers are hydraulically interconnected so that the total energy absorbed during uneven stroking in response to the oblique impact is the same as the total energy absorbed during a normal impact of the same velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 H Moritz
- 👤 R Schwarz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/24; B60R19/26; B60R19/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
Energy absorbing apparatus comprising impact receiving bumper means spaced apart from a structure to be protected having a buffer means; coupling means articularly attaching said buffer to said bumper means; said buffer means mounted on and extending from the structure to be protected to said bumper means for dissipating energy received by said bumper means with a near constant resistance to buffer stroke when impacting a rigid non-movable object and comprising control means responsive to the location and magnitude of force applied to said bumper means for controlling the resistance and stroke length of said buffer; hydraulic chamber means containing fluid defining a trapped volume of fluid and a reservoir of fluid controlled by variable orifice set means; and a slidably mounted piston for forcing said fluid from said trapped volume to said reservoir volume through said controlled variable orifice set means affecting simultaneously load resistance and buffer maximum stroke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
Energy absorbing apparatus comprising impact receiving bumper means spaced apart from a structure to be protected having a buffer means; coupling means articularly attaching said buffer to said bumper means; said buffer means mounted on and extending from the structure to be protected to said bumper means for dissipating energy received by said bumper means with a near constant resistance to buffer stroke when impacting a rigid non-movable object and comprising control means responsive to the location and magnitude of force applied to said bumper means for controlling the resistance and stroke length of said buffer; hydraulic chamber means containing fluid defining a trapped volume of fluid and a reservoir of fluid controlled by variable orifice set means; and a slidably mounted piston for forcing said fluid from said trapped volume to said reservoir volume through said controlled variable orifice set means affecting simultaneously load resistance and buffer maximum stroke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises valve means for increasing the fluid conductance of said passage means and increasing buffer maximum stroke in response to increased fluid pressure in said trapped volume.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said buffer comprises a chamber wall separating said trapped volume from said reservoir volume and defining said passage means and said valve means comprises a valve member movable by said fluid pressure into positions that establish different fluid conductance through said passage means and that simultaneously establish different maximum stroke lengths for the buffer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said chamber wall and said valve member are concentric, contacting cylinders and said passage means comprises mating apertures defined by said cylinders wherein said mating apertures are axially arrayed in sets, each set providing different maximum stroke capability to said buffer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said piston is a cylinder concentric with said chamber wall and said valve member that covers some of said apertures during sliding motion thereby changing the relationship between instantaneous buffer stroking speed and resistive buffer force during said sliding motion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said control means comprises bias means to inhibit the movement of said valve member, said bias means comprises preloaded spring means that prevent motion of said valve member in response to fluid pressures below a preselected minimum pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said bias means comprises an inhibit aperture through which said fluid is forced by motion of said valve member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
Energy absorber apparatus comprising impact receiving elongated bumper means spaced apart from a vehicle to be protected; left and right of the vehicle longitudinal center line variable stroke buffers extending from the structure to said bumper means for dissipating the impact energy hydraulic chamber means containing fluid and defining a trapped volume of fluid and a reservoir volume of fluid coupled by a fluid conductive passage means comprised of a plurality of controlled variable orifice sets; a slidably mounted piston for forcing said fluid from said trapped volume to said reservoir volume through said controlled variable orifice sets affecting simultaneously load resistance and buffer maximum stroke elongated bumper; and interface means for rendering the first control means in said left buffer responsive to the force applied to both said left and right buffers and the second control means in said right buffer responsive to the force applied to both said left and right buffers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
Energy absorber apparatus comprising impact receiving elongated bumper means spaced apart from a vehicle to be protected; left and right of the vehicle longitudinal center line variable stroke buffers extending from the structure to said bumper means for dissipating the impact energy hydraulic chamber means containing fluid and defining a trapped volume of fluid and a reservoir volume of fluid coupled by a fluid conductive passage means comprised of a plurality of controlled variable orifice sets; a slidably mounted piston for forcing said fluid from said trapped volume to said reservoir volume through said controlled variable orifice sets affecting simultaneously load resistance and buffer maximum stroke elongated bumper; and interface means for rendering the first control means in said left buffer responsive to the force applied to both said left and right buffers and the second control means in said right buffer responsive to the force applied to both said left and right buffers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said control means comprises valve means for increasing the fluid conductance of said passage means and increasing buffer maximum stroke in response to increased fluid pressure in said trapped volume.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein each of said buffers comprises a chamber wall separating said trapped volume from said reservoir volume and defining said passage means and said valve means comprises a valve member movable by said fluid pressure into positions that establish different fluid conductance through said passage means and that simultaneously establish different maximum stroke lengths for the buffer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said chamber wall and said valve member are concentric, contacting cylinders and said passage means comprises mating apertures axially and circumferentially arrayed as a helix defined by said cylinders.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said piston is a cylinder concentric with said chamber wall and said valve member that covers some of said apertures during sliding motion thereby changing the relationship between simultaneous buffer stroking speed and resistive buffer force during said sliding motion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said interface means comprises pressure coupling means for moving the valve member in said left buffer in response to the force applied to said right buffer and for moving the valve member in said right buffer in response to the force applied to said left buffer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each of said buffers comprises a shaft extending from said piston to the associated one of said coupling means and each of said coupling means comprising hinge means for facilitating changes in the angle between said elongated bumper means and said shafts and for providing up to a predetermined maximum loading to the impact receiving elongated bumper such that both left and right buffers are forced to stroke for any location of crash impact on the bumper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein both of said hinge means comprise link means for facilitating changes in the spacing between said shafts along said bumper means and wherein both of said coupling means comprise torsion means for transferring moments among said bumper means and both of said shafts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 15 comprising two wing members, one connected to each end of said elongated bumper means by torsion wing hinge means, said torsion wing hinge means providing energy absorbing reactive moments through large angular displacements when impacts occur on either wing member thereby facilitating vehicle ricochet and limiting moment transfer to the buffer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |