US3887223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collision energy dissipation apparatus for a passenger motor vehicle
Assignee: Dr Ing HCF Porsche AG
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Filing: 1973-12-20
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Collision energy dissipation apparatus for a passenger vehicle including tube members enclosing a hollow space for accommodating deformable foam material. In one preferred embodiment, the tube members consist of a cylindrical inner tube member filled with crushable foam and an outer square tube member surrounding the inner tube member and connected thereto by welding or gluing along the tangent points of the outer tube member with respect to the inner tube member. The opposite ends of the respective tube members are closed off by U-shaped girder members, one of which forms a portion of the fixed vehicle frame and the other of which is movable in response to collision forces toward said one member with plastic deformation and relative telescoping movement of the two tube members. Another preferred embodiment utilizes a series of conical members telescopically connected to one another to form the guide and support tube supporting the inner tube member.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich Bez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R19/00; B60R19/02; B60R19/24; B60R19/26; B60R19/34; B62; B62D; B62D21/00; B62D21/15; B62D21/152; F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
Collision energy dissipation apparatus for a vehicle of the type having an end part and a relatively rigid vehicle frame structure spaced from the end part; said apparatus comprising: first tube element means disposed between the end part and the frame structure, second tube element means disposed between the end parT and the frame structure in surrounding relationship to said first tube element means, and plastically deformable foam means disposed inside of a hollow space formed inside of said tube element means, wherein said foam means and said first and second tube element means are configured for dissipating collision energy forces acting on said end part in a direction toward said frame structure by plastic deformation of said foam means and by plastic deformation of said tube element means while at least portions of said first and second tube element means move relative to one another.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
Collision energy dissipation apparatus for a vehicle of the type having an end part and a relatively rigid vehicle frame structure spaced from the end part; said apparatus comprising: first tube element means disposed between the end part and the frame structure, second tube element means disposed between the end parT and the frame structure in surrounding relationship to said first tube element means, and plastically deformable foam means disposed inside of a hollow space formed inside of said tube element means, wherein said foam means and said first and second tube element means are configured for dissipating collision energy forces acting on said end part in a direction toward said frame structure by plastic deformation of said foam means and by plastic deformation of said tube element means while at least portions of said first and second tube element means move relative to one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
146 words
Collision energy dissipation apparatus for a vehicle of the type having an end part and a relatively rigid vehicle frame structure spaced from the end part; said apparatus comprising: first tube element means disposed between the end part and the frame structure, second tube element means disposed between the end parT and the frame structure in surrounding relationship to said first tube element means, and plastically deformable foam means disposed inside of a hollow space formed inside of said tube element means, wherein said foam means and said first and second tube element means are configured for dissipating collision energy forces acting on said end part in a direction toward said frame structure by plastic deformation of said foam means and by plastic deformation of said tube element means while at least portions of said first and second tube element means move relative to one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
146 words
Collision energy dissipation apparatus for a vehicle of the type having an end part and a relatively rigid vehicle frame structure spaced from the end part; said apparatus comprising: first tube element means disposed between the end part and the frame structure, second tube element means disposed between the end parT and the frame structure in surrounding relationship to said first tube element means, and plastically deformable foam means disposed inside of a hollow space formed inside of said tube element means, wherein said foam means and said first and second tube element means are configured for dissipating collision energy forces acting on said end part in a direction toward said frame structure by plastic deformation of said foam means and by plastic deformation of said tube element means while at least portions of said first and second tube element means move relative to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a wheeled passenger vehicle which includes a passenger space at the side of said frame structure facing away from said end part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said hollow space is formed inside of said first tube element means, and wherein said second tube element means is connected with outwardly facing exterior surface portions of said first tube element means such that said second tube element means aids in guiding and supporting said first tube element means during plastic deformation of said foam means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first tube element means is a hollow tube of circular cross-sectional configuration, and wherein said second tube element means is a hollow tube of polygonal cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second tube element means is a hollow tube of square cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first and second tube element means contact one another along lines which bisect the respective sides of the second tube element means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second tube element means is a hollow tube of square cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first and second tube element means are connected with one another along said lines which bisect the respective sides of the second tube element means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first and second tube element means are connected with one another along said lines by one of gluing and welding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said first and second tube element means are connected with one another along said lines by interengaging form-locking portions of the respective walls of said tube element means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first and second tube element means are connected with one another along said lines which bisect the respective sides of the second tube element means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first and second tube element means are connected with one another along said lines by one of gluing and welding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first and second tube element means are connected with one another along said lines by interengaging form-locking portions of the respective walls of said tube element means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein closing parts are provided for closing off and connecting the respective opposite end faces of said tube element means such that said first and second tube element means maintain similar lengths with respect to one another during plastic deformation thereof in response to said collision forces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a first of the closing parts forms part of said frame structure, and wherein a second of said closing parts is disposed at the end of the tube element means which faces said end part, said second closing part being movable toward said first closing part in response to said collision forces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second tube element means is formed of a plurality of telescoping conical segments.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the smallest inside diameter of each of said conical segments is oNly slightly larger than the outside diameter of said first tube element means such that said conical segments can dissipate said collision forces by frictional sliding engagement with one another while also serving to guide and support said first tube element means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein closing parts are provided for closing off and connecting the respective opposite end faces of said tube element means such that said first and second tube element means maintain similar lengths with respect to one another during plastic deformation thereof in response to said collision forces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a first of the closing parts forms part of said frame structure, and wherein a second of said closing parts is disposed at the end of the tube element means which faces said end part, said second closing part being movable toward said first closing part in response to said collision forces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein closing parts are provided for closing off and connecting the respective opposite end faces of said tube element means such that said first and second tube element means maintain similar lengths with respect to one another during plastic deformation thereof in response to said collision forces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a first of the closing parts forms part of said frame structure, and wherein a second of said closing parts is disposed at the end of the tube element means which faces said end part, said second closing part being movable toward said first closing part in response to said collision forces.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each of said closing parts has a U-shaped channel member which has the legs of the U facing the other of the closing parts in surrounding relationship to the end portions of said tube element means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said second closing part is connected to said end part by an automatically returnable damper means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said end part is a vehicle bumper, and wherein said damper means is a telescoping shock-absorber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein each of said closing parts extend transversely of the travel direction of the vehicle for accommodating a plurality of sets of first and second tube element means and associated foam means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hollow space is formed inside of said first tube element means, and wherein said second tube element means is connected with outwardly facing exterior surface portions of said first tube element means such that said second tube element means aids in guiding and supporting said first tube element means during plastic deformation of said foam means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said first tube element means is a hollow tube of circular cross-sectional configuration, and wherein said second tube element means is a hollow tube of polygonal cross-sectional configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |