Collision damper having a damping piston and a deformable tube connected thereto

Claim 1

An impact damper for a motor vehicle having outer tubular means and inner work piston means, said work piston means being disposed within a portion of said outer tubular means and being firmly attached at one end thereof at an extremity portion of said outer tubular means; means for interacting with a relative movement of said work piston means for transferring forces produced during impact with said outer tubular means to said work piston means; fluid means disposed for transferring at least a portion of said forces upon said work piston means to said fluid means during impact for slowing down said motor vehicle during a collision; said work piston means having an interface portion at an end opposite said end attached to said extremity portion of said outer tubular means for interfacing with said fluid means; said fluid means comprising an internal tube means defining a hydraulic liquid containing chamber, said liquid therein making contact with said interfacing portion; said liquid containing chamber having throttle means therein for throttling liquid flow within said chamber; means for retaining said work piston means in a predetermined position relative to said fluid means and said outer tubular means at times when said forces of impact are not present; said means for retaining said work piston means being disposed such that said work piston means is movable along a substantial portion of said work piston's length with respect to said retaining means; and said work piston means including a deformable tube having means for mechanically deforming and shortening when forces transferring from said means for interacting exceed a predetermined range.