US 10,207,665 B2 · Bumper design using shear thickening fluids

Abstract

A variable shear control energy absorption system for a vehicle is provided. The system may include a vehicle frame component and a primary deformable impact absorber located adjacent the vehicle frame component. The vehicle frame component may be a bumper reinforcement member. The system may include a plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers located within the primary deformable impact absorber, each secondary deformable impact chamber including a shear thickening fluid that exhibits an increasing or decreasing viscosity responsive to an impact force. At least one elastic relief chamber is provided in fluid communication with the plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers. The elastic relief chamber is configured to temporarily accept the shear thickening fluid from the plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers during low force impacts, and to redirect the shear thickening fluid back to the secondary deformable impact chambers after the low impact force recedes.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A variable shear control energy absorption system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle frame component;
a primary deformable impact absorber located adjacent the vehicle frame component;
a plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers located within the primary deformable impact absorber, each secondary deformable impact chamber comprising a shear thickening fluid that exhibits a decreasing viscosity responsive to an impact force exerting a first range of shear rates, and exhibits an increasing viscosity responsive to an impact force exerting a second range of higher shear rates;
at least one elastic relief chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers, the elastic relief chamber configured to:
temporarily accept the shear thickening fluid from the plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers after the plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers receive an impact force exerting shear rates within the first range, and
redirect the shear thickening fluid back to the secondary deformable impact chambers after the impact force recedes.

3 more elements

A vehicle bumper assembly with a variable shear control energy absorption system, the assembly comprising:

a bumper reinforcement member defining an interior cavity;
a primary deformable impact absorber adjacent to the bumper reinforcement member;
a plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers located within the primary deformable impact absorber, each secondary deformable impact chamber comprising a shear thickening fluid;
at least one elastic relief chamber located within the interior cavity of the bumper reinforcement member and in fluid communication with the plurality of secondary deformable impact chambers;
wherein the shear thickening fluid is fluidic and exhibits a decreasing viscosity responsive to an impact force exerting less than a predetermined shear rate, and the shear thickening fluid stiffens to a solid-like state and exhibits an increasing viscosity responsive to an impact force exerting greater than the predetermined shear rate.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bumper design using shear thickening fluids

Life of this patent

Bumper design using shear thickening fluids

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20