# US 10,480,603 B2 · Shock absorber based on the cutting, inward-folding and crushing of composite tube

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- Number: US 10,480,603 B2
- Document ID: US10480603B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/923,833
- Filed: 2018-03-16
- Published: 2018-07-19
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-02
- Assignees: Shanghai Jiaotong University
- Applicants: Shanghai Jiaotong University
- Inventors: Zhefeng Yu; Yi Fu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480603B2

## CPC

- F16F 7/003: {One-shot shock absorbers (using plastic deformation of members, e.g. using sacrificial, fibre-reinforced composite members F16F7/12)}
- B60R 19/02: Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects ({B60R19/56 takes precedence; initiating brake action by contact of bumper with an external object B60T7/22; for rail vehicles B61F19/04; safety equipment for cycles B62J27/00;} integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02)
- B61F 19/04: Bumpers or like collision guards
- F16F 7/123: {Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members (F16F7/125, F16F7/128 take precedence)}
- F16F 7/124: {characterised by their special construction from fibre-reinforced plastics}
- F16F 7/126: {against the action of shear pins; one member having protuberances, e.g. dimples, ball bearings which cause the other member to deform}
- F16F 7/127: {by a blade element cutting or tearing into a quantity of material; Pultrusion of a filling material}
- F16F 2224/0241: Fibre-reinforced plastics [FRP]
- F16F 2230/0052: Physically guiding or influencing
- F16F 2236/04: Compression
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B61F: RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES (for vehicles in general B60; axles or wheels B60B; vehicle tyres B60C)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to an shock absorber based on the cutting, inward-folding and crushing of composite tube, comprising a destructing cap, a flat-pressing cap, a cutter and a positioning tube. The cutter is positioned in the destructing cap, and has a lower end connected to an inner flange of the destructing cap and an upper end connected to the positioning tube. The positioning tube is positioned in the destructing cap and closely connected to the inner wall of the destructing cap, and has a lower surface in contact with the cutter. The destructing cap, the positioning tube and the composite tube are respectively provided with aligned pin holes, and bound together with a pin. Energy is absorbed through destruction generated due to cutting and inward-folding of the composition tube. Energy can also be absorbed through destruction generated due to the inward-folding of the composite tube, without using the cutter. Compared to existing technology, the device may be used as a structural component in a normal working state. In the colliding and crushing state, the device fully destructs the composite. The present invention has the following advantages: the energy-absorption ratio is high; and the energy absorbing device only bears an axial force in the process that the composite is being destroyed, does not bend or rupture, keeps the structure stable, and avoids spattering of scraps.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A shock absorber having operation based on cutting, inward-folding and crushing of a composite tube, comprising:
an energy absorbing device that comprises a destructing cap, a flat-pressing cap, a cutter and a positioning tube;
wherein the cutter is positioned in the destructing cap and has a lower end connected to an inner flange of the destructing cap and an upper end connected to the positioning tube;
the positioning tube is positioned in the destructing cap, connected to the inner wall of the destructing cap, and has a lower surface in contact with the cutter, where the composite tube is fixed above the positioning tube; and
the destructing cap, the positioning tube and the composite tube are respectively provided with aligned pin holes, and bound together with a pin.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the destructing cap comprises a lug, an inlet radius, a flange and a guide curved face;
the inlet radius is positioned at the upper end of the destructing cap to guide the composite tube to be inserted into the destructing cap;
the lug is positioned at the lower end of the destructing cap to be connected to an external structure;
the flange is positioned in the destructing cap, and is directly connected to the cutter to fix the lower surface of the cutter;
the guide curved face is positioned in the destructing cap, and when the composite tube is cut into strips by the cutter, the strips guided by the guide curved face move towards the inner cavity of the composite tube along the guide curved face.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The shock absorber according to claim 2, wherein the destructing cap is provided with a pin hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The shock absorber according to claim 3, wherein the positioning cap includes an upper chamfer and a pin hole; the pin hole corresponds to the pin hole on the destructing cap; and the composite tube, the positioning tube and the destructing cap are bound together with a pin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the cutter comprises variable cross-section holes, a reinforcing ring and a guide fillet;
the variable cross-section holes are circumferentially arrayed to form an upward cutting edge for cutting the composite tube that is axially driven to move axially, and the gradually reducing cross sections extrude the strips, thereby further absorbing energy;
the reinforcing ring is connected to the circles of all variable cross-section holes for reinforcing the cutting edges;
and the guide fillet enables the strips to more easily pass through the reinforcing ring when the torn composite strips turn upward, so that the destructed composite tube is stored in the inner wall cavity of the tube.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The shock absorber according to claim 1, further comprising a flat-pressing cap, and the flat-pressing cap is connected to the other end of the composite tube.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The shock absorber according to claim 6, wherein the flat-pressing cap has one end with a lug structure which is connected to an external structure; the flat-pressing cap has a groove for flat pressing the end face of the composite tube without destruction of the composite tube; and a side wall of the outer edge is formed with a pin hole for connecting and fixing the composite tube, so that the structure bears a certain pull force.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The shock absorber according to claim 1, wherein the destructing cap is also capable of being provided with no cutter inside, and the inner diameter of the destructing cap is identical to the outer diameter of the composite tube such that the composite tube is in direct contact with the inner wall of the destructing cap.