US 10,612,616 B1Granted

Fixed profile energy attenuator

AssigneeArmorworks Holdings, Inc.

InventorKen-An Lou

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for a shock attenuation device configured to operate between a structure and a mass that is supported by and moveable relative to the structure in a guided manner along a stroking direction. In one embodiment, a notch load portion is configured to provide a resisting force to relative displacement of the supported mass over a first stage stroking distance according to a predefined load profile that includes a spike load peaking at a first threshold load value at the onset of relative displacement, and a substantially constant notch load for a remainder of the first stage stroking distance. A constant load portion arranged serially with the notch load portion is configured to provide a substantially constant resisting force to displacement of the supported mass at a second threshold load value over a second stage stroking distance, wherein the second threshold load value is higher than the first threshold load value.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A shock attenuation device configured to operate between a structure and a mass that is supported by and moveable relative to the structure in a guided manner along a stroking direction, the shock attenuation device comprising:

a notch load portion configured to attenuate energy by providing a resisting force to displacement of the supported mass relative to the structure over a first stage stroking distance according to a predefined load profile, wherein the predefined load profile comprises a spike load having a peak at a first threshold load value corresponding to an onset of a relative displacement, and a substantially constant load for a remainder of the predefined load profile, and wherein the substantially constant load is less than the spike load;
a constant load portion serially arranged with the notch load portion, the constant load portion configured to provide a substantially constant resisting force to displacement of the supported mass relative to the structure at a second threshold load value over a second stage stroking distance, wherein the second threshold load value is higher than the first threshold load value;
and
wherein both the notch load and constant load portions of the shock attenuation device are metal constructions that attenuate energy through permanent plastic deformation of the metal, and the notch load portion comprises an elongated metal plate with a central longitudinal slot extending substantially from an upper end of the plate to a lower end, the upper end opening into an enlarged cavity configured for receiving a mandrel, wherein a width of the mandrel as measured in a plane of the plate is greater than a width of the slot.

1 more element

A shock attenuation device configured to support a vehicle seat mounted for guided movement relative to a vehicle along a stroking direction, the shock attenuation device comprising:

an elongated metal frame configured to attenuate energy during a first stage stroke by providing a resisting force to relative displacement of the seat over a first stage stroking distance according to a predefined load profile, wherein the predefined load profile comprises a spike load having a peak at a first threshold load value corresponding to an onset of relative displacement, followed by a substantially constant notch load for a remainder of the predefined load profile;
and
a deformable member, serially arranged with the elongated metal frame, and configured to provide a substantially constant resisting force during a second stage stroke to relative displacement of the seat at a second threshold load value over a second stage stroking distance, wherein the second threshold load value is higher than the first threshold load value;
and
wherein the elongated metal frame has a longitudinal slot that extends from a first end of the longitudinal slot proximate a first end of the elongated metal frame to a second end of the longitudinal slot proximate a second end of the elongated metal frame, substantially dividing the elongated metal frame into left and right halves, the longitudinal slot configured to receive a mandrel that is wider than the longitudinal slot, and connected to one of the seat and the vehicle at the first end of the longitudinal slot.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/802,236Filed 2 Nov 2017
Granted: 7 Apr 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

F16F 7/123
Using plastic deformation of members: deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members
B60N 2/24
Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles: for particular purposes or particular vehicles
B60N 2/42709
Seats or parts thereof displaced during a crash: involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure
F16F 7/127
Using plastic deformation of members: by a blade element cutting or tearing into a quantity of material; Pultrusion of a filling material