Lateral energy absorption system
AssigneeThunder Power New Energy Vehicle Development Company Limited
InventorPeter Tutzer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle including a lateral energy absorption system which includes a first side beam that defines a first chamber. The first side beam extends between a front and a rear of the vehicle. A second side beam that defines a second chamber. The second side beam extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle. Further, a first carbon structure within the first chamber, and a second carbon structure within the second chamber, are included. The first and second carbon structures absorb energy from an impact on a side of the vehicle.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising:
- a lateral energy absorption system, comprising:
- a first chamber, wherein a long side of the first chamber extends between a front and a rear of the vehicle and the first chamber is elongated;
- a second chamber, wherein a long side of the second chamber extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle and the second chamber is elongated;
- a first carbon structure within the first chamber, wherein the first carbon structure comprises carbon tubes and carbon flanges, wherein the carbon flanges are configured to connect the carbon tubes, wherein the flanges have varying lengths, and wherein the first carbon structure has a varying thickness in a direction perpendicular to the carbon flanges;
- a second carbon structure within the second chamber, wherein the first and second carbon structures absorb energy from an impact on a side of the vehicle, and wherein the second carbon structure has a varying thickness in a direction perpendicular to the carbon flange;
- and
- crossbeams coupling to and extending from the first chamber in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the flanges;
- and, wherein
- the first and second chambers are separate and distinct from each other and wherein the first chamber is arranged on a top of the second chamber such that the first chamber and second chamber are formed by a partition, and a maximum thickness of the first carbon structure is different from a maximum thickness of the second carbon structure.
A lateral energy absorption system, comprising:
- a first chamber, wherein a long side of the first chamber extends between a front and a rear of the vehicle and the first chamber is elongated;
- a second chamber, wherein a long side of the second chamber extends between the front and the rear of the vehicle and the second chamber is elongated;
- a first carbon structure within the first chamber, wherein the first carbon structure comprises carbon tubes and carbon flanges, wherein the carbon flanges are configured to connect the carbon tubes, wherein the flanges have varying lengths, and wherein the first carbon structure has a varying thickness in a direction perpendicular to the carbon flanges;
- a second carbon structure within the second chamber, wherein the first and second carbon structures absorb energy from an impact on a side of the vehicle, and wherein the second carbon structure has a varying thickness in a direction perpendicular to the carbon flange;
- and
- crossbeams coupling to and extending from the first chamber in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the flanges;
- and, wherein
- the first and second chambers are separate and distinct from each other and wherein the first chamber is arranged on a top of the second chamber such that the first chamber and second chamber are formed by a partition and a maximum thickness of the first carbon structure is different from a maximum thickness of the second carbon structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.