Securing method for composite structure post-crash
AssigneeJaguar Land Rover Limited
InventorsJames Smith, Quinten Northfield, Nicholas Hook, Frederic Sicard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy management system for a vehicle which includes a bumper beam and at least one crush can made from composite materials. The crush can includes a plurality of portions, some portions are frangible and at least one is non-frangible. Bumper beam fixing apertures and vehicle fixing apertures pass through the non-frangible portion such that the crush can is connectable to the bumper beam and the vehicle via fixings which pass through at least one non-frangible portion. This ensures that the bumper beam remains attached to the vehicle in the event of a crash which causes the frangible portions to disintegrate.
Claims19
An energy management system comprising a bumper beam and at least one composite crush can, the at least one composite crush can comprising at least one frangible portion, and at least one non-frangible portion, wherein:
- the bumper beam is attached to the at least one non-frangible portion of the at least one composite crush can;
- and
- the at least one non-frangible portion of the at least one composite crush can is provided with a vehicle fixing portion configured to be attached to a vehicle;
- wherein the at least one composite crush can comprises at least one fixing aperture configured to receive a fixing, the at least one fixing aperture extending through the at least one frangible portion and through the at least one non-frangible portion of the at least one composite crush can.
A crush can configured to couple a bumper beam to a supporting structure of a vehicle, the crush can having a first fixing means at a first end, a second fixing means at a second end, a frangible portion and a non-frangible portion, wherein the non-frangible portion extends between and is fixedly coupled to the first fixing means and the second fixing means;
- wherein crush can comprises at least one fixing aperture configured to receive a fixing, the at least one fixing aperture extending through the frangible portion and through the non-frangible portion of the crush can.
A crush can configured to couple a bumper beam to a supporting structure of a vehicle, the crush can having a first fixing means at a first end, a second fixing means at a second end, a frangible portion and a non-frangible portion, the non-frangible portion extending between and being fixedly coupled to the first fixing means and the second fixing means;
- wherein the crush can comprises a channel section having a central section and opposing first and second sidewalls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.