Modular energy absorber and method for configuring same
AssigneeOakwood Energy Management, Inc.
InventorsPhillip Carroll, Joel Cormier, Paul Grenier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A modular energy absorber 10 that is tunable. It comprises one or more energy absorbing modules 12. The energy absorbing modules have means for coordinating energy absorbing units 16 of the one or more modules. The means 14 for coordinating position and support the units in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber.A crushable member is provided that has an upper perimeter, a lower perimeter and an intermediate section extending therebetween. It also includes a number (m) of breaches defined therein before impact. A method for configuring the modular energy absorber is also disclosed.
Claims24
1. A modular energy absorber comprising:
- one or more energy absorbing modules, one or more of which have:
- means for coordinating energy absorbing units of the one or more modules, the means for coordinating having a pre-defined, contoured topography including a number (n) of apertures defined therein;
- and
- one or more energy absorbing units associated with the means for coordinating, the means for coordinating positioning and supporting the one or more units in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber, so that impact forces resulting therefrom are at least partially absorbed, at least some of the units including
- a crushable member, with a number (m) of breaches defined therein before impact and an upper extremity that defines an upper perimeter, a lower extremity that defines a lower perimeter and a wall including an intermediate section extending therebetween, the crushable member at least partially collapsing during absorption to a crushed configuration.
20. (Withdrawn) A method for configuring a modular energy absorber comprising the steps of:
- selecting one or more energy absorbing modules according to given spatial constraints and desired energy absorbing criteria;
- providing a means for coordinating energy absorbing units, the means having a pre-defined contoured topography;
- locating one or more energy absorbing units in association with the means for coordinating energy absorbing units so that the one or more energy absorbing units include one or more crushable members that are positioned in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber;
- providing a wall within some of the one or more crushable members of the energy absorbing units so that the wall provides an upper perimeter, a lower perimeter, and an intermediate section extending therebetween;
- defining a number (m) of breaches within the wall, (m) being an integer selected from the group consisting of (0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , 100);
- determining a wall thickness profile;
- providing a number (n) of apertures defined within the means for coordinating energy absorbing units, (n) being an integer selected from the group consisting of (0, 1,2,3, . . . , 100);
- quantifying the resulting modular energy absorbing characteristics of the absorbing structure;
- comparing the characteristics with those desired;
- and
- reiterating as necessary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.