Integrated Energy Absorbing Vehicle Crash Structure
AssigneeTesla Motors, Inc.
InventorMichael John Baldwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crash structure is provided that is integrated within a vehicle side rail, the crash structure providing relatively level loading during a collision. The structure includes an actuator member coupled to the bumper, the actuator member passing into, and slidably disposed within, a hollow housing of the crash structure. The hollow housing contains a plurality of deformable members that at least partially surround a first portion of the actuator member. A second portion of the actuator member, which is between the bumper and the first portion of the actuator member, has a larger diameter than that of the first portion of the actuator member and is configured to deform the deformable members during a collision.
Claims13
A bumper structure, comprising:
- a bumper;
- an actuator member coupled to said bumper;
- and
- a crash structure integrated within a vehicle side rail, wherein said vehicle side rail extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction, said crash structure comprising:
- a hollow housing, wherein a section of said actuator member passes into and is slidably disposed within said hollow housing;
- and
- a plurality of deformable members contained within a section of said hollow housing, wherein a first portion of said actuator member is at least partially surrounded by said plurality of deformable members, wherein said first portion of said actuator member is of a first diameter, and wherein a second portion of said actuator member is of a second diameter larger than said first diameter, and wherein said second portion of said actuator member is closer to said bumper than said first portion of said actuator member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.