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US 4,059,304 AGranted
Energy absorbing apparatus for vehicles
AssigneeMitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorAkira Yamanaka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An energy absorbing apparatus that absorbs impact energy due to the collision of a vehicle. It draws a swingable member through a die effectively in such a manner as to subject the swingable member to plastic deformation based on the relative movement between the vehicle's body and frame.
Claims16
Impact force absorbing apparatus for vehicles, comprising:
- a die-supporting bracket member disposed to be rigidly mounted on a first portion of a vehicle, the bracket member having means defining a die bearing surface;
- a die element having a die hole and having a curved die body surface which constitutes a surface of rotation of a generatrix, the die element being swingably supported by the die bearing surface and that surface being similar to a portion of the die body surface;
- a guide-supporting bracket member disposed to be rigidly mounted on a second portion of the vehicle, the latter member having means defining a guide bearing surface;
- a guide element having a guide hole and having a curved guide body surface similar to the die bearing surface;
- and
- an elongate, drawable and plastically deformable member having, in axial succession, a large-diameter portion extending from one end of the die hole and a small-diameter portion extending through the die hole and into, through and from the guide hole, the deformable member being fastened to the guide element, remotely from the die element;
- whereby, when an impact force exceeding a given value moves the first portion relative to the second portion of the vehicle, both elements turn on their respective bearing surfaces and subject the deformable member to plastic deformation by drawing the large-diameter portion into the die hole to absorb the impact force.
4 more elements
A vehicle with impact force absorbing apparatus, comprising;
- a first vehicle portion having a die-supporting bracket member rigidly mounted thereon, the bracket member having means defining a die bearing surrace and having a die element which has a die hole and a curved die body surface constituting a surface of rotation of a generatrix, the die element being swingably supported by the die bearing surface and that surface being similar to a portion of the die body surface;
- a second vehicle portion having a guide-supporting bracket member rigidly mounted thereon, the latter member having means defining a guide bearing surface, and having a guide element which has a guide hole and a curved guide body surface similar to the die body surface, the guide element being swingably supported by the guide bearing surface and that surface being similar to the die bearing surface;
- and
- an elongate, drawable and plastically deformable member having in axial succession, a large-diameter portion extending from one end of the die hole and a small-diameter portion extending through the die hole and into, through and from the guide hole, the deformable member being fastened to the guide element, remotely from the die element;
- C
- whereby, when an impact force exceeding a given value moves the first vehicle portion relative to the second vehicle portion, both elements turn on their respective bearing surfaces and subject the deformable member to plastic deformation to absorb the impact force.
3 more elements
A vehicle with impact force absorbing apparatus, comprising;
- first and second portions of a vehicle;
- a die-supporting bracket member rigidly mounted on the first portion of the vehicle, the bracket member having means defining a die bearing surface;
- a die element having a die hole and having a curved die body surface which constitutes a surface of rotation of a generatrix, the die element being swingably supported by the die bearing surface and that surface being similar to a portion of the die body surface;
- a guide-supporting bracket member rigidly mounted on the second portion of the vehicle, the latter member having means defining a guide bearing surface;
- a guide element having a guide hole and having a curved guide body surface similar to the die body surface, the guide element being swingably supported by the guide bearing surface and that surface being similar to the die bearing surface;
- and
- an elongate, drawable and plastically deformable member having, in axial succession, a large-diameter portion extending from one end of the die hole and a small-diameter portion extending through the die hole and into, through and from the guide hole, the deformable member being fastened to the guide element, remotely from the die element.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.