Energy absorbing device

An energy absorbing device comprising:

• an impact beam element including a rigid elongated structure;
• and
• a plurality of energy absorber elements mounted to the impact beam, each energy absorber element comprising a one-piece structure and including a plurality of elongated straight sided hollow hexagonal cells arranged in a first layer and a second layer, the first and second layers interconnected by an intermediate plate so that the intermediate plate closes adjacent ends of the first and second layers with the cells of the first layer offset relative to the cells of the second layer wherein the intermediate plate forms a three sided pyramidal structure projecting into each cell of the first and second layers.

An energy absorbing device comprising:

• an impact beam mounted to a hydraulic energy absorber element, the hydraulic energy absorber element including a cylinder carrying a first plate for connection to a vehicle body rail, and, a piston rod engaging the cylinder and carrying a second plate for connection to an impact beam wherein the plates are movable relative to each other;
• and
• a celled one-piece energy absorber element mounted between and engaging the first and second plates, and having a plurality of elongated hollow hexagonal cells arranged in a pair of layers positioned between the plates of the hydraulic energy absorber element, the layers of the celled energy absorber element interconnected by an intermediate plate that closes adjacent ends of the layers so that impact forces causing a deflection of the impact beam operate against both the hydraulic energy absorber element and the celled energy absorber element which cooperate together to dissipate energy.

An energy absorbing device comprising:

• a one-piece celled block with a first layer and a second layer wherein each of the first and second layers includes a plurality of elongated hollow straight-sided hexagonal cells wherein the first and second layers are interconnected by an intermediate plate that closes a first adjacent end of the first layer and a second adjacent end of the second layer wherein the intermediate plate forms a pyramidal structure having three sides that project into each individual cell of the first and second layers wherein each pyramidal structure forms an apex that is located substantially in a centered position within a respective cell.

An energy absorbing device comprising:

• a one-piece celled block with a first layer and a second layer wherein each of the first and second layers includes a plurality of elongated hollow hexagonal cells wherein the first and second layers are interconnected by an intermediate plate that closes a first adjacent end of the first layer and a second adjacent end of the second layer wherein the intermediate plate forms a pyramidal structure having three sides that project into each individual cell of the first and second layers wherein each pyramidal structure forms an apex that is located substantially in a centered position with a respective cell, and each pyramidal structure includes a jagged hexagonal base formed by an intersection of a corresponding six walls of the respective cell and the three sides of the pyramidal structure.

An energy absorbing device comprising:

• a one-piece celled block with a first layer and a second layer wherein each of the first and second layers includes a plurality of elongated hollow hexagonal cells wherein the first and second layers are interconnected by an intermediate plate that closes a first adjacent end of the first layer and a second adjacent end of the second layer wherein the intermediate plate forms a pyramidal structure having three sides that project into each individual cell of the first and second layers wherein each pyramidal structure forms an apex that is located substantially in a centered position with a respective cell and each pyramidal structure includes a jagged hexagonal base formed by an intersection of a corresponding six walls of the respective cell and the three sides of the pyramidal structure and wherein the six walls of the respective cell intersect at various points and form three apexes on an opposite side of the intermediate plate in an opposite layer.