Towing apparatus with energy absorber
AssigneeShape Corp.
InventorRobert J. Dornbos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A towing apparatus mounted to a frame of a vehicle includes a receiver and an energy management device. The receiver is operably connected to the energy management device and the energy management device is operably connected to the vehicle frame. When the receiver is moved in a first tow direction, the energy management device is isolated and the tow force is coupled directly to the frame. However, when the energy management device is moved in a second, generally opposite direction, the energy management device reduces some or all of the force applied to the receiver from being transferred to the vehicle frame.
Claims23
A towing apparatus adapted for mounting to a frame of an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a receiver adapted to receive a towing force;
- and
- an energy management device operably connected to said receiver and adapted for connection to a vehicle frame so that when the receiver is subjected to a first force in a first tow direction, the first tow force is directly transferred to the vehicle frame, and so that, when the receiver is subjected to a second force of predetermined magnitude in a second direction, said energy management device yields and reduces the second force to a reduced third force, which is in turn transferred to the vehicle frame, wherein said energy management device includes a compressible crush tower.
A towing apparatus adapted for mounting to a frame of a vehicle, comprising:
- a receiver;
- an energy damping device having a first end operably connected to said receiver and adapted for connection to a vehicle frame so that when the receiver is subjected to a first force of predetermined magnitude in a first direction, said energy damping device does not reduce the magnitude of the first force which is transmitted to the vehicle frame, and when the receiver is subjected to a second force in a second direction, said energy damping device does not reduce the second force transmitted to the vehicle frame, wherein said energy management device includes a compressible crush tower.
An apparatus comprising:
- a towing hook;
- a vehicle mount;
- and
- a crushable, collapsible energy management tube connecting the towing hook and the vehicle mount and that is constructed of a material adapted to consistently and predictably absorb energy via a telescoping collapse upon receiving an impact, wherein said energy management tube comprises a compressible crush tower configured to provide a first force of resistance when impacted in a first longitudinal direction defined by the tube and configured to provide a different second force of resistance when impacted in a second direction opposite the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.