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US 7,404,593 B2Granted
Modular energy absorber of varying topography and method for configuring same
AssigneeOakwood Energy Management, Inc.
InventorsJoel Matthew Cormier, Richard Francois Audi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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 16 is provided that has an upper perimeter 22, a lower perimeter 24 and an intermediate wall 26 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.
Claims20
A modular energy absorber comprising:
- one or more energy absorbing modules, one or more of which having:
- 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 in a central region of the means for coordinating for optional weight reduction or to facilitate attachment, where n is an integer ≧0;
- and
- one or more crushable energy absorbing units associated with the means for coordinating, the means for coordinating positioning 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 by the energy absorbing units, at least some of the units including
- an upper perimeter, a lower perimeter and an intermediate wall extending therebetween with a number (m) of breaches defined in a middle portion of the intermediate wall before impact for tuning where m is an integer ≧1, the wall at least partially collapsing during energy absorption;
- wherein at least some of the energy absorbing units are oriented such that their intermediate walls are inclined to a major incident component of an impacting force, and wherein some of the energy absorbing units cooperate to afford mutual support in decelerating an object that imparts the impacting force.
3 more elements
A modular energy absorber comprising:
- one or more energy absorbing modules, one or more of which having:
- means for coordinating energy absorbing units, of the one or more modules, the means for coordinating having a number (n) of apertures defined in a central region of the means for coordinating for optional weight reduction or to facilitate attachment, where n is an integer ≧1;
- and
- one or more crushable energy absorbing units associated with the means for coordinating, the means for coordinating positioning 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 by the energy absorbing units, at least some of the units including
- an upper perimeter, a lower perimeter and an intermediate wall extending therebetween with a number (m) of breaches defined in a middle portion of the intermediate wall before impact for tuning where m is an integer ≧0, the wall at least partially collapsing during energy absorption;
- wherein at least some of the energy absorbing units are oriented such that their intermediate walls are inclined to a major incident component of an impacting force, and wherein some of the energy absorbing units cooperate to afford mutual support in decelerating an object that imparts the impacting force and (m+n)≧1.
3 more elements
A method for configuring a modular energy absorber comprising the steps of:
- selecting one or more energy absorbing units in an energy absorbing module according to 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 are positioned in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber;
- defining a number (m) of breaches within a middle portion of the wall, (m) being an integer selected from the group consisting of (0, 1, 2, 3, . . . , 1000);
- determining a wall thickness profile;
- providing a number (n) of apertures defined in a central region of the means for coordinating energy absorbing units for optional weight reduction or to facilitate attachment, (n) being an integer selected from the group consisting of (1, 2, 3, . . . , 1000);
- observing the actual energy absorbing characteristics of the modular energy absorbing structure;
- comparing the actual characteristics with those desired;
- and
- reiterating as necessary.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.