Energy absorbing device
AssigneeThyssenkrupp Presta AG
InventorsStefan Battlogg, Gernot Elsensohn, Helmut Kirmsze, Jürgen Pösel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles has a receptacle in which a magnetorheological fluid is present, which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone. The apparatus further has a device generating a variable magnetic field and which has a core which is wound with a coil. The magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid in order to regulate the flow properties. The coil together with the core is arranged in the flow zone. The axis of the coil lies perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid, and the flow zone has a sheathing formed of a magnetically conductive material.
Claims23
An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles, the energy-absorbing apparatus comprising:
- a flow zone having a sheathing formed of a magnetically conductive material;
- a receptacle containing a magnetorheological fluid being pressed through said flow zone in an event of an impact;
- a device for generating a variable magnetic field having a core being wound around by a coil, the variable magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid for regulating flow properties, said coil together with said core being disposed in said flow zone, said coil having an axis lying perpendicularly to a direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid;
- said flow zone being subdivided into at least two flow routes by said core surrounded by said coil;
- and
- partitions having planar polar faces, each of said flow routes being subdivided by at least one of said partitions defining subdivided flow routes.
A steering column, comprising:
- an energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles, said energy-absorbing apparatus containing:
- a flow zone having a sheathing formed of a magnetically conductive material;
- a receptacle containing a magnetorheological fluid being pressed through said flow zone in an event of an impact;
- a device for generating a variable magnetic field having a core being wound around by a coil, the variable magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid for regulating flow properties, said coil together with said core being disposed in the flow zone, said coil having an axis lying perpendicularly to a direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid;
- said flow zone being subdivided into at least two flow routes by said core surrounded by said coil;
- and
- partitions having planar polar faces, each of said flow routes being subdivided by at least one of said partitions defining subdivided flow routes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.