Metal panel with cellular structure, related manufacturing process, and use in an impact energy absorber
OwnerPasquale Imperoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Metal cellular panel (8) constituting a semifinished product formed by various corrugated plate half shells (1, 1′) wherein all the contact points between the half shells (1, 1′) are welded or riveted, and preferably the axial height (b) of the cells of the panel (panel thickness) does not exceed the maximum diameter of the cells. The panel production process ensures maximum flexibility, since it is adaptable to various cell shapes, various pitches between the cells, and various cell heights (h) (measured in the plane of the panel).
Claims17
A metal cellular panel composed of a plurality of cells, the metal cellular panel used for making impact resistant products, the metal cellular panel comprising:
- a plurality of half shells of plate strips shaped in a periodic manner, having a repeated profile, and being fixed together in pairs so as to produce the plurality of cells;
- all contact points between the half shells or between single cells thereof, respectively, being fixed to each other, a height of the cells, measured in an axial extension direction corresponding to a thickness of the metal cellular panel, said height being reduced such that the thickness ranges from less than to at most substantially equal to a maximum diameter of the cells, to allow a facilitated deformation in a plane defined by the cells;
- and,
- reinforcement ribs extending towards corners of each single half shell to provide greater compressive strength.
A process for manufacturing a metal cellular panel used for absorbing impact energy comprising the steps of:
- unwinding a metal plate from a coil;
- plastically deforming the metal plate in a bending and/or embossing press placed downstream of a straightening/stretching machine for eliminating an inner tension in the metal plate unwound from the coil;
- cutting the plate into section bar strips constituting a plurality of half shells;
- coupling together at least two bar strips, each strip having a plurality of half shells for forming multiple cells, the cells having a reduced axial height (p) being at most substantially equal to a maximum diameter of the cells;
- fixing all contact points between the half shells and the cells, so as to form a metal cellular panel;
- and,
- at the same time as the deforming step, forming ribs on each single cell, the ribs extending towards corners of each shell for reinforcing the panel so that the metal panel has increased compressive strength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.