Crash load absorption structures for motor vehicles
AssigneeAston Martin Lagonda Limited
InventorsRoland Snell, Matthew Hobbs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crash load absorption structure for a motor vehicle. The structure includes a compressible load absorbing structure. The compressible load absorbing structure includes a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion and the rear portion are arranged to compress under a crash load along a generally longitudinal direction. The compressible load absorbing structure also includes a structural joint located within the compressible load absorbing structure, the joint is between at least two structural members. A load transfer element is configured to promote breaking of the structural joint during a vehicle crash.
Claims35
A crash load absorption structure for a motor vehicle, the structure comprising
- a compressible load absorbing structure having a front crushable member and a rear crushable member and being arranged to compress under a crash load along a generally longitudinal direction, wherein the front crushable member and the rear crushable member are distinct from one another and are arranged lengthwise one behind the other in a longitudinal crushing direction;
- and
- a load transfer element having a rear end coupled to the rear crushable member and a cantilevered, front end, wherein the front end of the load transfer element is arranged so that the load transfer element initiates transmission of the crash load to the rear crushable member part-way through compression of the front crushable member.
A vehicle including a crash load absorption structure comprising
- a compressible load absorbing structure having a first crushable member and a distinct, second crushable member arranged lengthwise one behind the other and spatially separated from one another along a generally longitudinal direction;
- and
- a load transfer element having a free, first end positioned adjacent the first crushable member and a second end coupled to the second crushable member, wherein the load transfer element is arranged to begin transmitting a crash load to the second crushable member after the first crushable member is partially compressed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.