1158results about "Elastic dampers" patented technology

An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat is disclosed, utilizing an adaptive energy absorber or variable profile energy absorber (VPEA) for mitigating occupant injury due to extreme vehicle movement (e.g., during a vehicle shock event), and / or for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operating conditions. Various configurations of dual-goal energy absorption apparatuses using both VPEA and fixed load energy absorbers (FLEAs) that enable both shock mitigation and vibration isolation are disclosed. A semi-active control absorption system, comprising a VPEA and FPEA configured to work in series, is also disclosed.

A miter saw is disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to stop the blade from rotating, to create an impulse against movement of the blade into the cutting zone, or to cause the blade to move away from the cutting zone.

A bumper construction for a vehicle includes a swept tubular bumper beam having a pair of spaced-apart brackets and a pair of towers configured to attach to the brackets and support the bumper beam on a vehicle. The towers each include a platform configured for attachment to one of the brackets, and further include an elongated portion configured for connection to the vehicle. A swivel connection connects the tower to the bumper beam. The connection includes a protruding section on one of the bracket and the tower, and a socket receiving the protruding section on the other of the bracket and the tower. The protruding section and the socket are configured to draw the tower toward an impacting force during a catastrophic impact, such that the tower is more likely to crush with a high-energy absorbing, accordion-like collapse (as opposed to a low-energy absorbing parallelogram-like collapse).

Crash attenuator for protecting a truck or stationary structure from damage resulting from impact of an object including a frame mountable to the structure, a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive an impact from the object, a movable displacement structure interposed between the frame and bumper and having a first position in which the bumper is relatively distant from the frame and a second position in which the bumper is relatively proximate to the frame, and an energy dissipation system coupled to the displacement structure for dissipating impact energy of the object received by the bumper which causes the displacement structure to be moved from the first position toward the second position. The energy dissipation system includes one or more deformable members which deform upon movement of the displacement structure from the first position toward the second position with such deformation causing dissipation of impact energy.

A partitioned impact absorber comprising an array of partitions extending parallel to a given impact direction. The absorber is constituted by at least two mutually-engageable blocks, each block having partitions, the partitions of each block interfitting between the partitions of the other block so as to build up the array of partitions of the absorber.

A beam joining apparatus for joining a flange 2 of a beam 1 to a flange 6 mounted on a pillar 5 includes a splice plate 9 fastened to the flanges 6, 2 of the pillar 5 and the beam 1 and having a central plastic region 11, and an anti-buckling member 13 mounted independently of the splice plate 9, on the splice plate 9, for preventing the buckling of the plastic region 11.

An impact absorbing device for a vehicle may include a bumper beam disposed to extend in a traverse direction of a vehicle, a side member extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and disposed at a lateral side of the vehicle in the traverse direction thereof, a crash box connecting the bumper beam in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to the side member, a fender apron member disposed at outer sides of the side member in the traverse direction of the vehicle, a connecting member connecting the fender apron member and the side member, and a side crash box of which a front tip end may be mounted to an outer portion of the bumper beam positioned at an outer direction of the side member in the traverse direction of the vehicle, and of which a rear tip end may be disposed to be spaced apart from the connecting member at a predetermined interval therebetween.

A crash attenuator for protecting a truck or stationary structure from damage resulting from impact of an object such as a vehicle including a frame mountable to a truck or stationary structure, a bumper having an impact-receiving face adapted to receive an impact from an object in a crash, a movable displacement structure coupled to the frame and interposed between the frame and the bumper and having a first position in which the bumper is relatively distant from the frame and a second position in which the bumper is relatively proximate to the frame, and an energy dissipation system coupled to the displacement structure for dissipating the impact energy of the object into the bumper which causes said displacement structure to be moved from the first position toward the second position.

PCT No. PCT / JP97 / 04596 Sec. 371 Date Nov. 12, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Nov. 12, 1998 PCT Filed Dec. 12, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 26195 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 18, 1998A resin impact absorber comprising a hollow columnar body having a honeycomb section or a hollow columnar body having a cylindrical shape, the hollow columnar body being made of a resin with a flexural modulus of 500 to 5000 kgf / cm2, wherein a reaction-compressibility curve at the time of compression in the lengthwise direction of the columnar body satisfies the following conditions: (a) yield strength> / =100 Tf / m2 and (b) compression energy absorption> / =50 Tf.m / m3. The resin impact absorber of the present invention is small in size and light in weight and exhibits a high impact energy absorption capacity. A site or structure with an impact absorber of the present invention disposed therein can be prevented from remarkable damage or breakage when it receives a high impact force.

A shock-absorbing tilt type steering column is disclosed. An upper clamp includes a first side wall and a second side wall formed respectively with a first hole and a second hole. A coupler is inserted into the first and second holes. The first and second side walls have such a height that lower ends are disposed on a level with or above a lowermost section of a column jacket when the coupler is disposed in uppermost positions of the first and second holes. A distance bracket coupling with the column jacket is so sandwiched between the first and second side walls as to move upward and downward, and engages with the coupler in such a manner as to disengage from the coupler when a load over an upper limit is applied in a direction along the column jacket. An energy absorber is interposed between the distance bracket and the coupler.

The invention according to the present invention relates to an intermediate layer (1) of friction decreasing material placed between two layers (2, 3). The intermediate layer (1) is adapted to create a sliding movement between the layers (2, 3) when a force (K) is applied and a tangential force component (KT) shears the layers. The friction decreasing material comprises fibers (F).

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.

An adaptive crash structure of a vehicle body or chassis of a motor vehicle includes a first metal casting and a second metal casting. A deformation element in the form of a metal casting for absorbing energy interconnects and forms with the first and second metal castings a single piece construction through a casting process. The deformation element is comprised of a plurality of funnel-shaped wedge bodies which are disposed in succession, with neighboring wedge bodies being connected through intervention of a predetermined breaking web. Each wedge body is defined by a diameter, wherein the diameters of the wedge bodies are sized to allow the wedge bodies to move telescopically into one another when a limit stress is reached and the predetermined breaking webs rupture so as to effect a tight intergrip of the telescoping wedge bodies in a self-locking manner.

An impact resistant structure of a helicopter having an energy absorber positioned under a floor of the helicopter and directly connected to a cabin frame of the helicopter. The energy absorber is arranged in accordance with a distribution of a ground reaction force on a general ground at a time of crash situation. The energy absorber also includes a plurality of independent hollow tubes of fiber reinforced composite material integrally formed by bundling only the hollow tubes. The hollow tubes are arranged so as to reduce a number of intersecting wall surfaces of the hollow tubes.

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 is provided that has an upper perimeter, a lower perimeter and an intermediate section 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.

An energy management structure includes an elongated polygonal tube with at least four walls, the tube having a larger first end and a smaller second end, at least two of the walls including a longitudinally-extending channel-shaped tapered rib starting at the smaller second end and extending toward the larger first end. The ribs become shallower near the larger first end. The walls include crush initiators so that the ribs do not provide undesired strength to the tube during a longitudinal impact. A related method includes roll-forming a polygonal tubular shape with at least four walls, at least two of the walls including longitudinally-extending channel-shaped ribs, and reforming the tubular shape into a tapered polygonal shape with a larger end and a smaller end, the ribs becoming shallower as the ribs extend closer to the larger end.

A utility trailer provides a frame defining a forward open bottom work space, a medially rearward deck and a rearwardmost extendable impact attenuator. Hitch structure encloses the forward portion of the work space. The impact attenuator is deployable spacedly rearwardly of the utility trailer in work site mode and provides frictional, mechanical and inertial devices to attenuate a forwardly directed impact. Additional impact attenuators extend between the hitch structure and a vehicle in towing motion. Plural jacks provide work site leveling and positional stability. The utility trailer provides an arch supported hoist to service the workspace and carries signs to provide traffic information and direction.

The present invention relates to an impact absorbing member (14L, 14R) for vehicle which has a hollow cylindrical shape and is disposed in a vehicle between a side member (12L, 12R) and a bumper beam (10), and which is axially crushed along an axis of the impact absorbing member by receiving a compressive force into a bellows shape to absorb an impact energy upon deformation, wherein (a) the impact absorbing member includes a main body (20; 80; 90) of a hollow cylindrical shape, and a pair of attaching plates (54, 56) to which both axial ends of the main body are fixedly welded respectively; (b) the main body has, at least one axial end thereof, a flange (68, 70) protruding at least axially and being integrally formed with the main body; (c) the attaching plate has an adhered supporting portion (76) formed in parallel to the flange to be surface contacted therewith; and (d) the main body is fixedly welded to the attaching plate with the flange being surface contacted with the adhered supporting portion.

A bumper assembly (20) for an automotive vehicle is described. In an example embodiment, the assembly comprises a beam (24) and an injection molded energy absorber (22) secured to the beam. The energy absorber comprises at least one crash can (62). The assembly further comprises a fascia (26) for covering the beam and the energy absorber.

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.

In an embodiment, an energy absorbing device comprises: a metal component comprising greater than or equal to three walls forming a metal component channel; and a plastic component having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of walls defining comb channels therein. The plastic component is located in the metal component channel forming a crash can. The plastic component is inseparable from the metal component without damage to the metal component and / or the plastic component. In one embodiment, a method of making an energy absorbing device can comprise: co-molding the metal component and the plastic component to form a crash can. The energy absorbing device can be used on a vehicle, adjacent to a vehicle component.

An apparatus (40) pretensions seat belt webbing (16) which is extensible about an occupant of a vehicle seat (14). The apparatus (40) includes a movable first member (140), a connector (42) for connecting the first member (140) with the seat belt webbing (16), a movable second member (200), a pyrotechnic device (120) for applying a force to the second member (200) to move the second member, and force limiting coupling device (240). The force limiting coupling device (240) couples the first member (140) and the second member (200). The coupling device (240) moves the first member (140) with the second member (200) until a predetermined force is applied by the connector (42) to the first member (140) resisting movement of the first member with the second member. Thereafter, the coupling device (240) enables the second member to move relative to the first member.

Apparatus and methods for isolating and absorbing energy associated with shock forces that are exerted upon an object, such as the energy attendant to shock forces experienced during and immediately following a mild to severe impact. The apparatus generally having: (a) a housing defining an enclosure; (b) at least one segment of non-liquid material contained within the enclosure; and (c) a piston placed within the enclosure. When the shock or impact force is applied to either the piston or housing, the piston urges the non-liquid material to pass or extrude through an aperture, orifice, channel or slot located either within the piston or the housing. The non-liquid material passes or extrudes through the aperture, orifice, channel or slot in a direction that is generally transverse to the relative movement of the piston within the enclosure. The passage or extrusion of the non-liquid material through the aperture, orifice, channel or slot absorbs or dissipates at least a portion of the energy attendant to the shock or impact force.

Tunable pull-through energy attenuator and decelerator devices is disclosed which provide for variable force-time profiles, deceleration and kinetic energy attenuation of moving objects so as to prevent damage or injury to impacting objects, vehicles or persons. The device employs either consumable inelastic or reusable, viscoelastic deforming elements, such as tubes, rods, plates or strips, which absorb substantial amounts of energy through repeated inelastic or viscoelastic deformation when the deforming element is pulled-through a tunable array of rigid pins having a variety of configurations and settings. The disclosed devices provide for variable force-time profiles which control the cumulative deformation and thereby the amount of energy absorbed and rate of deceleration of impacting objects. The device may be readily adapted and deployed as highway vehicle guardrails, road barriers or crash cushions for frontal and side impacts and as load attenuators for crash-resistant aircraft seats, spacecraft landing pods, crash-resistant aircraft landing gear, aircraft and vehicle passenger restraint harnesses, cargo tie-downs, vehicle bumpers and collapsible vehicle steering columns.

An article comprises a plurality of auxetic structures wherein the auxetic structures are of size greater than about 1 mm. The article also comprises at least one cell boundary that is structurally coupled to the auxetic structures. The cell boundary is configured to resist a deformation of the auxetic structures. An automotive energy absorber comprises a plurality of auxetic structures wherein the auxetic structures are of size greater than about 1 mm.