Energy Managing Bumper System for Vehicles

This invention relates to energy management and more particularly to a new and improved energy managing bumper system for vehicles in which a bumper beam pivots and strokes a pair of energy absorbing units straddling the vehicle center line in response to corner impacts.

Prior to the present invention rigid bumper beams or bumper assemblies for vehicles have been operatively connected to the vehicle frame by a pair of telescopic energy absorbing units to provide for effective dissipation of impact energy when the bumper beam is impacted at low speeds. While the prior bumper systems are satisfactory, they often do not provide effective stroking of both of the energy absorbing units when the bumper beam is impacted at either one of its corners. In the present invention a new and improved energy management bumper system is provided for vehicles which incorporates construction for the effective actuation of both energy absorbing units on impact of either corner of the bumper to thereby provide for improved energy management. In this invention, a pair of conventional type energy absorbing units are employed to couple the bumper beam to the vehicle frame members. Disposed outboard of each of the energy absorber units are special links to couple the bumper beam to the frame and to provide means to permit the bumper beam to turn on a pivot remote from an impacted corner of the bumper beam. With the bumper beam turning in response to a corner impact both energy absorbing units are caused to stroke. With the effective utilization of both energy absorbing units on such corners impacts, impact energy is more effectively dissipated as compared to many prior art systems.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention the side rails of the vehicle frame support a pair of laterally spaced, telescopic energy absorbing units which project outwardly from the vehicle. The ends of these units are pivotally connected to a rigid bumper beam extending laterally across one end of the vehicle. Disposed outboard of the energy absorbing units and also operatively connecting the bumper beam to the side rails of the vehicle frame are a pair of special bracket members adjustably secured to the side rails by pin and slot connections. Pivot means connect the ends of the bracket members to the bumper assembly at points outboard of the adjacent energy absorber unit. On a corner impact on of the bracket members provides a fixed pivot for one end of the bumper beam while the other bracket member yields to allow the turning movement of the bumper. Thus the bumper assembly pivots about a vertical axis remote from the impacted corner of the bumper beam. With the bumper beam pivoting about a remote pivot, both of the energy absorber units will be simultaneously stroked during corner impact so that impact energy will be effectively dissipated.

It is a feature, object and advantage of this invention to provide a new and improved energy absorbing system for vehicles incorporating a pair of energy absorbing units operatively connecting a bumper beam to a vehicle which are simultaneously stroked in response to linear or pivotal displacement of the bumper beam when impacted.

It is a feature, object and advantage of this invention to provide a pair of energy absorbing units for coupling a bumper beam to a vehicle and in which the energy absorber units are forced to simultaneously stroke and absorb energy on corner impact to provide for a reduced beam strength requirement.

Another feature, object and advantage of this invention is to provide a new and improved energy management bumper system for vehicles with special bumper beam support brackets disposed outboard of a pair of energy absorber units coupled to the bumper beam which provides for a reduction in bumper beam motion during corner impact.

A further feature, object and advantage of this invention is to provide a new and improved energy managing bumper system for vehicles which incorporate a new and improved support for a bumper assembly which permits the bumper assembly to pivot with respect to a fixed point outboard of the energy absorbing units connecting the bumper to the vehicle so that both of the energy absorber units will stroke on corner impact.

These and other features, objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle chassis frame and the energy managing bumper system according to this invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top plan views of the energy managing bumper system of FIG. 1 illustrating some modes of operation of the system.

Turning now in particular to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a vehicle chassis frame 10 comprising left and right side rails 12, 12' laterally spaced from each other having forwardly extending horn portions 14, 14' interconnected by a front cross member 16. Bolted or otherwise secured to each horn portion are front and rear L-shaped brackets 18, 18' and 20, 20' that connect identical left and right side energy absorber units 22, 22' to the chassis frame 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 & 3 these units straddle the center line 23 of the vehicle and preferably are telescoping energy absorbers with a gas spring or other suitable motor means to urge them to their normally extended position. One suitable energy absorber construction which may be employed in this invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,310 for Hydropneumatic Energy Absorbing Unit issued Feb. 26, 1974 to Albert B. Mewhinney.

The energy absorber units 22, 22' extend through circular openings in their associated outermost brackets 18, 18' and have outer cylinders 24, 24' secured to the corresponding front and rear brackets. Each energy absorber unit further comprises an inner cylinder 26 or 26' that is mounted for limited telescoping movement within its associated outer cylinder and which projects axially therefrom. Energy absorption or dissipation occurs on the inward telescoping movement of the inner cylinder into the outer cylinder as described in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,310. The forward ends of the cylinders 26, 26' are respectively pivotally secured to associated bracket assemblies 28, 28' by vertically disposed pivot pins 30, 30'. Bracket assemblies 28, 28' are respectively secured to a rigid bumper assembly 32 by bolt means 34, 34'. As shown in FIG. 1 this rigid bumper assembly or beam extends laterally across the front or rear of the vehicle body 35. Disposed outboard of the energy absorber units are a pair or restrainer links 36, 36' that control the turning of the bumper assembly on corner impacts as will be described below.

In the preferred embodiment the links 36, 36' have flat base portions 40, 40' respectively with elongated slots 41, 41' therein that receive corresponding bolts 42, 42' extending therethrough. These bolts are threaded or otherwise fastened to the horn portions of the frame and are slidable in their associated slots. As shown the bolts 42, 42' are normally disposed at the inner end of their associated slots. Links 36, 36' have arms 44, 44' respectively flaring outwardly with respect to their base portions and terminate in vertical sockets 46, 46'. These sockets respectively receive pins 50, 50' of corresponding brackets 52, 52' secured to the bumper assembly 32 outboard of the bracket by bolt means 54, 54'.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate some of the operations of the energy management system of this invention and show how both energy absorber units are simultaneously stroked on impact to either corner of the bumper assembly. On such occurrence, one of the links restrains movement of the bumper assembly by providing a fixed pivot point for one side thereof while the opposite link readily yields to permit such pivotal movement. Assuming for example that the upper or right corner 58 of the bumper assembly 32 is impacted by a force F1 sufficient to displace the bumper assembly relative to the chassis frame 10, the pivot pin 50 will serve as a fulcrum so that the bumper assembly swings clockwise from the full line position toward the phantom line position illustrated in FIG. 2. As the bumper swings clockwise on pivot 50, base portion 40' of link 36' slides along the side rail 12' with the slot 41' providing a track for fixed pin 42'. The swinging movement of the bumper assembly strokes both energy absorber units with the stroke of the energy absorber unit 22 being greater since it is disposed at a greater distance from the pivot point provided by pin 50 than that of energy absorber unit 22. Under such conditions, however, both units will be stroked to provide for optimized dissipation of impact energy. Accordingly, the overall movement of the bumper assembly will be reduced as compared to many prior art systems using similar devices in absorbing the same impact energy. It will be appreciated that this invention provides for optimized use of the energy dissipating capability of the units as compared to many prior art systems. Since the amount of bumper displacement will be reduced, styling freedom is improved as compared to many other systems.

FIG. 3 discloses the operation of the device on a left corner impact. In this illustration the left corner 60 of the bumper assembly 32 is impacted by a force F2 in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIG. 2. This impact force causes the bumper assembly to swing counterclockwise on pivot pin 50' to stroke both energy absorber units. This movement is accompanied by the sliding movement of the base portion 40 of bracket 36 as permitted by the pin 42 and slot 41. The energy absorber unit 22 being closer to the corner impact is stroked a greater amount than the more remote energy absorber unit 22'. As in FIG. 2 it will be appreciated that left corner impact forces are absorbed by operation of both units instead of a single unit as compared to many prior art arrangements. On severe corner impacts the bracket 36 and 36' may be bent or distorted, however with their simplified construction they may be readily repaired of replaced. It will be appreciated that cables or spring devices may well be substituted for the restrainer link described, the important feature being the provision of a fixed pivot point outboard of the energy absorber unit remote from the impact to permit the bumper to turn in an arc to actuate both energy absorber units.

With center impacts both units are effective and stroke equal amounts for energy dissipation as the bumper assembly is moved linearly toward the energy absorber units.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown and described to illustrate the invention other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is set forth in the following claims.