3401results about "Bumpers" patented technology

Power management within a vehicle is achieved by maintaining individual and/or power island power saving options for each of a plurality of devices coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle. Upon determining that power savings should be enabled for a device, at least one of the power saving options for the device is selected and applied.

An integrated assembly includes a bumper energy absorber section with crush lobes for abutting a bumper beam, an upper air shutter section with subassembled shutter members movable between closed and open positions, a first actuator mechanism for moving the shutter members between positions, an upper fascia support section with upper leg crush lobe therein above the upper air shutter section, a lower air shutter section with subassembled lower shutter members movable between closed and open positions, a second actuator mechanism for moving the lower shutter members between the positions; and a lower leg energy absorber section attached below the lower air shutter section and configured to abut (or replace) a face of a secondary pedestrian impact bar. The shutter members may be molded to a shutter frame using over molding technology rather than separately, manually assembled.

A vehicle control module includes a vehicle device and a vehicle network interface. The vehicle device is operable to perform a vehicle function. The vehicle network interface facilitates communication regarding the vehicle function between the vehicle device and a vehicle network fabric in accordance with a global vehicle network communication protocol.

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).

A power distribution system within a vehicle operates to provide power over Ethernet to a plurality of network node modules coupled to a vehicular communication network of the vehicle.

A grill shutter unit comprises a shutter unit provided in back of a traveling-air introductory port formed at a front end of a vehicle body and including shutter members, and a traveling-air guide member including a guide frame portion provided at an outer peripheral edge portion of the shutter unit and a seal portion provided to extend forward continuously from a front end of the guide frame portion and be made from soft synthetic resin having more flexibility than the frame portion, wherein the grill shutter unit is configured such that when the shutter members are closed, a seal portion of the traveling-air guide member is pressed against an outer peripheral wall face of the traveling-air introductory port by pressure of traveling air shut off by the shutter members closed.

An automotive vehicle support structure assembly includes a bumper extending across the front of the vehicle, a longitudinal side member extending rearwardly from the bumper, and a link member extending between the end of the bumper and the side member. The link member is mounted to the side member and bumper via a pair of hinged connections. In the event of a small overlap collision, the link member is configured to contact a colliding barrier and pivot rearwardly in response while maintaining contact with the barrier to transfer the force of the collision inwardly toward the side member.

The present invention relates to a recyclable thermoplastic composite sheet which is excellent in mechanical properties, such as bending strength, bending elastic modulus, impact strength and linear thermal expansion coefficient, and also in secondary processability, and suitable for molding into various structures, such as panels for use as building materials, and automobile parts, as well as a manufacturing method thereof and an article manufactured therefrom. The sheet comprises: a center layer of a thermoplastic composite material comprising 40% by weight of reinforcing fibers with an average length of 1-30 mm and 60% by weight of a thermoplastic resin containing an organic filler; and a continuous reinforcing fiber-impregnated prepreg layer laminated on at least one surface of the upper surface and lower surface of the center layer, the prepreg layer comprising 5-65% by weight of reinforcing fibers and 35-95% by weight of a thermoplastic resin containing a small amount of inorganic filler.

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.

A vehicle black box includes a memory device for receiving and storing real-time data associated with the vehicle during a recording time window. Upon determining that an accident has occurred, circuitry freezes the recording time window and stores the real-time data within the frozen recording time window within a one-time programmable (OTP) memory.

A suspension system for a vehicle (50c) having a body (52c) and a plurality of wheel support assemblies (56c, 58c) includes a tie structure (60c) interposed between the body and the wheel support assemblies. A first interconnection system (68c) interconnects the tie structure to the wheel support assemblies, and the second interconnection system (302) interconnects the tie structure and the body. The second interconnection system includes a plurality of link structures (304, 320) pivotally connected at one end to the tie structure, and pivotally connected at the opposite end to the body. Such link structures are oriented relative to the tie structure to extend towards a common point along a longitudinal axis (33B) of the tie structure.

A structural reinforcement for a hollow member comprising a rigid reinforcing member having a shape that substantially conforms to the cross section of the section of the hollow member to be reinforced with an expandable adhesive material over at least a portion of the surface of the rigid reinforcing member sufficient to bond the reinforcing member to at least two nonparallel internal surfaces of the structure.

The invention discloses a high-polarity polypropylene material and the application thereof as inner and outer decorative parts of an automobile. The material is prepared from the following components in percentage by weight: 50-89 polypropylene, 5-25 flexibilizer, 0-30 mineral filler, 5-15 polar additives, 0.2-3 age resister and 0-0.5 colorant, and the components are premixed and then are extruded out by a double-screw extruder to prepare particles, thereby preparing the high-polarity modified polypropylene material. The surface tension of the material is as high as 37 dyne/cm<2>, dope-binding strength is high, an automobile bumper formed by the material can be coated without being pretreated, and when being used for preparing the inner decorative part for the automobile, the material has good property of binding other materials.

A vehicle front portion structure includes a front side member, a bumper portion, a bumper guard and an up-and-down extension portion. The front side member extends in a vehicle front-and-rear direction. The bumper portion is provided at the vehicle front side of the front side member and extends in the vehicle width direction. The bumper guard is formed in a pipe shape, and is provided at the vehicle upper side of the bumper portion. The up-and-down extension portion extends in a vehicle up-and-down direction. A lower portion of the up-and-down extension portion is joined to the bumper portion and is attached to the front side member via a crush box. An upper portion of the up-and-down extension portion protrudes upward of the bumper portion and is connected to the bumper guard.

A method includes steps of providing round tubing, providing a compression box and wedging dies, and reshaping the round tubing into a single or double-tapered rectangular tube including using the compression box to control an outside shape, while using the wedging dies to force material of the tubing outwardly toward the compression box. This arrangement minimizes material thinning. A tubular crushable structure is produced that is designed for longitudinal impact-energy-absorbing capability. The crushable structure includes a single or double-tapered rectangular tube made of material having a tensile strength of at least 40 KSI. In a narrower form the tensile strength is at least 80 KSI, though it can be 100 KSI or higher.

An ultrasonic wave generating device includes a substrate, a heat insulation layer on the substrate, a membrane heating portion on the heat insulation layer, and a membrane oscillator on the heating portion. The heating portion is electrically driven with a predetermined period, and produces heat for thermally displacing a surface of the oscillator. The oscillator receives a temperature variation with the predetermined period from the heating portion, and oscillates so as to generate ultrasonic waves.

A vehicle end structure mainly includes a vehicle bumper fascia and a grille assembly. The vehicle bumper fascia includes a sill portion and a receiving member extending from the sill portion. The receiving member defines a channel with an opening extending in a forward vehicle facing direction. The grille assembly includes inner grille and outer grille members that are coupled together. The inner grille member has a support member formed at a periphery of the inner grille member. The support member is disposed in the channel of the receiving member to limit movement of the inner grille member in a direction normal to the forward vehicle facing direction. The outer grille member is disposed on a forward vehicle facing side of the inner grille member to conceal the support member from view in the first direction.

A “super fuel efficient”, safe, low-cost and yet high performance 4-wheeled vehicle is configured with motorcycle wheels and tires having continuous radius tires and of outside diameter (20-26 inches). A special configuration of the invention permits a 4-wheeled vehicle to naturally camber while engaging a corner, or while maneuvering on a slope. Integration of a “short-cycling”, low storage mass hybrid drivetrain into the vehicle, and further, an exhaust heat energy recovery system, secures the efficiency opportunity.

An all terrain vehicle (ATV) includes a plurality of wheels and a fender structure positioned over the wheels having a support portion designed as and defining a load-bearing surface. The fender structure may include a plurality of raised support portions that increase rigidity and load capacity. Additionally, it is not necessary to support either the fender structure or the support portion using the bumper of the ATV. The fender structure may be formed with plastic material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or fiberglass-charged polyethylene, and may be manufactured using a blow-molding technique or an injection molding technique. The ATV may also include mud guards and a floor board that extends between the mud guards. The mud guards and the floor board may be formed as an integral or one piece unit with the fender structure. The mud guards can be injection molded or blow-molded while the fender structure can be blow-molded.

An energy management system and method for absorbing and directing kinetic energy during an impact event of a motor vehicle includes a vehicle subframe 30 attached to a vehicle chassis 20, with a pair of deformable attachment brackets 40 and 42 interposed therebetween. The deformable attachment brackets 40 and 42 are preferably fixedly attached to the subframe 30 and removably attached to the vehicle chassis 20 via fasteners 50 extending through a fastener hole 52 in each of the attachment brackets 40 and 42. A relief opening 54 is proximate to and aligned with the fastener hole 52, the relief opening 54 being larger than the fastener 50. A deformable barrier 56 disposed between the fastener hole 52 and relief opening 54 may be provided with a slot 58 extending between the fastener hole 52 and relief opening 54. Upon an impact generating an impact force above a predetermined force, the fastener 50 deforms the deformable barrier 56, whereby the deformable attachment bracket 40 and 42 is displaced longitudinally such that the fastener 50 is relocated from the fastener hole 52 into the relief opening 54. The fastener 50 slides out of the relief opening 54 and the subframe 30 drops beneath the vehicle chassis 20, whereby the subframe 30 translates longitudinally relative the vehicle chassis 20 during the crash event, safely away from the vehicle occupant compartment.

A frontal impact countermeasure assembly for an automotive vehicle, the countermeasure assembly comprising: a front side rail extending in a generally longitudinal direction and having a forward end; a bumper extending generally laterally to the longitudinal direction of the front side rail and having an outboard end; and a pivot link having outer and inner mounting portions, the outer mounting portion being pivotably engaged with the bumper in a region of the outboard end to define a front pivot joint, the inner mounting portion being pivotably engaged with the front side rail to define a rear pivot joint, the rear pivot joint being located rearward and inward relative to the front pivot joint.

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.

The present invention provides for various embodiments of a tray energy absorber comprising a base, a first transverse wall that is arcuate and extends from the base, a second transverse wall spaced apart from the first transverse wall and which extends from the base. The tray energy absorber further comprises a plurality of ribs that extend from the base joining the first transverse wall to the second transverse wall. In one embodiment the density of the ribs varies along the transverse width of the tray energy absorber. In another embodiment at least one of the plurality of ribs is greater than 50% of the height of the first transverse wall or the second transverse wall where the rib joins the first and second transverse walls. The present invention also provides for a bumper system used in a vehicle that includes a tray energy absorber attached to a bumper beam. The bumper system optionally includes a fascia that substantially envelops the bumper beam and the tray energy absorber.

Accordingly, the present invention is a vehicle bumper and a method for making a vehicle bumper formed from first and second members wherein the second member is nested within the first member. Each of the first and second members has a front wall, an upper wall and a lower wall. Each member also includes flange portions extending outwardly from the respective upper and lower walls. The first and second members joined to one another at their respective front walls and flange portions. The first and second members formed in such a way that the cross-sections of the members varies along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle bumper. Varying the respective cross-sections enables a vehicle bumper design that helps to control energy transfer and absorption during a collision. In addition, it provides greater design and styling freedoms.

An aerodynamic underride guard comprising an angled front section located ahead of the trailer landing gear, a crash attenuating middle section located between the trailer landing gear and the trailer wheel assembly, and an angled rear section located in proximity to the trailer wheel assembly. The front angled section deflects air away from the non-aerodynamic features of the trailer landing gear. The rear angled section deflects air away from the non-aerodynamic features of the trailer wheel assembly, and the crash attenuating middle section can prevent vehicles from under riding the trailer.

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 device for fastening bumper fairings to the fenders of a motor vehicle. A window is formed in the rim of the bumper fairing and a resilient tongue is provided in the fender to penetrate into said window when the bumper is in place, thereby holding the rim in its housing.

A collision obstacle discrimination device has a load sensor. The load sensor includes an elongated member which is arranged in a bumper of a vehicle and extends substantially in a width direction of the vehicle, and a plurality of sensor members which are fixed in a space defined by the elongated member and arrayed in the vehicle width direction. The sensor member is disposed to detect a physical property which varies in response to a load applied to the bumper due to a collision of the vehicle. Sensitivities of the plurality of sensor members are respectively set in response to vehicle-width-direction positions of the sensor members to be diversified, so that the plurality of sensor members have a substantially same response property with respect to the load applied to the bumper.

A bumper system includes a tubular beam and a thermoformed energy absorber with crush boxes formed into a base flange, such as by vacuum or thermal forming processes. The crush boxes have planar energy-absorbing sidewalls a depth of about 10 mm to 35 mm, wall thicknesses of about 1 mm to 3 mm, and are formed from polyethylene or other thermoform materials having a memory. The base flange can include thermoformed features engaging recesses in the beam, and is combinable with injection-molded or foam energy absorbers for design flexibility. In one form, the energy absorber includes a thermoformed first sheet forming crush boxes and a second sheet bonded to the first sheet to define apertured air pockets. Related methods of manufacture and impacting are also disclosed.

A vehicle body structure is provided with a bumper fascia panel with a bumper fascia mounting flange, a fender body panel with a fender mounting flange and a mounting flange attachment that secures the mounting flanges together. The mounting flange attachment arrangement has a first fastening member overlying the bumper fascia mounting flange, a second fastening member overlying the fender mounting flange and a fastening element coupling the first and second fastening members together. The bumper fascia mounting flange and the fender mounting flange are sandwiched between the first and second fastening members. The fastening element has a tool engagement portion located on an inboard side of the mounting flange attachment and a center fastening axis angled in an inboard direction of the vehicle body structure.