Branching Bumper Absorber With Controlled Breakage for Pedestrian Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bumper absorbers made of foam may fail to absorb collision energy effectively at high compression levels, leading to increased reaction forces against pedestrians during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A bumper absorber design featuring a trunk part and at least one branch part with a breakage inducing mechanism, where the branch part branches off from the trunk part and includes a breakage inducing part that causes separation upon impact, allowing for controlled deformation and energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the foam is compressed at a high level to absorb more collision energy, then the energy absorption capacity is improved, but the reaction force against the pedestrian increases to a harmful level
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper absorber is divided into multiple independent absorbing members (first shock absorbing member, second shock absorbing member, third shock absorbing member) arranged in sequence. Each member absorbs energy independently through compression, preventing any single member from generating excessive reaction forces while collectively absorbing the total collision energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting structure between the first and second shock absorbing members is designed to be breakable, allowing the system to transition from a rigid connected state to a separated state during impact. This dynamic change enables controlled energy absorption stages, where the breakage occurs at a predetermined load level to prevent excessive force transmission to the pedestrian.
2Strength
If a single continuous foam structure is used, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to control reaction force levels is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous foam structure is segmented into multiple independent absorbing members with predetermined breakage sections. Each segment maintains sufficient structural strength for its designated function, while the overall system gains adaptability through controlled separation at impact, enabling reaction force control at specific threshold levels.
Solution Approach 2:
Breakage inducing parts (such as predetermined weak sections or fracture planes) are pre-designed into the connecting structures between absorbing members. These preliminary weak points ensure that when collision occurs, the connections break at predetermined locations and force levels, controlling the reaction force before it can reach harmful levels against the pedestrian.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces reaction forces against pedestrians by absorbing collision energy through controlled breakage and deformation, preventing an increase in reaction force to harmful levels.
Implementation Method 1
an impact absorbing member (bumper absorber) is disposed on a front surface of a bumper reinforcement
Implementation Method 2
Bumper absorbers in various shapes have been proposed. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a bumper absorber that extends in a front-to-rear direction of a vehicle and that has (i) a lower leg which has a flat plate shape and is substantially horizontally disposed
Implementation Method 3
the branch part having a branching part in which the branch part branches off from the trunk part and which is provided with a breakage inducing part that causes breakage between the trunk part and the branch part in response to the impact
Data Source
AI summary
In order to absorb collision energy so as to prevent an increase in reaction force against a pedestrian to a level higher than or equal to a certain level during collision, a bumper absorber of the present invention includes: a trunk part that extends in an X direction and that is simply compressed in the X direction in response to an impact; and a branch part that branches off from the trunk part toward a rear of a vehicle body, the branch part having a branching part in which the branch part branches off from the trunk part and which is provided with a breakage inducing part that causes breakage between the trunk part and the branch part in response to the impact.