Bumper Cross-Beam Attachment Means With Double-Walled Flanges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing attachment means for bumper cross-beams struggle to provide a stable and stiff connection while allowing for flexible positioning in different heights relative to the vehicle structure, often resulting in inadequate energy absorption during crashes due to asymmetrical or inappropriate geometry.
Innovation Solution
The attachment means feature double-walled flanges formed by collapsing peripheral chambers of a multi-chamber hollow section profile, allowing for a higher spacing than the middle chamber height, and maintaining symmetrical mechanical behavior for stable connections, which can be offset to accommodate various bumper cross-beam heights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the attachment means uses asymmetrical flange design to accommodate higher bumper cross-beam heights, then the adaptability is improved, but the connection stability and stiffness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry in reverse - it maintains symmetrical double-walled flanges to achieve both stability and adaptability. The symmetrical design ensures stable connection while the offset positioning of the entire attachment means relative to the hollow section profile enables adaptation to different bumper heights without compromising connection stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the middle chamber height is increased to accommodate higher bumper cross-beam positioning, then the adaptability is improved, but the energy absorption capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by shifting from vertical dimension constraints (middle chamber height) to horizontal/longitudinal dimension solutions. The attachment means is positioned offset from the end of the hollow section profile, allowing the flanges to reach higher bumper positions while the crushing zone remains at the profile end for effective energy absorption
3Ease of manufacture
If the attachment means is positioned at the end of the hollow section profile, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the positioning flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the attachment means at the end of the hollow section profile for manufacturing simplicity, but introduces longitudinal offset positioning along the profile axis. This allows the attachment means to be positioned at different distances from the profile end, providing positioning flexibility while maintaining the simple end-positioned attachment structure
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 enables a stable and stiff connection with bumper cross-beams of varying heights, enhancing energy absorption during impacts by allowing buckling-free progressive plastic folding and facilitating easier positioning of the bumper cross-member relative to the vehicle structure.
Implementation Method 1
They are designed to be plastically deformed as soon as the kinetic energy of the vehicle at the time of the collision is higher than a critical value. Their plastic deformation is advantageously a progressive folding, which absorbs at least partially the energy of impact.
Implementation Method 2
The attachment means feature double-walled flanges formed by collapsing peripheral chambers of a multi-chamber hollow section profile, allowing for a higher spacing than the middle chamber height, and maintaining symmetrical mechanical behavior for stable connections
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Attachment means (20) for mounting a bumper cross-beam (10) onto a vehicle structure, the said attachment means having a first end (22) to be fixed to the said vehicle structure and a second end (23) designed to be attached to the said bumper cross-beam, the said attachment means being made from a hollow section profile (21), the periphery of which comprises opposite side walls (24 and 25) and substantially parallel opposite outer walls (26 and 27), wherein the said hollow section profile (21) comprises opposite peripheral chambers (29 and 30), each peripheral chamber (29, 30) being at least delimited by one of the said opposite outer wall (26, 27) and an inner wall (31, 32), which is substantially parallel to the said outer wall and extends between the said opposite side walls, wherein the said inner walls are spaced apart from each other by a distance Hi, characterised in that the said second end (23) comprises opposite double-walled flanges (41 and 42), which are spaced apart from each other by a distance H strictly greater than Hi.