Energy absorber device for a vehicle and method of manufacturing same

摘要

An energy-absorber device is mountable to a component of a vehicle, such as an engine cradle. The energy absorber device includes an elongated first member and an elongated second member. The first member has a first pair of aligned apertures at least partially defined by and extending through first and second side walls of the first member. The second member has a second pair of aligned apertures at least partially defined by and extending through first and second side walls of the second member. The first member is attached to the second member with the side walls of the first member at least partially overlapping the side walls of the second member, with a base of the first member positioned opposite a base of the second member. Aligned pairs of apertures function as deformation initiation features when a predetermined force in a longitudinal direction is applied to the first ends.

主权项

1. An energy-absorber device mountable to a component of a vehicle, the device comprising:
an elongated first member; an elongated second member; wherein each of the elongated first member and the elongated second member has a base with a first end and a second end, has opposing first and second side walls extending from the base between the first end and the second end, and has a rear wall extending from the base at the second end; wherein the elongated first member has a first pair of apertures at least partially defined by and extending through the first and second side walls of the elongated first member; wherein the elongated second member has a second pair of apertures at least partially defined by and extending through first and second side walls of the elongated second member; wherein the elongated first member is attached to the elongated second member with the side walls of the elongated first member at least partially overlapping the side walls of the elongated second member, the rear wall of the elongated first member positioned forward of and overlapping the rear wall of the elongated second member, and the base of the elongated first member positioned opposite to the base of the elongated second member so that the elongated first member and the elongated second member define a cavity between the attached elongated first and second members, and such that the first pair of apertures is at least partially aligned with the second pair of apertures; wherein the aligned pairs of apertures are configured to function as deformation initiation features at which the elongated first member and the elongated second member deform under a predetermined force in a longitudinal direction applied to the first end of the elongated first member and to the first end of the elongated second member.