TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dampening mechanism for absorbing kinetic energy in case of a crash, and having at least one first part and at least one second part which can be connected to the vehicle, and at least one body positioned between said first part and said second part.

PRIOR ART

In automobiles, safety systems are separated into two as active systems and passive systems. Active safety systems try to avoid the occurrence of an accident. Systems like ABS, ESP can be shown as an example of active safety systems. Passive safety systems provide unfavorable affecting on the passenger in the vehicle at a minimum level after the accident. Systems like air bags, seat belts can be shown as an example of passive safety systems. One of the passive safety systems is the crashbox.

Crashbox is a device that absorbs the kinetic energy which occurs as a result of a crash. Thus, the crashbox helps to prevent or to reduce the damage to the passenger. In addition, crashbox reduces repair costs, especially in low-speed vehicle collisions.

The present crashboxes are made by shaping steel sheets in specific forms by using the welding method. This production process leads to both time and cost loss.

As a result, because of the abovementioned problems, an improvement is required in the related technical field.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a dampening mechanism, for eliminating the abovementioned disadvantages and for bringing new advantages to the related technical field. An object of the present invention is to provide a dampening mechanism that is activated in a stepped manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dampening mechanism that does not need a complete change in case of low-speed crashes.

In order to realize the abovementioned objects and the objects which are to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a dampening mechanism for absorbing kinetic energy in case of a crash and having at least one first part and at least one second part which can be connected to the vehicle, and at least one body positioned between said first part and said second part. Accordingly, the improvement of the present invention is that at least one dampening element, which can carry out energy absorption up to a predetermined force threshold, is positioned between said body and said first part, at least one ring is provided between the body and the second part, and at least one protrusion form is positioned in the correspondence of said ring, any one of the ring or the protrusion form is configured to deform in case a force is exerted which is over the predetermined force threshold. Thus, a two-stepped dampening is provided in case of crashes with speeds exceeding the predetermined force threshold.

In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the ring is configured to be deformed by the protrusion form in case the critical force threshold is exceeded. Thus, higher energy is absorbed by means of the ring with high yield stress and the deformed ring can be easily changed.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, any one of the first part and the second part is connected to the chassis on the vehicle and the other one thereof is connected to the bumper. Thus, the reaction that comes to the bumper is prevented from damaging the chassis and accordingly the vehicle’s inner part.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the ring is positioned in an integrated manner with the body. Thus, the protrusion form can move by advance in the ring and body.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said protrusion form is provided on the second part. Thus, the force coming from the bumper is absorbed. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion form essentially extends in a conical manner inside the ring. Thus, the protrusion form provides actuation by means of passing through the ring and forcing the ring to open.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion form is configured to force the ring to change its shape in the radial direction. Thus, high energy absorbance is provided by means of the ring which has a higher plastic deformation beginning force.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the deformation beginning force of the dampening element is provided to be lower than that of the other parts. Thus, firstly, the dampening element deforms and absorbs kinetic energy at the instant of a crash.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the body is configured to comprise at least one discharge opening essentially at the side of said body connected to the dampening element. Thus, as the volume of the dampening element decreases during deformation, the air provided in the dampening element is discharged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1 , a representative cross-sectional view of the subject matter dampening mechanism is given.

In Figure 2, a representative cross-sectional view of the first deformation step of the subject matter dampening mechanism is given.

In Figure 3, a representative cross-sectional view of the second deformation step of the subject matter dampening mechanism is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this detailed description, the subject matter dampening mechanism (10) is explained with examples without inducing any restrictive effect on the subject matter only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In Figure 1 , a representative cross-sectional view of the subject matter dampening mechanism (10) is given. Accordingly, the dampening mechanism (10) is essentially used in vehicles and is plastically deformed in case of an accident and absorbs energy. Plastic deformation is the name given to the permanent change of the shape of the material under load. The dampening mechanism (10) is positioned on the vehicle and provides absorption of the kinetic energy at the instant of accident by means of plastic deformation. The dampening mechanism (10) comprises at least one first part (21) and at least one second part (23). Said first part (21) and said second part (23) are one each connection brackets which provide positioning of the dampening mechanism (10) on the vehicle. Any one of the first part (21) and the second part (23) is connected to the chassis on the vehicle and the other one thereof is connected to the bumper. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the first part (21) is essentially connected to the chassis of the vehicle and the second part (23) is connected to the bumper of the vehicle. There is at least one first connection hole (22) provided on the first part (21). Said first connection hole (22) provides the first part (21) to allow a removable connection. There is at least one second connection hole (25) provided on the second part (23). Said second connection hole (25) provides the second part (23) to allow a removable connection.

In Figure 2, a representative cross-sectional view of the first deformation step (i) of the subject matter dampening mechanism (10) is given. Accordingly, the dampening mechanism (10) comprises at least one body (20) positioned between the first part (21) and the second part (23). Said body (20) is essentially a sleeve-like structure provided in a cylindrical form. The dampening mechanism (10) comprises at least one dampening element (30) which is provided between the body (20) and the first part (21). Said dampening element (30) is essentially a structure for providing at least partial absorbing dampening of the kinetic energy at the instant of a crash. The dampening element (30) is essentially an aluminum tube. The dampening element (30) folds onto its own wall as a result of the effect of the force exerted thereon and the energy of the crash is dampened. Naturally, the number of folding which will occur is proportional to the crash intensity. The body (20) is essentially configured to include at least one discharge opening (26) on the side thereof connected to the dampening element (30). Said discharge opening (26) provides discharge of the air existing inside as the volume of the dampening element (30) decreases during deformation of the dampening element (30). As the dampening element (30) deforms, the first deformation step (i) occurs. Since the deformation beginning force of the dampening element (30) is lower than that of the other parts, the dampening element (30) deforms for dampening the first kinetic energy which occurs as a result of a crash.

In Figure 3, a representative cross-sectional view of the second deformation step (ii) of the subject matter dampening mechanism (10) is given. Accordingly, at least one ring (31) is positioned between the body (20) and the second part (23). Said ring (31) is an energy absorber in order to be forced for deformation essentially in the radial direction. The ring (31) and the body (20) are positioned in an integrated form. The second part (23) comprises at least one protrusion form (24) provided at the correspondence of the ring (31). Said protrusion form (24) essentially has a structure that extends in a conical manner and which has a diameter that narrows gradually. The protrusion form (24) is connected to the second part (23) in a removable manner. The protrusion form (24) interacts so as to at least partially rest to the ring (31). In case of a crash, energy is absorbed as one of the protrusion form (24) and the ring (31) is deformed. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, as the protrusion form (24) is actuated, the ring (31) is forced to deform in the radial direction. In another possible embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion form (24) forces the ring (31) to deform by means of extending into the ring (31) such that the cross-section of the protrusion form (24) narrows and by means of advancing during the crash. As the dampening element (30) deforms and afterward the ring (31) deforms, the second deformation step (ii) occurs.

According to an exemplary operation scenario of the present invention, the dampening mechanism (10) is positioned on the vehicle by means of connection of the first part (21) to the chassis from one side and by means of connection of the second part (23) to the bumper from the other side. The force, which occurs as a result of a crush and which is up to a predetermined force threshold, is dampened by means of the deformation of the dampening element (30). The kinetic energy, that occurs as a result of a crash which is over the determined force, is absorbed by the deformation of the ring (31) as a result of forcing of the ring (31), that has higher deformation beginning force, by the protrusion form (24) to expand the ring (31) radially.

By means of all these embodiments, in case of crashes that occur at low speeds of vehicles, only the dampening element (30) deforms, and thus, the dampening mechanism (10) can be used again after changing the dampening element (30). The damage is prevented in high speed accidents thanks to the stepped structure since the ring (31) and the dampening element (30) deform. An aluminum tube, which can be easily found in the art, is used as the dampening element (30). The ring (31) is made of stainless steel material and is provided so as to be easily deformable after deformation. Thanks to this, the production duration and the additional processes which are required for production are minimized.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Dampening mechanism 20 Body

21 First part

22 First connection hole

23 Second part

24 Protrusion form 25 Second connection hole

26 Discharge opening

30 Dampening element

31 Ring

(i) First deformation step

(ii) Second deformation step