Method for Impact Energy Absorption

Abstract

There is provided a vehicular impact energy absorption block arrangement adapted to provide impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member of a road vehicle. The energy absorption block arrangement comprises one or more energy absorber blocks operable to suffer deformation, for example substantially non-elastic deformation, when subject to forces arising from an impact or crash of the vehicle, thereby at least partially absorbing the impact energy. The one or more energy absorber blocks are fabricated from expanded plastics material foam, for example expanded polypropylene plastics material foam including pores therein. The pores may be substantially opened or closed.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of absorbing impact energy in a vehicle, the vehicle including an impact energy absorption block arrangement for providing impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member of the vehicle, the impact energy absorption block arrangement including one or more energy absorber blocks adapted to be maintained substantially in position during impact, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving lateral impact forces at the vehicle in a crash or impact situation; and   concentrating the lateral impact forces using a cover arrangement into the impact energy absorption block arrangement to cause the one or more absorber blocks to deform to absorb kinetic energy associated with the impact forces.   
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the one or more absorber blocks are operable to substantially non-elastically deform so as to absorb the kinetic energy associated with the impact forces. 
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising maintaining the one or more energy absorber blocks in position by applying the cover arrangement thereto. 
     
     
         34 . A method for absorbing impact energy in a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member, the method comprising:
 mounting a first energy absorber block between an end of the first strengthening member and a side of the second strengthening member, the first energy absorber block comprising expanded plastics material foam operable to undergo deformation when subject to an impact to absorb impact energy; and   providing a second energy absorber block within the second strengthening member, substantially adjacent to the first energy absorber block.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising fabricating the first energy absorber block and the second energy absorber block from a material comprising one or more of: a polyolefin such as a polyethylene and a polypropylene; a styrene resin such as polystyrene; an ABS resin; a polyester resin such as a polyethylene terephthalate and a polyamide; and a polypropylene. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the material is deployed as an expanded plastics material foam including one or more pores chosen from air-filled pores and gas-filled pores. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the pores are substantially open pores. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the pores are substantially closed pores. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , comprising deploying the foam to have a density in the range of about 80 grams/liter to about 100 grams/liter in an expanded state. 
     
     
         40 . A method for absorbing impact energy for a vehicle using an energy absorption block arrangement provided substantially between a first vehicle strengthening member and a second vehicle strengthening member to absorb impact energy thereat, the energy absorption block arrangement including a first energy absorber block comprising expanded plastics material foam operable to undergo deformation when subject to an impact, the method comprising:
 maintaining the first energy absorber block substantially in position during impact; and   focusing an impact force borne by the first strengthening member substantially at a center of a second energy absorber block.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein maintaining the first energy absorber block substantially in position during impact comprises holding the first energy absorber block in position with a metal cover. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein maintaining the first energy absorber block substantially in position during impact further comprises holding the first energy absorber block in position with a strengthening bracket at an upper region of the metal cover. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising welding the strengthening bracket to the metal cover. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising forming the strengthening bracket integrally with the metal cover. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising integrally forming the strengthening bracket and the metal cover with the first energy absorber block. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein focusing an impact force borne by the first strengthening member substantially at a center of a second energy absorber block comprises locating the second energy absorber block adjacent the first energy absorber block within a wall of the vehicle. 
     
     
         47 . A method for fabricating a motor vehicle impact energy absorption block, the method comprising deploying a material comprising one or more of: a polyolefin such as a polyethylene and a polypropylene; a styrene resin such as polystyrene; an ABS resin; a polyester resin such as a polyethylene terephthalate and a polyamide; and a polypropylene, the material being deployed as an expanded plastics material foam including one or more of air-filled pores and gas-filled pores. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pores are substantially open pores. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the pores are substantially closed pores. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , comprising deploying the foam to have a density in the range of about 80 grams/liter to about 100 grams/liter in an expanded state.