Impact Protection Structure

Abstract

There is disclosed herein an impact protection structure for providing lateral or side impact energy absorption and a method for manufacturing the same.

1 . A vehicle chassis with impact protection structure, comprising:
 a transverse member configured to extend substantially horizontally with respect to the vehicle;   a strengthening structure configured to extend substantially upright with respect to the vehicle; and   an unitary energy absorbing block adapted to extend from an end of the transverse member into the strengthening structure.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary energy absorbing block includes a projection for engaging the end of the transverse member. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 2 , wherein the end of the transverse member comprises at least one abutment surface configured to engage the unitary energy absorbing block. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one abutment surface forms an aperture in the end of the transverse member; and
 wherein the projection is adapted to fit in the aperture.   
     
     
         5 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a strengthening sill configured extend along a side edge of the vehicle chassis;   wherein the strengthening sill is at least partially formed into the strengthening structure.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 5 , wherein the unitary energy absorbing block is configured to extend into the strengthening sill. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 5 , wherein the strengthening sill comprises an indent ridge formed on a top surface of the sill; and
 wherein the unitary energy absorbing block is adapted to engage the indent ridge.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cover arrangement configured to maintain the unitary energy absorbing block substantially in position during impact.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle chassis of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a strengthening bracket configured to focus an impact force borne by the transverse member during impact substantially at a center of the unitary energy absorbing block.   
     
     
         10 . An impact protection structure for providing impact energy absorption at a region substantially between a first strengthening member and a second strengthening member of a road vehicle, comprising:
 an energy absorbing block arrangement; and   a cover arrangement for maintaining the absorbing block arrangement substantially in position during impact, the cover arrangement comprising a strengthening element for focusing in operation an impact force borne by the first member during impact substantially at a center of the absorbing block arrangement;   wherein the first member being a substantially horizontal transverse structural member of the vehicle, the second member being a substantially upright strengthening structure of the vehicle, and the protection structure operable to provide the vehicle with side impact protection for impact forces directed substantially along an elongate axis of the first member;   wherein the energy absorbing block arrangement is operable to undergo substantially non-elastic deformation in absorbing kinetic energy associated with the impact forces;   wherein the absorbing block arrangement includes a first energy absorbing block adapted to occupy a region between an end of the first member and a side of the second member and provide an abutment there between, and a second energy absorbing block adapted to be located within the second member substantially adjacent to the first energy absorbing block;   wherein the energy absorbing block arrangement comprises a single unitary energy absorber block adapted to be mounted in the region between an end of the first member and to extend to within the second member.   
     
     
         11 . The impact protection structure of  claim 10 , wherein the unitary block includes a projection adapted to locate into an aperture provided at the end of the first member to assist in maintaining the unitary block in position to absorb impact energy during crash or impact situations. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a vehicle chassis having an impact protection structure, the method comprising:
 forming a first member configured to extend substantially horizontally with respect to the vehicle;   forming a second member configured to extend substantially upright with respect to the vehicle;   providing a first energy absorbing block;   forming the first energy absorbing block to occupy a region in the first member;   providing a second energy absorbing block; and   forming the second energy absorbing block to occupy a region in the second member.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 uniting the first energy absorbing block and second energy absorbing block to form an unitary energy absorbing block.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming a projection in the unitary energy absorbing block, the projection configured to engage the first member.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 forming at least one abutment surface in the first member, wherein the at least one abutment surface forms an aperture in the end of the first member.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 fitting the projection in the aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a strengthening sill configured extend along a side edge of the vehicle chassis; and   forming the strengthening sill to at least partially extend into the second member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 forming an indent ridge formed on a surface of the strengthening sill; and   adapting the unitary energy absorbing block to engage the indent ridge.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a cover arrangement configured to maintain the unitary energy absorbing block substantially in position during impact.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 providing a strengthening bracket configured to focus an impact force borne by the first member during impact substantially at a center of the unitary energy absorbing block.