Sabic Innovative Plastics IP B.v.

Sabic Global Technologies B.v.

Sudhakar Ramamoorthy Marur

Dhanendra Kumar Nagwanshi

Sandeep Chandrakant Kulkarni

Matthew Douglas Marks

Somasekhar Venkat Bobba

Poovanna Theethira Kushalappa

Gerhard Zenz

Derek Buckmaster

Arunachala Parameshwara

Subrata Nayak

Venkatesha Narayanaswamy

James Robert Wilson

Triloka Chander Tankala

Hariharan Ramalingam

Dhanendra Nagwanshi

Ankit Kumar Garg

Theethira Kushalappa Poovanna

Sadasivam Golakrishanan

Gurunath Pv

Somasekhar Bobba

Dhanendra Kumar Nagawanshi

In one embodiment, an energy absorber comprises: a plurality of crush lobes, wherein the base, sides and outer wall comprise a first thermoplastic material; and a composite insert in the energy absorber, wherein the insert comprises a second plastic material and reinforcement, and wherein the composite insert is a separate element that is disposed in located at an area of the crush lobes, wherein the area is the side and/or the outer wall, and wherein the area has an area height and an area width. In an embodiment, a corner energy absorber can comprise: a plurality of layers with a plurality of ribs connecting the layers, wherein the layers and ribs comprise a first thermoplastic material; a composite insert comprising a second plastic material and reinforcement, and wherein the composite insert is a separate element that is disposed in the layers, the ribs, or both.

Reinforced plastic energy absorber system and methods of making the same

In some embodiments, an energy absorber element can comprise: a first support wall and a second support wall, a crush wall joining the first and second support walls together to define a deformable zone; a connection mechanism configured to connect the first and/or second support wall to a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method for using an energy absorber element in a vehicle can comprise: detachably connecting an energy absorber element to a vehicle at a support location for a vehicle component, once the energy absorber element has absorbed energy, detaching the energy absorber element from the vehicle; and separately replacing the energy absorber element from the vehicle component. In some embodiments, the vehicle component is not replaced.

Energy absorber elements and vehicle systems

A structural body of a vehicle comprises: a hollow component comprising walls that define a channel, wherein the component has a component length, and wherein the component is selected from the group consisting of beam, rail (), pillar (), chassis, floor rocker (), and cross-bar, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a plastic-metal hybrid reinforcement () having cavities therethrough (), and a support () having greater than or equal to 3 walls forming a support channel. The plastic element () is located in the support channel () wherein the reinforcement () is located in the component channel.

Reinforced body in white and reinforcement therefor

An embodiment of a thermoplastic energy absorber for a vehicle comprises: a base and a crush lobe. The crush lobe comprises load walls extending from the base and a convex front face located at an end of the load walls opposite the base, wherein the convex front face bow outward, away from the base. The convex front face is connected to the load walls with fillets. The base and crush lobes comprise a plastic material.

Energy absorbing system

Disclosed herein are methods for manufacturing a functionally graded polymer material. The methods comprise preparing a melted polymer mixture comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a magnetic filler dispersed in the thermoplastic polymer, molding the melted polymer mixture and applying a magnetic field to a portion of the melted polymer mixture to form a functionally graded polymer material. The resulting functionally graded polymer material has a magnetic filler gradient formed through a thickness of the material.

Method of manufacturing a functionally graded article

In one embodiment, a corner energy absorber, comprises: a plurality of layers with a plurality of ribs connecting the layers, wherein the layers and ribs comprise a first thermoplastic material; a composite insert comprising a second plastic material and reinforcement, wherein the second plastic material is different than the first thermoplastic material, and wherein the composite insert is disposed in the layers, the ribs, or both; an extension configured to extend into the end of a bumper beam.

In one embodiment, an electric vehicle charging station comprises a body attached to a base, wherein the base is operably connected to a deflector mechanism, wherein the body moves from a rest position disposed along a major axis of the electric vehicle charging station to an impact position, with an articulation angle disposed therebetween, upon an impact having a force greater than or equal to 5 kiloNewtons.

Energy absorbing system for electric vehicle charging station and methods for making and using the same

In one embodiment, an energy absorber, comprises: a plurality of crush lobes including a base and sides extending from the base to an outer wall; and a composite insert in the energy absorber. The insert comprises a second plastic material and reinforcement. The second plastic material is different than the crush lobe material. The insert is located at an area of the crush lobes, and wherein the area is the side and/or the outer wall. In another embodiment, an energy absorber comprises: a plastic frame; thermoplastic crush lobes extending from the frame, wherein the crush lobes comprise an outer wall, an extending wall, and a base; and a plastic insert located at an area having a volume of the crush lobes, wherein the insert occupies less than or equal to 90% of the area volume. The insert comprises reinforcement and a plastic material different than the thermoplastic crush lobes.

In an embodiment, an energy absorbing assembly comprises a foam stage having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises a recess; and a thermoplastic stage comprising a frame and crush lobes; wherein the crush lobes extend from the frame of the thermoplastic stage into the recess. In another embodiment, a method of making an energy absorbing assembly comprises forming a foam stage having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface comprises recesses; forming a thermoplastic stage having a frame and crush lobes protruding from the frame; and engaging the recesses and the crush lobes to form the energy absorbing assembly.

Energy absorbing assembly and methods of making and using the same

A structural body of a vehicle can comprises: a hollow metal component comprising walls that define a channel, wherein the metal component has a metal component length, and wherein the metal component is selected from the group consisting of beam, rail, pillar, chassis, floor rocker, and cross-bar, combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; and a plastic-metal hybrid reinforcement having a cavities therethrough, and a metal support having greater than or equal to 3 walls forming a support channel. The plastic element is located in the support channel wherein the reinforcement is located in the component channel.

Reinforced body in white and method of making and using the same

In one embodiment, an energy management system can comprise: a vehicle energy management system comprises: a support structure selected from a bumper beam, a body in white, a body in black, a front-end module, a radiator support beam, a bumper support bracket, a component projecting from the body in white, a component projecting from the body in black, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing; a covering; and a coil energy absorber made of plastic. The coil energy absorber has an initial height and is located between the support structure and the covering. The coil energy absorber absorbs energy upon impact such that, after the impact, the coil energy absorber has a final height that is less than or equal to 90% of the initial height.

Plastically deformable coil energy absorber systems

In an embodiment, a road barrier energy absorption unit can comprise: a vehicle crush section configured to absorb impact energy when impacted with greater than or equal to 5 kN force; a post channel configured to receive a road barrier post; and a guardrail attachment. The energy absorption unit can be disposed over the post and a guardrail can attach to the energy absorption unit. In an embodiment, a road barrier energy absorber system comprises: posts; road barrier energy absorption unit; and a guardrail extending between the energy absorber units. Each post is disposed in one of the energy absorber units. The energy absorber units comprise a vehicle crush section configured to absorb impact energy when impacted with greater than or equal to 5 kN force. In an embodiment, a guardrail can comprise: an outer wall and stiffening elements, wherein the guardrail comprises a plastic.

Growing community of inventors

Bengaluru, India

Sudhakar Ramamoorthy Marur