Composite motor vehicle bumper beam

• Main Authors: NELSON; GULLMAR V, KELMAN; JOSH
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.09.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A structural reaction injection molded motor vehicle bumper beam comprises a preform formed of layers of interlaced glass fibers and chopped glass fibers wherein most of the interlaced fibers are oriented longitudinally of the bumper beam. A two-component, non-filled reaction injection molding polymeric/pure polyurethane based resin with a neat elongation in excess of about 50% bonds the fiberglass layers together in a composite bumper beam structure wherein the fiberglass provides substantial strength and stiffness and the highly compliant resin allows extensive beam deflection without catastrophic cracking to enable the bumper beam without other assistance to absorb sufficient energy in repeated impacts to meet in-service requirements.