Impact energy absorber with integrated engine exhaust noise muffler

US12203397B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Divergent Technologies, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Antonio Bernerd Martinez · El Segundo, US
• Yong-Bae Cho · Torrance, US
• John Russell Bucknell · El Segundo, US
• Michael Vasile · North Plainfield, US
• Michael Bolton · Manhattan Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 2021
• Grant date: Jan 21, 2025
• Expiry date: Sep 5, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Multifunction noise suppression and crash structures are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, the multifunction structure includes a body, inlet and outlet pipes, and a plurality of walls within the body that bound resonator cells and that are configured to suppress exhaust noise passing through the resonator cells from the inlet to the outlet pipes. The structure may be positioned between crash rails at the rear of the vehicle and between the engine and bumper. The walls may be generally aligned with, or near, the predicted impact direction and they may crumple in a controlled manner during an impact. In various embodiments the structure is 3D printed to enable construction of a wide diversity of geometric topologies and to minimize mass.