Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Honeycomb-like
Patent
1998-05-07
2000-09-12
Jones, Deborah
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Honeycomb-like
428 55, 428 68, 428 72, 428 77, 428118, 428212, 296188, 296189, B32B 312
Patent
active
06117520&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a honeycomb block according to the preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Honeycomb panels with one layer of hexagonally shaped cells sandwiched between backing sheets are known. One use is as side protection/impact force absorbing elements in the doors of vehicles. These panels are e.g. made of paper which provides a cheap, simple and light construction. The problem is to achieve a door construction which on one hand can absorb a high proportion of the energy released in a collision and, on the other hand, does not add too much weight and cost to the vehicle. The known honeycomb panels do not have sufficient impact absorbing capacity for this use neither can their impact absorbing capacity be varied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a honeycomb block which can absorb a high proportion of the energy directed towards the block, e.g. during a collision, but which still is light and simple and cheap to manufacture.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a honeycomb block which has the desired properties regarding energy absorption also when it is desirable that these properties vary in the thickness direction of the block.
This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a honeycomb block according to claim 1.
The honeycomb block, in accordance with the present invention, comprises at least two layers of honeycomb elements. These layers can be of the same or different thickness. Each layer comprises a middle part made up of the honeycomb cells, and two outer sheets delimiting the middle part. The honeycomb cell sizes can be the same or different for the layers. The specific combination of layer thicknesses and cell sizes depend upon the desired energy absorption properties which are to be imparted to the block.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are detailed in the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in greater detail in the following by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view perpendicular to one of the backing sheets of a honeycomb block according to the invention, where the top right corner of the backing sheet has been removed, and
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the block in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of another embodiment of the block in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As is evident from FIG. 1, the honeycomb cell structure 2 is covered by a front sheet 1 and a back sheet 3. The cells are made up of strips which are folded to form the honeycomb pattern and the strips are secured to each other, after which the sheets are attached.
The cross sectional view of a block according to the invention represented in FIG. 2 shows a block comprising two honeycomb element layers attached flat side to flat side. The layers are preferably glued together. Backing sheets 4 and 6 surround a honeycomb section 5, backing sheets 7 and 9 surround another honeycomb section 8. The section 5 has a thickness t.sub.1, and the section 8 has a thickness t.sub.2. These thicknesses t.sub.1, and t.sub.2 can be equal or different. The honeycomb cell sizes in sections 5 and 8 can also be equal or different. The cell size is either the length of one side in the hexagonal, for equal sides, or the longest distance between two opposite corners, for a "stretched" hexagonal shape.
The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 3 comprises three honeycomb element layers attached in a similar manner to the panel in FIG. 2. Backing sheets 10 and 12 surround a honeycomb section 11, backing sheets 13 and 15 surround another honeycomb section 14 and backing sheets 16 and 18 surround yet another honeycomb section 17. The section 11 has a thickness t.sub.3, the section 14 has a thickness t.sub.4 and the section 17 has a thickness t.sub.5. These thicknesses t.sub.3, t.sub.4 and t.sub.5 can be equal or different. The honeyco
REFERENCES:
patent: 4352484 (1982-10-01), Gertz et al.
patent: 5106668 (1992-04-01), Turner et al.
patent: 5306066 (1994-04-01), Saathoff
patent: 5460865 (1995-10-01), Tsotsis
Klomp Piet
Wielinga Henk
AB Volvo
Bahta Abraham
Jones Deborah
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