Patent ID: 6776370
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B64C,F16F

Abstract:
An energy-absorbing connecting strut designed to link two components and capable of undergoing axial stresses in tension/compression between said components, said strut comprising a substantially straight rigid body, having at each of its two axial ends a connector for connecting respectively to one of said components, wherein said body comprisesat least one buckling portion with a calibrated buckling load corresponding to a compressive load threshold, at least one hollowed portion housing at least one component absorbing energy by plastic deformation in compression, and at least one piston facing said energy-absorbing component in said hollowed portion and moving integrally with a rigid axial end part of said body, whereby under a compressive load greater than said compression threshold of said at least one buckling portion, said buckling portion is deformed causing axial shortening of said connecting strut and movement of said piston with said rigid axial end part of the body, so that the piston crushes and plastically deforms said energy-absorbing component.