Patent ID: 7238250
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: B29C,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of an energy absorbing structural element, comprising: supplying flat material to a mandrel, said flat material having reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix material; winding said flat material on said mandrel in a single winding procedure to form a hollow body extending along an axis; adapting a first end of said hollow body to interact with a fitting having a surface extending radially outward in relation to said axis so as to radially spread said first end of the hollow body in response to forces applied in the direction parallel to said axis on at least one of said first end and a second end of said hollow body which push said first end against said fitting; said flat material being configured to have at least some of said reinforcing fibers oriented in an azimuthal direction in relation to said axis when said flat material is wound to form said hollow body and to produce a layered structure having a different number of layers of the flat material in different areas of said hollow body; said layered structure of said hollow body causing said forces to be absorbed by said hollow body without folding in such a manner that said forces generate cracks in said layered structure at said first end of said hollow body which cracks extend in said direction parallel to said axis and which propagate from said first end toward said second end; the flat material being comprised of multiple pieces of flat material which are supplied to the winding procedure in parallel; and the multiple pieces of flat material being supplied to the winding procedure as a connected arrangement of pieces of flat material in which said pieces of flat material are arranged in a sequence extending in said direction parallel to said axis.