DESC:FORM 2
The Patent Act 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2005

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(SEE SECTION 10 AND RULE 13)

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

ENERGY ABSORBER FOR A VEHICLE

APPLICANT:

Name Nationality Address
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Indian Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.,
MRV, Mahindra World City (MWC),
Plot No. 41/1, Anjur Post, Chengalpattu,
Kanchipuram District – 603204 (TN) INDIA

The following specification particularly describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to energy absorber in vehicles and more particularly, but not exclusively to energy absorber in vehicles for protecting the front radiator assembly during low speed collision or impacts.

BACKGROUND
[002] A car body incorporates body energy absorbers such as bumper reinforcements and door beams. Energy absorber is the component present in front of the vehicle for absorbing energy during collision. The vehicle bumpers extend widthwise across the front and rear of a vehicle and are mounted to rails that extend in a lengthwise direction. Energy absorbing bumper systems attempt to reduce vehicle damage as a result of a collision by managing impact energy and intrusion while not exceeding a rail load limit of the vehicle. The efficiency of an energy absorber is defined as the amount of energy absorbed over distance travelled during deformation.
[003] One of the conventional solutions discloses an energy absorber with crash cans that includes a beam and an injection molded energy absorber secured to the beam. The aforementioned energy absorber provided with ripples and other crush boxes makes the design very complex to manufacture. Another conventional solution discloses a vehicle impact energy absorber that includes a threaded post, housing, a friction member and a sleeve. The disadvantage of this conventional solution is that the threads may break due to the impact load. Also, the conventional solutions are not easy to manufacture.
[004] Therefore, there exists a need for an energy absorber that can eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS
[005] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an energy absorber that absorbs energy effectively during low speed impact or collisions.
[006] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an energy absorber that is easy to manufacture and assemble.
[007] Yet, another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an energy absorber that is less in weight.
[008] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[009] The embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0011] FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the beam of the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a front end of the vehicle mounted with the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the energy absorber assembled in vehicle, before a collision event according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0015] FIG. 6 depicts a top view of the energy absorber assembled in vehicle, during a collision event according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0017] The embodiments herein achieve an energy absorber that absorbs energy effectively during low speed collisions. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment the energy absorber 100 includes a beam 102, a plurality of first mounting brackets 104 and a plurality of second mounting brackets 106.
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the beam of the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a front end of the vehicle mounted with the energy absorber according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment the beam 102 includes a first end 102a, a second end 102b, a curved portion 102c and a plurality of openings 102d. The beam 102 is used for protecting a radiator/heat exchanger 202 of a vehicle 200. The curved portion 102c of the beam 102 is adapted to deform to absorb the impact energy during the collision to protect the radiator/heat exchanger 202. Further, the curved portion 102c of the beam 102 protects the radiator/heat exchanger 202 even when the curved portion 102c of the beam 102 is completely deformed during the collision.
[0020] In an embodiment the plurality of openings 102d of the beam 102 is used for receiving a fastener (not shown) for mounting the energy absorber 100 with the vehicle 200. The plurality of openings 102d is provided at the first end 102a and the second end 102b of the beam 102. The first end 102a and the second end 102b of the beam 102 are flattened for ease in mounting the energy absorber 100 with the vehicle 200. In an embodiment the beam 102 has a rectangular cross-section. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the beam 102 having any other cross-section.
[0021] In an embodiment the plurality of first mounting brackets 104 and the second mounting brackets 106 is used for mounting a bumper (not shown) of the vehicle 200 with the energy absorber 100. Each of the plurality of first mounting brackets 104 and the second mounting brackets 106 includes an opening (not shown) adapted to receive a fastener (not shown) for mounting the bumper (not shown) with the energy absorber 100. The plurality of first mounting brackets 104 are provided at the bottom of the beam 102, near the first end 102a and the second end 102b of the beam 102. The plurality of second mounting brackets 106 are provided at the bottom of the beam 102 in the curved portion 102c of the beam 102.
[0022] In an embodiment the energy absorber 100 is made using steel. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide the energy absorber 100 made using any other material without otherwise deterring the intended function of the energy absorber 100 as can be deduced from the description.
[0023] FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the energy absorber assembled in vehicle, before a collision event according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. FIG. 6 depicts a top view of the energy absorber assembled in vehicle, during a collision event according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The energy absorber 100 is mounted in the vehicle 200 and the vehicle 200 is crash tested against a load member F, simulating a low speed collision to test the effectiveness of the energy absorber 100. During the collision, the curved portion 102c of the beam 102 deforms (becomes flat) and absorbs the impact energy and protects the radiator/heat exchanger 202. From fig. 6 it is evident that the curved portion 102c of the beam 102 protects the radiator/heat exchanger 202 even when the curved portion 102c of the beam 102 is completely deformed during the collision.
[0024] The advantages of the energy absorber 100 are as follows. The energy absorber 100 is simple in construction and the rectangular cross section of the beam 102 is effective in absorbing the impact energy. Further, the energy absorber 100 facilitates ease in assembling the bumper of the vehicle 200. Further, the energy absorber 100 can be easily mounted to the vehicle 200.
[0025] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.

CLAIMS
We claim,
1. An energy absorber for a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
` a beam having a first end, a second end, and a curved portion, the beam adapted to protect an heat exchanger of the vehicle;
a plurality of first mounting brackets adapted to mount a bumper of the vehicle with the energy absorber;
a plurality of second mounting brackets adapted to mount the bumper of the vehicle with the energy absorber,
wherein
the curved portion of the beam is adapted to deform to absorb an impact energy during a collision to protect the heat exchanger of the vehicle.
2. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam comprises a plurality of openings, each adapted to receive a fastener for mounting the energy absorber with the vehicle.
3. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a radiator.
4. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam comprises a rectangular cross-section.
5. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first mounting brackets and the second mounting brackets comprises an opening adapted to receive a fastener for mounting the bumper with the energy absorber.
6. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are adapted to be flat to facilitate the mounting of the energy absorber with the vehicle.
7. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first mounting brackets is provided below the bottom of the beam and in proximity to the first end and the second end of the beam.
8. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of second mounting brackets is provided below the bottom of the beam in the curved portion of the beam.

Dated April 20, 2016 Signature:
Dr.Kalyan Chakravarthy

ABSTRACT
Energy absorber for a vehicle includes, a beam having a first end, a second end, and a curved portion, a plurality of first mounting brackets to mount a bumper of the vehicle with the energy absorber and a plurality of second mounting brackets to mount the bumper of the vehicle with the energy absorber. The beam is used to protect an heat exchanger of the vehicle and the curved portion of the beam deforms to absorb an impact energy during a collision to protect the heat exchanger of the vehicle.
Fig. 1

,CLAIMS:CLAIMS
We claim,
1. An energy absorber for a vehicle, the energy absorber comprising:
` a beam having a first end, a second end, and a curved portion, the beam adapted to protect an heat exchanger of the vehicle;
a plurality of first mounting brackets adapted to mount a bumper of the vehicle with the energy absorber;
a plurality of second mounting brackets adapted to mount the bumper of the vehicle with the energy absorber,
wherein
the curved portion of the beam is adapted to deform to absorb an impact energy during a collision to protect the heat exchanger of the vehicle.
2. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam comprises a plurality of openings, each adapted to receive a fastener for mounting the energy absorber with the vehicle.
3. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is a radiator.
4. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beam comprises a rectangular cross-section.
5. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first mounting brackets and the second mounting brackets comprises an opening adapted to receive a fastener for mounting the bumper with the energy absorber.
6. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are adapted to be flat to facilitate the mounting of the energy absorber with the vehicle.
7. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of first mounting brackets is provided below the bottom of the beam and in proximity to the first end and the second end of the beam.
8. The energy absorber as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of second mounting brackets is provided below the bottom of the beam in the curved portion of the beam.