Arrangement For Underrun Protection In Vehicles

• US 20090102209A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Andersson, Ulf, Ryden, Jorgen, Palm, Mikael, Ahlin, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/722,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102209A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 293/132
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/26 comprising yieldable mounting means B60R19/38 takes precedence; springs, shock absorbers, or means for damping vibrations per se F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/36 Combinations of yieldable mounting means of different types fluid shock absorbers with coaxial coil springs B60R19/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/56 Fittings damping bouncing force in truck collisions, e.g. bumpers; Arrangements on high-riding vehicles, e.g. lorries, for preventing vehicles or objects from running thereunder

Abstract

An underrun protection arrangement for a vehicle includes a frame, an impact element for receiving impact in case of a collision, and a first energy absorbing element arranged between the frame and the impact element for absorbing energy in case of a crash while allowing a first displacement of the impact element in relation to the frame. A second energy absorbing element is arranged between the first energy absorbing element and the frame for absorbing energy while allowing a second displacement of the impact element in relation to the frame.

Claims

1. An underrun protection arrangement for a vehicle, comprising a frame (1), an impact element (2) for receiving impact in case of a collision, and a first energy absorbing element (3) being arranged between the frame (1) and the impact element (2) for absorbing energy in case of a crash while allowing a first displacement of the impact element (2) in relation to the frame (1), characterised in a second energy absorbing element (4) being arranged between the first energy absorbing element (3) and the frame (1) for absorbing energy while allowing a second displacement of the impact element in relation to the frame (1).

2. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first energy absorbing element (3) is arranged to allow said first displacement when the force transmitted from the impact element (2) exceeds a first threshold limit, and the second energy absorbing element (4) is arranged to allow said second displacement when the force transmitted from the impact element (2) exceeds a second threshold limit, the second threshold limit being greater than the first threshold limit.

3. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second energy absorbing element (4) is provided with a direction means (5) for controlling the second displacement during absorption of energy of the second energy absorbing element (4).

4. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein said second displacement is in a direction other than the direction of the first displacement.

5. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the first displacement comprises pivoting of the impact element (2) in relation to the frame (1).

6. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein the second displacement comprises pivoting of the impact element (2) in relation to the frame (1).

7. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the second displacement comprises translation of the impact element (2) in relation to the frame (1).

8. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 3 to 7, wherein the direction means of the second energy absorber (4) comprises a weakening line (5) along which the second energy absorber (4) is adapted to shear off to allow the second displacement while absorbing energy.

9. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 3 to 7, wherein the direction means of the second energy absorber (4) comprises a plastically deformable portion (5) in which the second energy absorber (4) is adapted to plastically deform to allow the second displacement while absorbing energy.

10. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 9, wherein said plastically deformable portion (5) forming the direction means comprises a slot (6) in which an expansion device (7) being wider than said slot (6) is arranged, such that the portion (5) of the energy absorber adjacent to the slot (6) is widened by the expansion device (7) as the second displacement occurs, during plastic deformation and absorption of energy.

11. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the second energy absorber is movable in relation to the expansion device (7) for achieving the second displacement, and the slot (6) is narrowing in the direction in which the expansion device (7) will travel in the slot (6) during said second displacement.

12. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the second energy absorbing element (4) comprises a console (8).

13. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the impact element (2) is pivotable in relation to said console (8).

14. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said console (8) is pivotably arranged in relation to the frame (1).

15. An underrun protection arrangement according to claim 14 in combination with claim 3, wherein the second energy absorbing element (4) further comprises a compressible or extendible element (9) being arranged in relation to the console so as to be compressed or extended, respectively, while absorbing energy and allowing said second displacement.

16. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said second energy absorbing element (4) has an impact portion (11) against which the impact element (2) abuts after the first displacement.

17. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said first energy absorbing element (3) is arranged between the impact element (2) and the second energy absorbing element (4), and the impact element (2) is pivotal in relation to the second energy absorbing element (4), such that the first energy absorbing element (3) may absorb energy during pivotal displacement of the impact element (2) in relation to the second energy absorbing element (4).

18. An underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said first energy absorbing element (3) is compressible for absorbing said energy.

19. A vehicle comprising an underrun protection arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.