Underrun protector and method of providing underrun protection

Abstract

An underrun protector (2) for a heavy vehicle (1) and a method for providing underrun protection are disclosed. The underrun protector (2) can be implemented as a front underrun protector (FUP) and / or as a rear underrun protector (RUP). The protector (2) includes two beam elements (304) mutually and pivotally joined together and supported in relation to a frame (5) of the vehicle (1); the beam elements (304) are also known as shanks. Moreover, the two beam elements (304) are also mutually coupled together by one or more locking elements (302) which are operable to rupture when forces applied thereto during an impact of an object onto the protector (2) exceed one or more threshold magnitudes. Rupturing of the one or more locking elements (302) during an impact event of the object causes the two beam elements (304) to at least partially conform to a contact profile of the object to the protector (2) for more uniformly distributing impact forces arising in the impact event. Damage to the object, for example a smaller vehicle, is thereby capable of being reduced, for example mitigating injury to people enclosed within the smaller vehicle.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an underrun protector, for example to a front underrun protector for incorporation into the front region of a heavy vehicle for preventing a frontal impact thereon from a smaller vehicle such as a car in operation . The invention also relates to a rear underrun protector for incorporation into the rear region of such heavy vehicles. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method of preventing the impact of a smaller vehicle onto a larger vehicle by including such an underrun protector in the front and / or rear area of ​​such a heavy vehicle. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a heavy vehicle equipped with such an underrun protector. Background technique [0002] Safety structures included in heavy vehicles, such as commercial heavy goods vehicles, have been developed in response to safety standards and public demand. This safety structure includes a front underrun protector operable to reduce injury to oc...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] However, a technical problem arises with regard to a head-on collision of a smaller vehicle onto the front underrun protector of the heavy vehicle substantially in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the heavy vehicle; this head-on collision requires two deformations of the underrun protector The elements are subjected to sufficient force so that the two elastic elements undergo inelastic deformation

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