Vehicle Bumper Reinforcement with Integrated Hydraulic Damper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle bumper reinforcement members increase production costs and complexity by requiring additional assembly procedures for vibration damping, which can deteriorate riding comfort due to generated vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle bumper with integral vibration damping integrated into the reinforcement, featuring a tubular metal structure with a hydraulic damper disposed within, allowing for removability and attachment above or below the reinforcement, reducing assembly procedures by incorporating the damping mechanism into the bumper reinforcement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate vehicle body vibration damper is attached to the vehicle body frame, then vibration damping performance is improved, but the number of assembly procedures increases and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidnumber of assembly procedures
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the vibration damping function with the bumper reinforcement by integrating a vibration damping portion into the bumper reinforcement structure. This allows the bumper reinforcement to simultaneously provide structural support and vibration damping, eliminating the need for a separate vibration damper assembly procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bumper reinforcement is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural reinforcement to the vehicle body and simultaneously acts as a vibration damping component through the integrated vibration damping portion. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components and assembly steps required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate vehicle body vibration damper is attached to the vehicle body frame, then vibration damping performance is improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration damping function is merged into the bumper reinforcement structure, reducing the total component count and associated manufacturing costs. The integrated design eliminates the need for separate procurement, inventory management, and assembly of a dedicated vibration damper.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively dampens vibrations during vehicle operation without increasing assembly procedures, enhancing riding comfort and reducing production costs by integrating the damping mechanism into the bumper reinforcement, allowing for efficient attachment and operation.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration damping portion constituted by a hydraulic damper which generates damping force with respect to elastic deformation of the bumper reinforcement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2075163B1Vehicle bumper
Publication Date: 2014.10.15 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2075163B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2075163B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2075163B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a vehicle bumper for attachment to a vehicle body frame, the vehicle bumper comprising: a bumper reinforcement extending in a width direction of the vehicle bumper; and a vibration damping portion provided with the bumper reinforcement and configured to generate damping force with respect to elastic deformation of the bumper reinforcement in the width direction.