Tensioned Fabric Side Underride Guard for Truck Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current underride protection systems for commercial trucks, including rear underride guards, are inadequate in preventing side and rear collisions, often failing to absorb collision energy and protect occupants of smaller vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists, especially at lower collision velocities.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement and guarding system is designed to enhance underride protection by attaching reinforcing components to direct collision forces into the truck's frame structure, incorporating a tensioned fabric side underride guard panel and rear bumper brace gusset to prevent side intrusion and rear underride collisions, which can be retrofitted or integrated as original equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional D.O.T. dock bumpers are used for underride protection, then basic rear bumper coverage is provided, but the bumpers collapse or buckle on collision and fail to provide adequate protection, especially at lower collision velocities
Solution Approach 1:
The underride guard combines rigid steel structural members with energy-absorbing components including deformable sections and crush zones. The guard incorporates both high-strength steel for structural integrity and controlled deformation zones for energy absorption, creating a composite protective system that maintains strength while managing collision forces
Solution Approach 2:
The underride guard incorporates pre-designed energy absorption zones and deformable sections that are engineered to collapse in a controlled manner during collision. These pre-planned cushioning zones absorb impact energy before it can transmit to the vehicle frame, providing beforehand cushioning against collision forces
2Reliability
If larger and more robust underride guards are installed to improve collision protection, then underride prevention capability increases, but vehicle aerodynamics deteriorate and operational flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The underride guard incorporates vertical positioning of protective members to provide protection in the vertical dimension while maintaining horizontal clearance. The guard extends downward from the vehicle frame to protect against underride collisions without significantly increasing horizontal profile, thus preserving aerodynamic flow patterns
Solution Approach 2:
The underride guard applies protective elements selectively at locations where underride collisions are most likely to occur, such as near wheel wells and along the lower vehicle perimeter. Rather than enclosing the entire vehicle, the guard provides localized protection where it is most needed, minimizing aerodynamic disruption
3Reliability
If side underride protection is added to commercial vehicles, then protection against side impact is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The underride guard system is designed to provide multiple functions including rear underride protection, side impact protection, and pedestrian safety. The same structural members and energy-absorbing components serve multiple protective roles, eliminating the need for separate dedicated systems for each function and reducing overall complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An underride collision protection system for a truck. In one example, a rear bumper brace guard is attached to a truck body and extends a rear bumper toward and connects it to the side edge of the truck. A front panel bracket is also attached to the truck body. A fabric side underride guard panel has a front end and a rear end. The front panel bracket and the rear bumper guard hold the fabric side underride guard panel into place at the front end and rear end respectively. A stretching mechanism pulls the side underride guard panel taut between the front end and the rear end. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.