Heavy Goods Vehicle Crash Protection Assembly Curved Brackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crash protection assemblies for heavy goods vehicles fail to adequately protect vehicle parts from damage during low-speed crashes and when driving through deep tracks, particularly headlamps and other front components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of front crash absorption brackets with curved arms that deform and absorb energy during low-speed crashes, reducing damage by directing deformation away from critical vehicle parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional crash protection assembly with straight bars is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but vehicle parts such as headlamps are still damaged in low-speed crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the crash absorption brackets, transforming straight bars into curved structures. The first curved bracket has a curvature radius R1 and the second has R2, where R1 ≠ R2. This curvature allows the brackets to deform in a controlled manner during low-speed collisions, absorbing energy while directing deformation away from vulnerable components like headlamps, thereby improving protection without significantly complicating manufacturing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the curved arms are designed to absorb energy effectively, then damage to headlamps is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by designing different curved brackets with distinct curvature radii (R1 and R2) tailored to specific structural requirements. The first curved bracket connecting to the longitudinal beam has a different curvature than the second curved bracket connecting to the transverse beam. This localized differentiation optimizes energy absorption at each connection point while maintaining overall structural simplicity through the repetition of the curved bracket concept.
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 curved arms effectively reduce damage to vehicle components like headlamps by controlling deformation and absorbing energy, providing enhanced protection in low-speed collisions and off-road conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the curved arms not only define the location where the deformation takes place e.g. in case of a crash at low speeds but also absorb the energy as a result of such a low speed crash
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
A heavy goods vehicle comprises a crash protection assembly (1) provided at the front of the vehicle. The crash protection assembly comprises a lower cross beam (2) extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and extending horizontally. The lower cross beam is connected to two parallel frame beams (3; 4) of a vehicle chassis via brackets (5; 6) such that the lower cross beam is arranged in front and below the two parallel frame beams. The crash protection assembly further comprises an upper cross beam (7) arranged in front of and connected to the two parallel frame beams via support elements (8; 9). The crash protection assembly comprises a front bumper(10) and two front crash absorption brackets (11; 12). Each front crash absorption bracket has a base body (11A; 12A) with an upper end (13 14) connected to a lower end of a respective support element and a rear end (15; 16) arranged below the upper end and being supported against a front part of a respective bracket. Each front crash absorption bracket has a front portion (27; 28) arranged in contact against the front bumper, the front portion being connected to the base body via two curved arms (17, 18; 19, 20) one of the curved arms (17; 19) curving inwards with regard to a center of the heavy goods vehicle, the other one of the curved arms (18; 20) curving downwards.