Modular Vehicle Bumper Assembly for Off-Road Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bull-bar assemblies for off-road vehicles suffer from excessive weight, inadequate integration with vehicle systems, limited customization options, and complex accessory installation/maintenance, failing to consider rugged off-road conditions and large animal collisions.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece bumper assembly comprising a chassis with wing members and a releasable impact absorbing member, allowing for customizable integration with vehicle systems, easy accessory access, and enhanced impact absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional vehicle bumpers are used, then they provide collision absorption at moderate speeds, but they provide little to no functionality in rugged off-road environments and against large animals
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper assembly is divided into a chassis and a separate impact absorbing member that can be independently selected and attached. This segmentation allows the impact absorbing member to be optimized specifically for off-road conditions and large animal collisions, while the chassis provides structural support and mounting capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper assembly is designed with multiple functions: the chassis provides structural support and mounting, the impact absorbing member handles collisions with various objects (rocks, trees, animals), and accessory mounting capabilities enable additional off-road equipment. This multi-functionality addresses the versatility requirement for off-road environments.
2Reliability
If existing bull-bar assemblies are used, then they provide off-road protection, but they suffer from excessive weight impacting fuel efficiency and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorbing member is designed with optimized dimensions, shape, and material properties to achieve the required protection level with minimum weight. The member can be configured in different shapes (wraparound, straight, curved) and materials (aluminum, steel, composite) to balance protection requirements with weight constraints for fuel efficiency and handling.
3Reliability
If existing bull-bar assemblies are used, then they provide basic protection, but they have inadequate integration with vehicle systems and sensors such as radar or parking sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis is designed with integrated mounting points and structures that accommodate various vehicle systems including radar sensors, parking sensors, lights, and other electronic components. This multi-functional design allows the bumper to serve both protective and integrative purposes, maintaining vehicle system compatibility while providing off-road protection.
4Reliability
If existing bull-bar assemblies are used, then they provide fixed accessory mounting, but they have limited access to accessories and complex procedures to add or remove accessories
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory mounting system is segmented into the chassis with mounting points and separate accessory components. This allows accessories to be independently attached and removed from the chassis without affecting the structural integrity of the bumper assembly or requiring complex disassembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory mounting system provides dynamic configurability, allowing users to add, remove, or change accessories based on specific off-road needs. The mounting mechanism enables easy attachment and detachment while maintaining stable fixation during off-road operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Bumper assembly (10) for a vehicle. The assembly (10) includes: a chassis (12) configured to be mounted to the front of the vehicle, the chassis (12) having a spaced pair of wing members (14) shaped to mate with the fenders of the vehicle, and defining a void (16) between the wing members (14); and an impact absorbing member (18) releasably mountable to the chassis (12), the impact absorbing member (18) configured to be secured between the wing members (14) to cover the void (16) and inhibit relative movement of the wing members (14), and be arranged to absorb frontal impacts during use.