Oval Cross-Section Vehicle Bumper for Emergency Pushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enhanced vehicle bumpers for emergency vehicles are limited in strength and compatibility with various vehicle rear bumper configurations, often failing to provide sufficient robustness and compatibility with atypical vehicles like small service trucks, pickups, or vans.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle push bumper featuring a tubular member with a generally oval cross-section and outwardly slanting upright sections, combined with resilient pads and attachment members, providing increased strength and compatibility with diverse vehicle rear portions while maintaining a lightweight and aesthetically appealing design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional vertical member type enhanced bumpers are used, then the bumper structure provides robust pushing capability, but the strength is concentrated only in two vertical members and cross bars are lighter in scale
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper is divided into multiple tubular members (vertical members, cross bars, and intermediate members) that are segmented and distributed throughout the structure. Each member contributes to the overall strength, eliminating the concentration of strength in only two vertical members while maintaining structural robustness for pushing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper employs composite construction using multiple tubular members of different orientations and positions. The combination of vertical tubular members, horizontal cross bars, and intermediate members creates a composite structural system that distributes strength throughout the entire bumper assembly rather than relying on a few concentrated members.
2Strength
If vertical structural members are used, then the bumper provides high strength, but it fails to match up with certain types of vehicle rear bumpers or atypical structured vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper design incorporates multiple tubular members arranged in a configuration that can interface with various vehicle rear bumper types. The combination of vertical members, cross bars, and intermediate members creates a universal interface system that can adapt to different vehicle configurations including standard bumpers, atypical structured vehicles, small service trucks, pickups, and vans.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper structure allows for dynamic adjustment and adaptation through its multi-member configuration. The tubular members can be positioned and configured to match different vehicle rear bumper geometries, enabling the same bumper design to work effectively across a wide range of vehicle types and pushing scenarios.
3Strength
If heavier bumper members are used, then the bumper provides greater strength, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single heavy member, the bumper is segmented into multiple lighter tubular members (vertical members, cross bars, intermediate members) that are distributed throughout the structure. Each member can be optimized for its specific function and position, allowing the overall structure to achieve high strength through geometric configuration rather than relying on individual member mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper uses a composite arrangement of multiple tubular members in different orientations and positions. This composite structure achieves superior strength-to-weight ratio by leveraging the geometric configuration and distribution of members rather than using heavier single-material construction, optimizing both strength and weight characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle bumper for use with police and other emergency vehicles for pushing another vehicle which is fabricated of a tubular loop defining a generally oval cross-section. The oval cross-section tubular loop is oriented such that the major axis of the oval cross-section extends front to back with respect to the host vehicle while the minor axis extends up and down. The vehicle bumper further supports a plurality of resilient pads to aid in controlling the pushed vehicle and to cushion impact transfer between the bumper and the pushed vehicle. The inventive vehicle bumper is substantially stronger and substantially lighter in weight while simultaneously providing a more attractive front view cross-section when mounted on a host vehicle. A plurality of attachments are secured to the tubular loop and are used in securing the vehicle bumper to a suitable portion of a host vehicle.