Retractable Vehicle Under-Guard for Dual-Mode Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety regulations require a retractable under-guard for vehicles that can provide rear impact protection on-road while avoiding damage and interference with off-road obstacles, necessitating a dual-purpose solution that can automatically lock into position for impact resistance.
Innovation Solution
A retractable under-guard system with an actuator frame that pivots from a horizontal to a vertical position, using a pin-in-hook latch system and slanted plate locks to secure the guard frame in place, allowing it to deploy for on-road use and retract for off-road travel, utilizing hydraulic, pneumatic, or manual actuators for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the under-guard is lowered to provide rear impact protection for on-road travel, then collision protection is improved, but the guard is likely to be bent or damaged when traveling off-road over obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The under-guard is designed to be movable between a lowered position for on-road collision protection and a raised position for off-road travel. The dynamic repositioning allows the guard to adapt to different operating conditions, providing protection when needed while avoiding damage when encountering obstacles off-road.
2Strength
If the under-guard is raised to avoid obstacles off-road, then resistance to damage is improved, but the guard cannot provide rear impact protection for on-road travel
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic repositioning of the under-guard between raised and lowered states based on whether the vehicle is operating on-road or off-road, ensuring optimal protection in each scenario.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the under-guard is made retractable to serve dual purposes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to actuators and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The under-guard system incorporates automatic locking mechanisms that engage when the guard reaches the desired position during retraction or extension. The locks are automatically actuated by the movement itself, reducing the need for additional control systems and simplifying the overall device complexity while maintaining dual-purpose capability.
4Reliability
If automatic locks are added to secure the under-guard in deployed position, then impact resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the under-guard reaches the deployed position during the retraction/extension movement. The system uses the movement itself to trigger the locking action, providing enhanced impact resistance without requiring separate control systems or complex actuation mechanisms.
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 system effectively deploys and retracts the under-guard to prevent underride collisions on-road while minimizing the risk of damage from obstacles off-road, ensuring multi-directional impact resistance and compliance with safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
pivoting of the actuator frame to the deployed/lowered position allows the guard frame to pivot/swing by gravity down from its horizontal or generally-horizontal retracted position to its deployed position
Data Source
AI summary
A retractable under-guard, for example for dual-purpose trucks that travel on-road and off-road, provides impact protection to other vehicles colliding with the truck, but is raised for off-road travel to avoid obstacles. The under-guard connects by a frame wrap to horizontal frame beam(s) of many different trucks and does not hang down in its retracted position to an extent that it interferes with off-road travel. For entering the road, the guard frame pivots downward to the desired position at or near the outer perimeter of the truck, and typically about half way between the truck frame and the ground in the space into which a lower vehicle would enter in a collision. Hook and pin systems, and/or impact plates, maintain the under-guard in proper position upon an impact. The under-guard system may automatically deploy above a predetermined truck speed, to ensure deployment when the truck re-enters the roads.