AU2020100129B4

AU2020100129B4 - Under-vehicle armour

Info

Publication number: AU2020100129B4
Application number: AU2020100129A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kevin Andrew Baker; Kieran Michael Jenkins; James Michael Morton; Thomas Peter Schneider; Zoran Zavadil
Original assignee: ARB Corp Ltd
Current assignee: ARB Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-24
Filing date: 2020-01-24
Publication date: 2020-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-24
Also published as: AU2020100129A4

Abstract

Under-vehicle armour for shielding an underside of a vehicle having an engine bay. The armour includes a body configured to be mounted to the underside of the vehicle and dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the engine bay. The body is shaped to define a plurality of stiffening formations and is formed from a resiliently deformable polymer material configured such that, in use, following impact with an obstacle to cause deformation of the body, the body substantially returns to its original shape.

Description

"Under-vehicle armour"

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates, generally, to under-vehicle armour for shielding an underside of a vehicle, and, in particular, relates to under-vehicle armour for shielding the underside of a four-wheel-drive ("4WD") vehicle from impacts with obstacles present in off road terrain, such as tree stumps, logs and rocks.

Background

[0002] Some vehicles are configured for driving off-road to allow travelling across unsealed, rough terrain. Driving a vehicle across such terrain often exposes the vehicle to obstacles which can collide with the underside of the vehicle, such as tree stumps, roots, logs, rocks, or the like, which can cause damage to the vehicle. To minimise damage caused by such obstacles it is known to fix one or more metallic plates to the underside of the vehicle to provide shielding. However such plates can substantially increase weight of the vehicle, consequently increasing fuel consumption. Furthermore, such plates are typically plastically deformable meaning that impacts with obstacles can deflect the plates sufficiently to cause interference with the vehicle, consequently requiring repair or removal to allow the vehicle to continue to be driven.

[0003] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Summary

[0004] According to some disclosed embodiments, there is provided an under-vehicle armour for shielding an underside of a vehicle having an engine bay. The armour includes a body comprising a plurality of separable sections, each of the sections configured to be mounted to the underside of the vehicle and dimensioned to cover a substantial portion of the underside of the vehicle. The body is shaped to define a plurality of stiffening formations and is formed from an elastically deformable cross-linked polyethylene configured to substantially deform to absorb force such that, in use, following impact with an obstacle to cause deformation of the body, the body substantially returns to its original shape.

[0005] The body may be dimensioned to cover a substantial portion of the underside of the vehicle.

[0006] The stiffening formations may include recesses and/or projections, each of the recesses and/or projections defining a depth of equal to or greater than 10 mm. In such embodiments, at least some of the recesses and/or projections may define a depth of equal to or greater than 25 mm. Additionally or alternatively, at least some of the recesses and/or projections may define a depth of equal to or greater than 35 mm.

[0007] The body may define a longitudinal length between an operatively front end and an operatively rear end, and the stiffening formations may include a plurality of parallel, longitudinally extending ribs. In such embodiments, at least some of the plurality of ribs may be arranged to extend from the front end to the rear end. Furthermore, the at least some of the plurality of ribs may extend discontinuously from the front end to the rear end.

[0008] The body may comprise a plurality of separable sections, each of the sections configured to be mounted to the underside of the vehicle. In such embodiments, each section may be configured to be connected to at least one of the other sections.

[0009] The body may define a single-skin shell.

[0010] The body maybe formed from across-linked polyethylene.

[0011] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0012] It will be appreciated embodiments may comprise steps, features and/or integers disclosed herein or indicated in the specification of this application individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of two or more of said steps or features.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] Embodiments will now be described byway of example only with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is an underside perspective view of an under-vehicle armour;

[0015] Figures 2 and 3 area side view and an underside view, respectively, of the under vehicle armour shown in Figure 1;

[0016] Figure 4 is atop perspective view of a front section of the under-vehicle armour shown in the previous figures;

[0017] Figure 5 is atop perspective view of a middle section of the under-vehicle armour shown in the previous figures;

[0018] Figure 6 is atop perspective view of a rear section of the under-vehicle armour shown in the previous figures; and

[0019] Figure 7 is atop perspective view of the under-vehicle armour shown in the previous figures attached to mounting components.

Description of Embodiments

[0020] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates anunder-vehicle armour 10 for shielding an underside of a vehicle (not illustrated) having an engine bay, the armour 10 including a body 12 configured to be mounted to the underside of the vehicle and dimensioned to cover at least a portion of the engine bay, the body 12 shaped to define a plurality of stiffening formations 14 and being formed from a resiliently deformable polymer material configured such that, in use, following impact with an obstacle to cause deformation of the body 12, the body 12 substantially returns to its original shape.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the body 12 is configured to substantially cover the entire underside of a utility vehicle, being a single or dual cab truck having a tub for carrying cargo (commonly referred to as a "ute" or "pick-up truck"). It will be appreciated that in other embodiments (not shown), the body 12 is configured to cover a greater or lesser area of the underside of the vehicle. For example, in some embodiments the body 12 is shaped to only cover the underside of the engine bay.

[0022] The body 12 is configured for fitting to a specific vehicle model to allow wrapping around geometry defined by the vehicle. For example, the body 12 defines a plurality of mounting apertures 21 arranged to be aligned with anchor points defined in the underside of the vehicle. Similarly, the front section 16 is shaped to wrap around components housed within or protruding from the engine bay, such as the radiator. It will be appreciated that the geometry of the body 12 is substantially adaptable to allow fitting to a range of different vehicle models.

[0023] The body 12 comprises three interconnected, separable sections being a front section 16, middle section 18 and rear section 20. Each section 16, 18, 20 is configured to connect to at least one other of the sections 16, 18, 20, typically by being arranged to partially overlap an adjacent section 16, 18, 20, and be mounted to the underside of the vehicle. Best shown in Fig. 4, the front section 16 is shaped to be mounted to cover a substantial portion of the engine bay,. Best shown in Fig. 5, the middle section 18 is shaped to be mounted operatively rearwards of the front section 16 to cover a rear of the engine bay, adjacent the transmission, and between the front wheels of the vehicle. Best shown in Fig. 6, the rear section 20 is shaped to be mounted to cover the underside of the vehicle between the rear wheels and under the tub. Dividing the body 12 into three sections in this way minimises part sizes which enhances ease of manufacture, delivery, and installation. Furthermore, should one of the sections 16, 18, 20 be significantly damaged and require replacement, only that section 16, 18, 20 requires removal therefore enhancing serviceability. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments (not shown) the body 12 comprises more or less component parts. For example, in some embodiments (not shown), the body 12 is configured as a unitary structure.

[0024] Each of the sections 16, 18, 20 are formed from a resiliently deformable polymer material which is configured to allow a wide range of elastic deformation. This means that after being subject to a collision with an obstacle during use, such as colliding with a tree stump, the body 12 substantially returns to its original shape, being the geometry of the body 12 before the collisions, such as is illustrated in the figures. Typically, the body 12 is configured to restore at least 95% of its original shape after an impact.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiments, the sections 16, 18, 20 are formed from a cross-linked polyethylene which exhibits a wide range of elastic deformation. In other embodiments, the body 12 is formed from a highly resilient elastomer. In yet other embodiments, the body 12 is a composite construction and/or material, for example, having a polyethylene component joined to elastomer inserts, or being formed from glass fibre reinforced plastic. In further embodiments, the body 12 is formed from, or includes sections formed from, a self-lubricating polymer, such as nylon, to enhance sliding over obstacles. In yet other embodiments, the body is at least partially formed from linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) which exhibits a greater resilience and flexibility than cross-linked polyethylene, and is thermo-formable thereby allowing recycling.

[0026] The body 12 defines a plurality of stiffening formations 14 shaped to enhance stiffness of the body 12. In the illustrated embodiment, these formations 14 include a plurality of recesses 22 and projections 24. Some of these recesses 22 and projections 24 are shaped to allow the body 12 to closely wrap around geometry defined by the underside of the vehicle. For example, a main front recess 221 is shaped to closely cover a radiator arranged within the vehicle's engine bay. In other embodiments (not shown), the stiffening formations 14 define only recesses, such as channels, or only projections, such as ribs.

[0027] Each recess 22 and projection 24 defines a depth of at least 10 mm. Some of the recesses 22 and projections 24 define a depth of 25 mm, and others define a depth of 35 mm or greater. The depth of each recess 22 and projection 24 affects stiffness of the body 12 local to the recess 22 or projection 24, where a greater depth typically provides greater stiffness. The depth of each recess 22 and projection 24 is defined according to stiffness requirements in different regions of the body 12. For example, the projections 24 (configured as ribs 30, discussed below) arranged at an operatively front end of the front section 16 are in a position that is most likely to impact an obstacle and therefore are dimensioned to define a depth of 35 mm to enhance rigidity in this region.

[0028] The body 12 defines a longitudinal length between an operatively front end 26 and an operatively rear end 28. Some of the projections 24 are configured as ribs 30 arranged to extend longitudinally and parallel to each other. Some of the ribs 30 are arranged to extend discontinuously between the front end 26 and the rear end 28. In other embodiments (not shown), at least some of the ribs 30 extend continuously between the front end 26 and the rear end 28.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment the sections 16, 18, 20 are configured as single-skin shells. In other embodiments (not shown), the body 12 is configured a dual-skin shell, or a hollow body.

[0030] Figure 7 shows the body 12 connected to mounting components 32 to allow releasably securing the body 12 to the vehicle, typically with mechanical fasteners such as bolts (not shown). The mounting components 32 are typically configured as steel brackets arranged to space the body 12 relative to the vehicle. Isolators, in the illustrated embodiments in the form of steel bushes 34, are also secured to the body 12 to decrease vibration communicated from the vehicle to the body 12.

[0031] Installation of the under-vehicle armour 10 involves securing the mounting components 32 and grommets 34 to the body 12, and attaching each of the sections 16, 18, 20 to the vehicle by securing fasteners through the mounting apertures 21 and/or mounting components 32 and to the anchor points of the vehicle. Due to the overlapping configuration of the sections, 16, 18, 20, the front section 16 is initially fitted to the vehicle, followed by the rear section 20 and then the middle section 18. The installation of the body 12 is configured in this way to enhance ease of removal of the middle section 18. As the middle section 18 is arranged to cover the gearbox and oil sump, this arrangement usefully minimises inconvenience during common servicing of the vehicle, such as to drain oil from the gearbox.

[0032] Use of the under-vehicle armour 10 involves driving the vehicle across terrain so that an obstacle, such as a rock or log, impacts the body 12. The impact causes the body 12 to deform to dissipate energy of the impact, consequently reducing or avoiding damage being caused to the vehicle. The body 12 then resiliently expands to substantially return to its original shape. Depending on the severity of the impact, the body 12 may require hours or a day to restore its original structure.

[0033] The under-vehicle armour 10 is configured to deform to absorb force exerted during an impact with an obstacle and then return to its original shape. This is useful as this provides a durable under-vehicle barrier which will withstand multiple collisions.

[0034] Forming the under-vehicle armour 10 from a plastic material usefully limits weight of the armour 10 consequently reducing load exerted on the vehicle and fuel consumption. Furthermore, manufacturing the body 12 from a plastic material allows substantial scope for defining a wide range of form factors, consequently allowing coverage of the underside of the vehicle and structural integrity to be enhanced.

[0035] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An under-vehicle armour for shielding an underside of a vehicle having an engine bay, the armour including: a body comprising a plurality of separable sections, each of the sections configured to be mounted to the underside of the vehicle such that mounting the body to the vehicle covers a substantial portion of the underside of the vehicle, wherein the body is shaped to define a plurality of stiffening formations and is formed from an elastically deformable cross-linked polyethylene configured to substantially deform to absorb force such that, in use, following impact with an obstacle to cause deformation of the body, the body substantially returns to its original shape.

2. The under-vehicle armour of claim 1, wherein the body defines a longitudinal length between an operatively front end and an operatively rear end, and the stiffening formations include a plurality of substantially parallel, longitudinal ribs, each rib extending at least partially between the front end and the rear end.

3. The under-vehicle armour of claim 2, wherein at least some of the plurality of ribs extend discontinuously from the front end to the rear end.

4. The under-vehicle armour of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stiffening formations include recesses and/or projections, at least some of the recesses and/or projections defining a depth of equal to or greater than 10 mm.

5. The under-vehicle armour of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each section is configured to be connected to at least one of the other sections.