GB2526692A

GB2526692A - Method for manufacturing an underrun protection device for a vehicle as well as modular system for a plurality of variance of an underrun protection device

Info

Publication number: GB2526692A
Application number: GB1507782.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pradyumna Kumar; Ashwin Vaidyanathan
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2015-05-07
Filing date: 2015-05-07
Publication date: 2015-12-02
Also published as: GB201507782D0

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an underrun protection device 10 for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle such as a truck, comprises: providing a center member 12; providing a first lateral member 14 slidably arranged on a first side 18 of the center member 12 and a second lateral member 16slidably arranged on an opposite second side 22 of the center member 12; adjusting the length of the underrun protection device 10 on the basis of a width of the vehicle by sliding the lateral members 14, 16 in relation to the center member 12 thereby sliding the lateral members 14, 16 into respective positions; and fixing (e.g. by welding, bolting, riveting, brazing or adhesive joining) the lateral members 14, 16 being in the respective positions to the center member 12. Lateral members 14, 16 may be telescopically arranged on the center member 12 and may each comprise respective shell elements (28, 30) connectable together to form at least one closed hollow cross section.

Description

Method for Manufacturing an Underrun Protection Device for a Vehicle as well as Modular System for a Plurality of Variance of an Underrun Protection Device The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an underrun protection device for a vehicle as well as a modular system for manufacturing a plurality of variance of an underrun protection device for vehicles.

Underrun protection devices or underrun protection systems for vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, are well-known from the general prior art. Such an underrun protection device serves for preventing passenger cars from becoming wedged under the front of the commercial vehicle in a frontal collision, and thereby reduces the risk of serious injuries and increases the survival rate for the passenger car's occupants. For example, the underrun protection device serves as a deep crumple zone which considerably reduces penetration into the car's passenger compartment.

However, since there is a plurality of different commercial vehicles a plurality of different variants of such an underrun protection device has to be manufactured.

US 3 447 826 A shows a bumper assembly adapted to be connected to, and supported by, the chassis of a vehicle comprising laterally spaced a part vehicular attachable, and longitudinally extending brackets, a transversely extending hollow bumper connected with, and supported by, said brackets, said bumper having spaced apart holes therein and having a transverse passageway therein, an extensible and contractable bumper tip member slidably mounted in each side end portion of said transverse passageway, each bumper tip member having a plurality of spaced apart holes, a selected one of which is alinable with a hole in said bumper, and bolt means disposed in said holes in said bumper and said bumper tip member securing the same together.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and a modular system by means of which a plurality of different variants of the underrun protection device can be manufactured in a particularly easy and cost-efficient way.

This object is solved by a method having the features of patent claim 1 as well as a modular system having the features of patent claim 5. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing an underrun protection device for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle such as a truck. In a first step of the method a center member or center part is provided. In a second step of the method a first lateral member is provided. Moreover, the first lateral member is slidably arranged on a first side of the center member. In a third step of the method a second lateral member is provided and slidably arranged on an opposite second side of the center member. In a fourth step of the method the length of the underrun protection device is adjusted on the basis of a width of the vehicle by sliding the lateral members in relation to the center member thereby sliding the lateral members into respective positions. Moreover, in a fifth step of the method the lateral members which are in the respective positions are fixed to the center member. In the method according to the present invention different variants of the underrun protection device can be manufactured in a particularly easy and cost-efficient way by sliding the lateral members in relation to the center member thereby adjusting the length of the underrun protection device. Thus, underrun protection devices having different lengths can be manufactured and used for vehicles having different widths. However, the same center member and the same lateral members can be used for all of the variants. Thus, the different variants of the underrun protection device can be realized particularly easily.

By fixing the lateral members to the center member a particularly high stability and rigidity of the underrun protection device can be realized so that respective regulation requirements can be met.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a modular system for manufacturing a plurality of variants of an underrun protection device for vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles such as trucks. The modular system comprises a center member and a first lateral member configured to be slidably arranged on a first side of the center member. The modular system further comprises a second lateral member configured to be slidably arranged on an opposite second side of the center member. In respective states, in which the lateral members are slidably arranged on the center member the lateral members are configured to be slid into respective positions in relation to the center member on the basis of respective widths of the vehicles thereby adjusting the length of the underrun protection device on the basis of said width. Furthermore, the lateral members are configured to be fixed to the center member in the respective positions. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the present invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the modular system according to the present invention and vice versa.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respective indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a underrun protection device comprising at least three members connected with each other; Fig. 2 a schematic top view of the underrun protection device; Fig. 3 a schematic front view of the underrun protection device: Fig. 4 a schematic exploded view of one lateral member of the underrun protection device; and Fig. 5 a schematic cross-sectional view of the underrun protection device.

In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

Fig. 1 shows an underrun protection device 10 for a vehicle in the form of a commercial vehicle such as a truck. The underrun protection device 10 is configured to be arranged at the front of the commercial vehicle so that the underrun protection device 10 is configured as a front underrun protection device. In order to manufacture a plurality of different variants of the underrun protection device 10 the underrun protection device 10 comprises a center member 12, a first lateral member 14 and a second lateral member 16. The first lateral member 14 is arranged on a first side 18 of the center member 12. The second lateral member 16 is arranged on an opposite second side 20 of the center member 12.

In other words, the second side 20 is opposite to the first side 18.

In a method for manufacturing the underrun protection device 10 the center member 12 is provided. Moreover, the first lateral member 14 is slidably arranged on the center member 12 on the first side 18 and the second lateral member 16 is slidably arranged on the center member 12 on the second side 20. In this state, i.e. while the lateral members 14 and 16 are slidably arranged on the center member 12, the lateral members 14 and 16 can be slid in relation to the center member 12 thereby adjusting the length of the underrun protection device 10. In order to adapt the underrun protection device 10, in particular its length, to different widths of commercial vehicles the lateral members 14 and 16 are slid in relation to the center member 12 on the basis of the width of the respective vehicle which is to be equipped with the underrun protection device 10. Thus, the length of the underrun protection device 10 is adjusted on the basis of the width of the vehicle.

With respect to a completely assembled state of the vehicle in which the underrun protection device 10 is arranged on the vehicle said length of the underrun protection device 10 extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle, wherein the width of the vehicle also extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

By sliding the lateral members 14 and 16 in relation to the center member 12 on the basis of the width of the vehicle, the lateral members 14 and 16 are moved or slid into respective positions. In said method the lateral members 14 and 16 are fixed to the center member 12 in the respective positions so that the positions themselves are fixed and the underrun protection device 10 has a particularly high stability and rigidity.

In Fig. 2 directional arrows 22 are shown, the directional arrows 22 illustrating the possibility of sliding the lateral members 14 and 16 in relation to the center member 12 before the lateral members 14 and 16 are fixed to the center member 12.

In Figs. 2 and 3 respective areas A are shown in which the lateral members 14 and 16 are fixed to the center member 12. For example, the lateral members 14 and 16 are fixed to the center member 12 by at least one of welding, bolting, riveting, brazing and adhesive joining.

Preferably, the lateral members 14 and 16 are telescopically slidably arranged on the center member l2so that, when sliding the lateral members 14 and 16 in relation to the center member 12, the lateral members 14 and 16 are moved into and out of the center member 12. Thus, for example, the lateral members 14 and 16 and, thus, the length of the underrun protection device 10 are telescopically adjustable with respect to the wheel track of the vehicle.

As can be seen from Fig. 1 the underrun protection device 10 comprises reinforcement elements 24 arranged in the center member 12 which has, for example, a hollow-cross section. The center member 12 and, thus, the underrun protection device 10 is reinforced by the reinforcement elements 24. Moreover, the underrun protection device 10 comprises mounting brackets 26 by means of which the underrun protection device 10 can be attached to, for example, a frame of the commercial vehicle.

As can be seen in Fig. 2 with regard to the lateral member 14, the lateral member 14 comprises a first shell element 28 forming an outer member, and a second shell element forming an inner member of the lateral member 14. The embodiments described with respect to the lateral member 14 can be regarded as embodiments of the lateral member 16 and vice versa.

As can be seen from Fig. 4 the respective shell elements 28 and 30 have a respective open cross-section 32 and 34. The shell elements 28 and 30 are connected with each other thereby forming at least one closed hollow cross-section of the lateral member 14.

Said closed hollow cross-section can be seen in Fig. 5 where said closed hollow cross-section is indicated by 36.

As can be seen from the figures the underrun protection device 10 has a three or more piece design which allows for creating different variants having different length in a particularly easy and cost-efficient way by sliding the respective lateral members 14 and 16 in relation to the center member 12. The different variants of the underrun protection device 10 can be used for different vehicles having different widths, in particular wheel tracks so that the different vehicles can be equipped with underrun protection devices thereby realizing a particularly high safety. Thus, a particularly efficient part management, reduced cost, a common design and ease of manufacturing can be realized.

List of reference signs underrun protection device 12 center member 14 lateral member 16 lateral member 18 first side second side 22 directional arrow 24 reinforcement element 26 mounting bracket 28 first shell element second shell element 32 open cross-section 34 open cross-section 36 closed hollow cross-section

Claims

Claims A method for manufacturing an underrun protection device (10) for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, the method comprising: -providing a center member (12); -providing a first lateral member (14) which is slidably arranged on a first side (18) of the center member (12); -providing a second lateral member (16) which is slidably arranged on an opposite second side (22) of the center member (12); -adjusting the length of the underrun protection device (10) on the basis of a width of the vehicle by sliding the lateral members (14, 16) in relation to the center member (12) thereby sliding the lateral members (14, 16) into respective positions; and -fixing the lateral members (14, 16) being in the respective positions to the center member (12).
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lateral members (14, 16) are fixed to the center member (12) by at least one of welding, bolting, riveting, brazing and adhesive joining.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the respective lateral member (14, 16) comprises respective shell elements (28, 30) which are connected with each other thereby forming at least one closed hollow cross-section (36) of the respective lateral member (14, 16).
4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral members (14, 16) are telescopically slidably arranged on the center member (12).
5. A modular system for manufacturing a plurality of variants of an underrun protection device (10) for vehicles, in particular commercial vehicles, the modular system comprising: -a center member (12); -a first lateral member (14) configured to be slidably arranged on a first side (18) of the center member (12); -a second lateral member (16) configured to be slidably arranged on an opposite second side (20) of the center member (12); wherein the lateral members (14, 16) slidably arranged on the center member (12) are configured to be slid into respective positions in relation to the center member (12) on the basis of respective widths of the vehicles thereby adjusting the length of the underrun protection device (10) on the basis of the widths, and wherein the lateral members (14, 16) are configured to be fixed to the center member (12) in the respective positions.