Torsional under-ride guard

Details Torsional under-ride guard Torsional under-ride guard

1999-01-19

2001-01-23

Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)

Vehicle fenders

Buffer or bumper type

C293S134000, C293S136000, C293S146000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06176529

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to an energy absorption device mounted on the rear of a high elevation vehicle (e.g. a truck, cargo carrier, trailer or semi-trailer). More particularly, the invention relates to a torsional under-ride guard designed for use on a high elevation vehicle, which reduces the likelihood that another vehicle will under-ride the high elevation vehicle and provides means for absorbing some of the impact energy created when another vehicle collides with the torsional under-ride guard.
Trucks and cargo carriers (e.g., trailers and semi-trailers, etc.) frequently have an elevated floor (hereinafter, trucks and cargo carriers and other vehicles having an elevated floor will be referred to collectively as “high elevation vehicles”). That is, the lowest portion of these high elevation vehicles is frequently relatively high compared with the front ends of passenger cars and other low elevation vehicles such as pick-up trucks. As a result, when a passenger car or other low elevation vehicle impacts the rear of a high elevation vehicle, the front end may travel under the floor of the high elevation vehicle, and the passenger compartment may slam into the rear of the high elevation vehicle body severely or fatally injuring those in the passenger compartment of the vehicle which is under-riding the high elevation vehicle.
To minimize under-ride collisions, high elevation vehicles have used various bumper designs. One such bumper design comprises a kind of step bumper consisting of a cross bar extending between two vertical posts, one mounted on each side of the rear of the high elevation vehicle. The step bumper extends from side to side at the lower end of the vertical posts. A brace on each side extends up from the bottom of the vertical post forward and inclined at an angle towards the trailer. These inclined braces or side members on each side collapse if the impinging vehicle hits the bumper with too much speed.
One problem with this previously known bumper design is that the bumper and step portion is subject to damage when the high elevation vehicle is backed into a loading dock. That is, due to poor visibility in the docking area or lack of attention on the part of the driver during the docking procedure, the vehicle may impact the loading dock with sufficient force to damage the bumper.
Another design uses vertical posts mounted at each side of the rear of the vehicle, which vertical posts are hinged at the upper end to the top of the high elevation vehicle. The bumper extends between the two vertical posts at the bottom of the vertical post. A crash shock absorber is mounted at each side of the bumper to absorb shock as the bumper is pushed towards the front of the high elevation vehicle by an impinging vehicle. The impinging vehicle collapses the shock absorbers as the vertical posts pivot about the upper hinges or pivot points.
One problem associated with this bumper design is that the bumper system exerts a separation force subsequent to an impact between the high elevation vehicle and an impinging vehicle. That is, the bumper may cause the high elevation vehicle and impinging vehicle to separate subsequent to an impact. Such separation or relative movement of the vehicles post-collision can present a danger to the occupants of the vehicles, bystanders and rescue personnel.
The torsional under-ride guard of the present invention overcomes the above-identified shortcomings of the prior high-elevation vehicle bumper systems. Upon high impact collision, such as with an impinging vehicle, the torsional under-ride guard of the present invention remains locked in its retracted position, eliminating the dangers associated with having the device snap back to its original position upon separation of the impinging vehicles. Upon a low impact collision, such as that encountered when a high elevation vehicle backs into a loading dock or other property, the torsional under-ride guard of the present invention retracts so as to prevent damage to the property contacting the rear of the vehicle and/or to the bumper system. Upon separation of the vehicle from the property, the torsional under-ride guard of the present invention returns to its original position, ready for deployment without the need for repair or resetting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a torsional under-ride guard adapted to be mounted to a high elevation vehicle. Specifically, the present invention provides torsional under-ride guards for use on high elevation vehicles, which guards are designed to prevent a low-elevation vehicle, upon colliding with the rear end of a high elevation vehicle, from under-riding the high elevation vehicle. The guards of the present invention are further designed to absorb a portion of the energy generated when a low-elevation vehicle collides with the rear end of a high elevation vehicle.
In accordance with the present invention, a torsional under-ride guard adapted to be mounted to a high elevation vehicle is provided, having: at least one torsional elastic joint; a bumper member, moveable between an at-rest position and a retracted position; at least one return stop block; and optionally, a spring biasing element, preferably a compression spring; wherein the at least one return stop block is adapted to prevent the bumper member from automatically returning to the at-rest position from the retracted position. In a preferred embodiment, the return stop block comprises: a guide having a bore passing therethrough, and a moveable bar having a first end and a second end with a head at the first end, wherein the moveable bar slideably extends through the bore and wherein the head is configured so that it cannot bass through the bore. Preferably, the moveable bar comprises a bolt. Optionally, the moveable bar may further have a follower at the second end.
In accordance with the present invention, a torsional under-ride guard is provided which further has a pair of levers connecting the bumper member and the torsional elastic joint, wherein the levers are spaced apart from one another and wherein the bumper member extends between the levers or, alternatively, beyond the levers.
In accordance with the present invention, a torsional under-ride guard is provided which has a torsional elastic joint comprising an outer tubular member, an inner member disposed generally concentrically within and spaced from the outer member for rotation relative thereto about a common axis, and at least one yieldable restraint disposed within the outer member and interacting between it and the inner member to effect a resistance against the relative rotation of the outer and inner members about the common axis.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a torsional under-ride guard, wherein the torsional elastic joint has an outer tubular member having a plurality of annularly symmetrically arranged internal surfaces defining an opening therethrough, an inner member generally concentrically disposed within the opening through the outer member and spaced from the outer member for rotation relative thereto about a common axis, the inner member having a plurality of annularly symmetrically-arranged external surfaces each of which is normally oriented to face radially outwardly toward a pocket formed by the juncture between two of the internal surfaces on the outer member, and a plurality of elastic, cushioning elements normally disposed under radial compression between the external surfaces on the inner member and the internal surfaces of the outer member.
In another preferred embodiment, the invention provides a torsional under-ride guard wherein the torsional elastic joint has an outer tubular member, an inner member disposed generally concentrically within and spaced from the outer member for rotation relative thereto about a common axis, and a plurality of elastic cushioning members disposed between the interior of the outer member and the exterior of the inner member for yieldingly holding the inner and outer members generally concentric to one another and yieldingl

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