GB2537500A - Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle - Google Patents

Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2537500A
GB2537500A GB1605929.7A GB201605929A GB2537500A GB 2537500 A GB2537500 A GB 2537500A GB 201605929 A GB201605929 A GB 201605929A GB 2537500 A GB2537500 A GB 2537500A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
bumper
panel
bumper assembly
front bumper
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1605929.7A
Inventor
Cosme Carlos
Dawson Michael
Henry Morris
Lee Joon-Ho
Parsons Jason
Walsh Jacob
Madugundi Dinesh
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mercedes Benz Group AG
Original Assignee
Daimler AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daimler AG filed Critical Daimler AG
Priority to GB1605929.7A priority Critical patent/GB2537500A/en
Publication of GB2537500A publication Critical patent/GB2537500A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
    • B62D35/001—For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B60R19/04—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects formed from more than one section in a side-by-side arrangement
    • B60R19/12—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects formed from more than one section in a side-by-side arrangement vertically spaced
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D35/00—Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
    • B62D35/005—Front spoilers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
    • B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
    • B60R19/18—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
    • B60R2019/1886—Bumper fascias and fastening means therefor

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a bumper assembly 10 for a commercial vehicle (Fig 2, 11) the bumper assembly 10 comprising at least one front bumper panel 12 configured to be arranged at a front end (14) of the commercial vehicle, wherein the front bumper panel 12 has a front face 16 facing forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein a middle portion 20 of the front face extends, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, lower than respective side portions 22, 24 of the front bumper panel 12, the side portions 22, 24 abutting, in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the middle portion 20. The front bumper assembly having a horizontal middle portion 20 and two abutting side portions 22, 24, are formed in one piece, and mounted on the second front bumper panel 34, whereby the front face 16 sits flush with the second front face 48.

Description

Bumper Assembly for a Commercial Vehicle The invention relates to a bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
Such bumper assemblies for commercial vehicles are well-known from the general prior art. The respective bumper assembly comprises at least one front bumper panel which is configured to be arranged at a front end of the commercial vehicle. The front bumper panel has a front face facing forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This means in an installation position of the bumper assembly the front face faces forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle so that air can flow against the front face when the commercial vehicle travels forwards. The bumper assembly is in said installation position in a completely assembled state of the commercial vehicle, wherein, in said completely assembled state of the vehicle, the bumper assembly is mounted on the vehicle.
Moreover, DE 10 2007 019 481 Al shows a front end module for a vehicle, the front end module comprising a front end mounting member to which a pedestrian protection cross member is assigned.
Furthermore, GB 2511912 A shows an air deflector arrangement for a multi-axle motor vehicle, the air deflector arrangement comprising at least one air deflector configured to direct an underbody air flow towards and around vehicle components of the motor vehicle. In said air deflector arrangement, the at least one air deflector is arranged on an axel carrier of the motor vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to further develop a bumper assembly of the aforementioned kind in such a way that a particularly efficient operation of the commercial vehicle can be realized.
This object is solved by a bumper assembly having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.
In order to further develop a bumper assembly of the kind indicated in the preamble of patent claim 1 in such a way that a particularly efficient operation of the commercial vehicle can be realized, according to the present invention, a middle portion of the front face and, thus, the front bumper panel extends, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, lower than respective side portions abutting, in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the middle portion. This means the middle portion is arranged between said side portions with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle. For example, the middle portion has a first area which is, with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle, arranged at the same height as the side portions. Moreover, the middle portion has a second area which is, with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle, arranged below the first area, wherein the second area is, with respect to the vertical direction of the vehicle, lower than the side portions. Thus, the front bumper panel has a stepped frontal profile which aerodynamically shields downstream underbody components of the commercial vehicle which results in a particularly efficient operation and, thus, an improved fuel economy. Moreover, the front bumper panel is configured in such a way that the front bumper panel keeps its shape under normal highway drag loading, but is flexible enough to not be damaged by impacts and forced deflections.
The front bumper panel acts as an air dam which directs air towards and/or around components, in particular underbody components of the commercial vehicle in a particularly advantageous way, in particular when the commercial vehicle travels forwards. Since the middle portion extends lower than the side portions, the front bumper panel has a unique shape resulting in an optimized aerodynamic shielding of chassis underbody components of the vehicle. For example, the middle portion is a frontal view lower profile of the front bumper panel. It was found that the frontal view lower profile creates a wake structure that strategically shields downstream components and results in a minimization of the overall vehicle aerodynamic drag. Thus, fuel consumption of the commercial vehicle can be kept particularly low.
Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawings. 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 respectively indicated combination but also in other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.
The drawings show in: Fig. 1 a schematic front view of a bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle according to the present invention; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of said commercial vehicle comprising the bumper assembly; Fig. 3 part of a schematic perspective view of components of the bumper assembly; Fig. 4 part of a schematic perspective view of the bumper assembly; Fig. 5 part of a schematic sectional side view of the bumper assembly; and Fig. 6 part of a schematic perspective view of the bumper assembly.
In the figures the same elements or elements having the same functions are indicated by the same reference signs.
Fig. 1 shows in a schematic front view a bumper assembly 10 for a commercial vehicle 11 which is, for example, a truck. As can be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 4 to 6 the bumper assembly 10 comprises at least one first front bumper panel 12 configured to be arranged at a front end 14 of the commercial vehicle 11. This means, in a completely assembled state of the commercial vehicle 11, the bumper assembly 10 and, thus, the front bumper panel 12 are arranged at the front end 14 of the commercial vehicle 11. In said completely assembled state of the commercial vehicle 11, the bumper assembly 10 and, thus, the front bumper panel 12 are in an installation position. The front bumper panel 12 has front face 16 which, with respect to the installation position, faces forwards in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Thus, when the commercial vehicle 11 travels forwards, air can flow against and around the front face 16 so that the air is guided or directed by means of the front face 16 and, thus, the first front bumper panel 12. For example, in Fig. 1, a ground on which the commercial vehicle 11 can travel is indicated by 18.
In order to realize a particularly efficient operation of the commercial vehicle 11, the front face 16 and, thus, the front bumper panel 12 comprise a middle portion 20 which, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, extends lower than respective side portions 22 and 24 of the front face 16, the side portions 22 and 24 abutting, in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the middle portion 20 so that, with respect to the installation position, the middle portion 20 is arranged between the side portions 22 and 24 in the transverse direction of the vehicle. As can be seen from Fig. 1, the middle portion 20 has a first area 26 which is, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, arranged at least substantially at the same height as the side portions 22 and 24. The middle portion 20 has a second area 28 which is, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, arranged below the first area 26 so that the second area 28 is arranged below and, thus, lower than the first area 26 and the side portions 22 and 24. Thus, the ground clearance of the commercial vehicle 11 is lower in the middle portion 20 than in the side portions 22 and 24.
For example, Fig. 2 illustrates an air flow 30 when the commercial vehicle 11 travels forward. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the front bumper panel 12 creates a more uniform wake structure that strategically shields downstream components and results in a minimization of the overall vehicle aerodynamic drag. In particular, a tandem axel 32 of the commercial vehicle 11 can be shielded particularly advantageously by means of the front bumper panel 12.
It has been shown that bumpers for vehicles play a crucial role towards achieving necessary underbody aerodynamic performance. Bumpers or bumper assemblies act as a shield to avoid high speed airflow entering under the cab and chassis of a commercial vehicle. Thus, they can improve aerodynamic performance of the vehicle. An attempt has been made to design an air dam that can strategically shield chassis components, like fuel tanks, drive axle, drive tires etc., while minimizing the penalty taken by the air dam itself.
This means the bumper assembly 10, in particular the front bumper panel 12 can act as an air dam which, since the middle portion 20 extends lower than the side portions 22 and 24, can direct air towards and/or around components, in particular underbody components, of the commercial vehicle 11 in particularly advantageous way thereby realizing a particularly efficient operation and, thus, particularly low fuel consumption. The projected frontal area of chassis components when viewed from the front of the vehicle, specific to drive axles and drive tires, is used as a basis to determine the shape of the air dam (bumper assembly 12). The external air conditions experienced by a truck, while driving on the road, vary from no side wind to high side wind. The resultant angle of a tag of external air relative to the vehicle in motion at cruising condition can be over 9 degrees. The air dam needs to provide a shielding effect that specifically targets only the chassis components downstream of the bumper, i.e. the components that are arranged at least partially behind the front bumper panel 12 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
Numerical simulations and road testing were conducted to quantify the benefits of the bumper assembly 10 being a device for directing air. From simulations, the benefits of the bumper assembly 10 are primarily seen from the effects of the middle portion 20 being a unique lower extension at the middle of the bumper assembly 10 with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle. The ground clearance varies from the side to the center of the bumper assembly 10 where a larger ground clearance exists at the side and is reduced at the middle or center. The width of the middle portion 20 being a center extension is optimized to provide maximum benefit from shielding the chassis components that are far downstream of the bumper assembly 10. Said center extension (middle portion 20) of the bumper assembly 10 generates a wake which creates a shielding effect with a longer longitudinal reach versus a bumper profile with no such center extension. For example, the front bumper panel 12 is made of a plastic material. Preferably, the middle portion 20 and the side portions 22 and 24 are made or formed in one piece.
As can be seen from Figs. 3 to 5, the bumper assembly 10 comprises at least one second front bumper panel 34 which, for example, is configured as a separately manufactured part with respect to the first front pumper panel 12. In other words, the front bumper panels 12 and 34 are individual parts which are connected with each other. In the bumper assembly 10, the first front bumper panel 12 is mounted on the second front bumper panel 34, wherein the front face 16 of the first front bumper panel 12 is arranged, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, below the second front bumper panel 34 at least partially.
As can be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, a at least one separate mounting element 36 is used to mount the first front bumper panel 12 on the second front bumper panel 34 so that, for example, the mounting element 36 acts as an adaptor via which the front bumper panel 12 is connected with the front bumper panel 34. This means, for example, the mounting element 36 is attached to the front bumper panel 34 and the front bumper panel 12 is attached to the mounting element 36. As is illustrated by arrows 38 in Fig. 3, holes of the mounting element 36 and holes of the front bumper panel 34 are used to connect the mounting element 36 with the front bumper panel 34.
As can be seen from Fig. 4, the first front bumper panel 12 comprises mounting means 40 by means of which the first front bumper panel 12 is connected with the mounting element 36 so that the front bumper panel 12 is mounted on the front bumper panel 34 by means of the mounting means 40. For example, the mounting means 40 comprise respective holes. Said holes of the mounting means 40 and holes of the mounting element 36 are used to connect the front bumper panel 12 with the mounting element 36 as is illustrated by arrows 42 in Fig. 4.
As can be seen from Fig. 5, the front face 16 of the front bumper panel 12 covers the mounting means 40 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front so that particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the commercial vehicle 11 can be realized. Furthermore, the front bumper panel 12 has a T-section 44 forming at least a portion of the front face 16 and at least one lug 46 forming the mounting means 40 so that the front bumper panel 12 is mounted on the mounting element 36 via the lug 46. Moreover, the front face 16 projects above the mounting means 40 and the lug 46 in the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the top.
Additionally, the second front bumper panel 34 has a second front face 48 which is also referred to as an A-surface facing forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in said installation position of the bumper assembly 10. In order to realize particularly advantageous aerodynamics of the commercial vehicle 11 the first front face 16 sits flush with the second front face 48. Thus, the unique shape of the front bumper panel 12 and its flushness to the A-surface result in optimized aerodynamic shielding of components, in particular of chassis underbody components of the commercial vehicle 11.
As can be seen from Fig. 6, the front bumper panels 12 and 34, in particular their outer surfaces, have sharp corners 50 providing stiffness. Thus, for example, the front bumper panel 12 is configured to keep its shape under normal highway drag loading, but is flexible enough to not be damaged by impacts and forced deflections.
Preferably, the the middle portion 20 is stiffer than the side portions 22 and 24. This means the middle portion 20 of a stiffer material than the side portions 22 and 24. Thus, the middle portion 20 which is also referred to as a center portion can be made from a material that is quite stiff but yet highly flexible, while the side portions 22 and 24 can be made from a much less stiff material due to the shape of those side portions 22 and 24.
List of reference signs bumper assembly 11 commercial vehicle 12 first front bumper panel 14 front end 16 front face 18 ground middle portion 22 side portion 24 side portion 26 first area 28 second area air flow 32 tandem axle 34 second front bumper panel 36 mounting element 38 arrow mounting means 42 arrow 44 T-section 46 lug 48 second front face corner

Claims (7)

  1. Claims 1. A bumper assembly (10) for a commercial vehicle (11), the bumper assembly (10) comprising at least one front bumper panel (12) configured to be arranged at a front end (14) of the commercial vehicle, wherein the front bumper panel (12) has a front face (16) facing forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, characterized in that a middle portion (20) of the front face extends, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, lower than respective side portions (22, 24) of the front bumper panel (12), the side portions (22, 24) abutting, in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the middle portion (20).
  2. 2. The bumper assembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the middle portion (20) and the side portions (22, 24) are formed in one piece.
  3. 3. The bumper assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bumper assembly (10) comprises at least one second front bumper panel (34) on which the first front bumper panel (12) is mounted, the front face (16) of the first front bumper panel (12) being arranged, in the vertical direction of the vehicle, below the second front bumper panel (34) at least partially.
  4. 4. The bumper assembly (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first front bumper panel (12) comprises mounting means (40) by means of which the first front bumper panel (12) is mounted on the second front bumper panel (34), wherein the front face (16) covers the mounting means (40) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the front.
  5. 5. The bumper assembly (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the front face (16) projects above the mounting means (40) in the vertical direction of the vehicle towards the top.
  6. 6. The bumper assembly (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the front face (16) sits flush with a second front face (48) of the second front bumper panel (34), the second front face (48) facing forwards with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
  7. 7. The bumper assembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the middle portion (20) is stiffer than the side portions (22, 24).
GB1605929.7A 2016-04-07 2016-04-07 Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle Withdrawn GB2537500A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1605929.7A GB2537500A (en) 2016-04-07 2016-04-07 Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1605929.7A GB2537500A (en) 2016-04-07 2016-04-07 Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2537500A true GB2537500A (en) 2016-10-19

Family

ID=56958657

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1605929.7A Withdrawn GB2537500A (en) 2016-04-07 2016-04-07 Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2537500A (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6079769A (en) * 1999-03-01 2000-06-27 Fannin; Dawn B. Retractable air turbulence device for vehicles
US20110181075A1 (en) * 2010-06-22 2011-07-28 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Airflow control device for an automotive vehicle
GB2498811A (en) * 2012-01-30 2013-07-31 Wirth Res Ltd Drag reduction device and a vehicle comprising the device
US20150145280A1 (en) * 2013-11-26 2015-05-28 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Air guide assembly for vehicle
GB2527947A (en) * 2015-08-04 2016-01-06 Daimler Ag Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle
WO2016055079A1 (en) * 2014-10-08 2016-04-14 Volvo Truck Corporation Aerodynamic device to be fastened under a vehicle, and vehicle equipped with such an aerodynamic device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6079769A (en) * 1999-03-01 2000-06-27 Fannin; Dawn B. Retractable air turbulence device for vehicles
US20110181075A1 (en) * 2010-06-22 2011-07-28 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Airflow control device for an automotive vehicle
GB2498811A (en) * 2012-01-30 2013-07-31 Wirth Res Ltd Drag reduction device and a vehicle comprising the device
US20150145280A1 (en) * 2013-11-26 2015-05-28 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Air guide assembly for vehicle
WO2016055079A1 (en) * 2014-10-08 2016-04-14 Volvo Truck Corporation Aerodynamic device to be fastened under a vehicle, and vehicle equipped with such an aerodynamic device
GB2527947A (en) * 2015-08-04 2016-01-06 Daimler Ag Bumper assembly for a commercial vehicle

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)