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US 9,434,333 B2Granted
Bumper bar
AssigneeAgility Fuel Systems LLC
InventorsTodd Sloan, Chris Forsberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides devices, systems and methods for absorbing and distributing an impact of a vehicle with another object. The force is absorbed by a bumper bar that extends from the vehicle. The bumper bar distributes the force between a fuel container and a frame or bracket in which the fuel container is attached to the vehicle.
Claims20
A method of absorbing a horizontal impact force generated by a collision between a vehicle and an object, the method comprising
- installing on the vehicle a bracket and one or more straps configured to rigidly hold a fuel container during the collision, wherein the one or more straps secure the fuel container to the bracket, wherein a portion of the bracket is positioned at a front or rear of the fuel container, wherein the bracket is connected to a bumper bar disposed along a longitudinal axis of the fuel container, and the bumper bar is configured to transmit the horizontal impact force upon the collision, the horizontal impact force being in a lateral direction toward the vehicle and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
- and
- distributing the horizontal impact force from the collision with the bumper bar, wherein a first fraction of the horizontal impact force is distributed to the fuel container through the one or more straps, and a second fraction of the horizontal impact force is distributed to the bracket.
A tank support assembly comprising:
- a bracket configured to attach to a vehicle and hold a fuel container for the vehicle during a collision between the vehicle and an object, a portion of the bracket being positioned at a front or rear of the fuel container;
- one or more straps configured to secure the fuel container to the bracket;
- and
- a bumper bar connected to the bracket such that the bumper bar is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the fuel container, wherein the bumper bar is configured to transmit a horizontal impact force from the collision,
- wherein the horizontal impact force is in a lateral direction toward the vehicle and transverse to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and
- wherein a first fraction of the horizontal impact force is distributed to the fuel container through the one or more straps and a second fraction of the horizontal impact force is distributed to the bracket.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.