Technical Field

The invention relates to the rear bumper profile which is used in fuel tankers, bitumen tankers and silo tankers, is produced by aluminum extrusion and protects the rear parts of the vehicles from impacts.

The invention particularly relates to the rear bumper profile which is produced according to the conditions set out in the regulation ECE R58.03 and intended to increase the protection of the rear bumper against the rear impacts for the above-mentioned tankers

Prior Art

Currently, the rear bumper profiles are in use which are used in fuel tankers, bitumen tankers and silo tankers, are produced by aluminum extrusion, and protect the rear parts of the vehicles from impacts. The resistance of such profiles against impacts is measured according to the tests specified in the regulation“ECE” of the“World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations”.

ECE R58.02 is the latest version of the above-mentioned regulation ECE. In the test specified in this regulation, the total load of 35 tons is applied from 5 different points on the tanker’s bumper, and bumper’s resistance against that load as well as displacement distance are measured.

This test will be replaced by the regulation ECE R.58.03. In the test specified in the regulation ECE R.58.03, the total load to be applied from 5 different points on the bumper was increased to 64 tons.

The bumper profiles produced by the prior art do not fulfill the test conditions specified in the new regulation ECE R58.03 to enter into force. Therefore, they are not suitable for use.

The state of the art includes such embodiments which are connected to the class“O” semi-trucks with air suspension as rear protection bumpers by means of different cross profiles by welding to the frame or using bolts. These constructions can pass the tests specified in the regulation ECE R58.02, but do not fulfill the test conditions set out in the regulation ECE R58.03.

In the state of the art, the bumper profiles produced have open edges. This decreases the strength and causes the construction to be damaged when affected by big forces.

The strength of the construction in general is inadequate because the cross-connection of the bumper profile is applied only at a single point in the state of the art. As a result of the studies carried out in the literature, we encounter various embodiments related to said vehicle bumpers. One of them is the patent with application no. TR2012/1 1373 titled “Innovation in bumper embodiment for vehicles”. The summary of the invention classified as B60R 19/02 is as follows:“The invention relates to the bumper embodiment which is used in the vehicles, absorbs the forces applied during a vehicle crash and consists of a crash box, a beam, and a connector which have dents, and the contained crash box and beam are made of aluminum, produced by extrusion and formed specially.”

The practice in the above-mentioned application does not relate to the bumper itself, but to the crash box and beam which absorb the loads applied on the bumper due to an impact according to the forces specified in the regulation ECE R58-02.

Another example to the said embodiment is the patent with application no. TR2017/20539 titled“A Rear Bumper Embodiment for Transportation Vehicles”. The summary of the invention classified as B62D 63/00 is as follows:“This invention relates to a bumper embodiment which is developed to be used in transportation vehicles and whose width, height and length are adjustable according to the vehicle frame. The bumper embodiment developed with this invention contains a primary profile; minimum one lever which consists of a secondary profile that interlocks with the primary profile, is able to move linearly up and down across the primary profile and is suitable to attach to the rear vehicle frame; minimum one bumper profile which is attached to minimum one lever as said and whose width can be adjusted through the linear movement of the secondary profile; and minimum one width adjusting member which is located on the bumper profile as being attached to the said lever and fixes the bumper profile to the desired width by moving horizontally across the bumper profile.”

In this application, the bumper profile has a flat construction and is bulky in terms of weight. Additionally, the strength of the construction is inadequate because the bumper profile is attached to the frame by a separate profile.

Accordingly, these two applications can be given as examples to some disadvantages mentioned above.

As a result, many improvements are implemented in parallel to developing technology in the rear bumper profile of tanker, thus new embodiments are needed in order to eliminate the above- mentioned disadvantages and deliver a solution to existing systems.

Purpose of the Invention

Unlike the embodiments employed in the state of art, the invention relates to the bumper profile of tanker, which has been developed aimed at resolving the mentioned disadvantages and introducing some additional advantages. The purpose of the invention is to increase the strength of the construction by using steel console on two points for the cross-connection of the bumper profile. Moreover, it is intended to produce a profile which is designed symmetrically to fulfill the test forces and has a higher moment of inertia than the current profile. Thus, the bumper profile can comply with the test conditions stated in the regulation ECE R58.03.

Another purpose of the invention is to prevent the water ingress and increase bumper profile’s service life by producing the bumper with enclosed edges.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a non-slip surface through the embossed section on the top and bottom of the bumper. Thus, the top of the bumper profile can be used as a non-slip ladder profile.

Another purpose of the invention is to decrease the number of bumper console connection holes and of the connection holes of the parts attached on the bumper by means of the T-channel on bumper’s rear surface. Thus, the amount of labor required when producing the bumper will decrease, accordingly the rate of production will increase.

The structural characteristic properties of the invention, along with all the advantages can be more clearly understood thanks to the figures below and the related detailed explanations. Which is why, an evaluation shall be made considering those figures and detailed explanations.

Short Description of the Figures for Better Understanding the Invention

Figure - 1 shows the 2D side view of the invented bumper.

Figure - 2 shows the perspective view of the invented bumper as installed to the tanker.

Figure - 3 shows the front perspective view of the invented bumper.

Figure - 4 shows the perspective view of the invented bumper as connected to the frame.

Figure - 3 shows the invented bumper as installed to the rear part of the tanker.

Reference Numbers

100. Bumper profile 114. Reflector bracket connection holes

110. Bumper flat surface 120. Bumper lips

111. Tail light holes 121. Spring

112. Side cover connection hole 35 122. Inner radius

113. Mat connection holes 123. T-channel 124. Embossed section 300. Fixing console

125. Spring clearance 310. Console support

130. Side cover 400. Mat

200. Frame 500. Fog reflector bracket 210. Frame connector Detailed Explanation of an Example of the Invention

Construction principle:

The said bumper profile (100) consists of tampon bumper flat surface (1 10), the bumper lips (120) formed with a front sloping in full length on the top and bottom of that bumper flat surface (1 10), and the side covers (130). The bumper profile (100) is made in single piece by aluminum extrusion and used to provide rear protection for the tanker (T).

On the said bumper flat surface (1 10), there are tail light holes (1 1 1 ), side cover connection hole (1 12), mat connection holes (1 13) and reflector bracket connection holes (1 14). Figure 3 shows the perspective view of the bumper profile (100).

The tail light holes (1 1 1 ) are used to connect the tail lights on the bumper profile (100).

The said side cover connection hole (1 12) enables to connect the side covers (130) to the bumper profile (100).

The mat connection holes (1 13) will be used to connect the mat (400) to the bumper profile (100).

The fog reflector bracket connection holes (1 14) are used to connect the fog reflectors (500) to the bumper profile (100).

The bumper lips (120) contains the spring (121 ), the inner radius (122), the T-channel (123), the embossed section (124) and the spring clearance (125). Such structures have two lips formed on the top and bottom part. The bumper lips (120) formed on the top and bottom of the bumper flat surface (1 10) are symmetrical. Figure 1 shows the side cutaway view of the bumper profile (100).

The said spring (121 ) embodiment is used to receive the impact to the bumper profile (100) in the first place and slow it down.

The inner radius (122) is the part which prevents the bumper lips (120) from opening to both directions due to any possible impact on the bumper profile (100). It is the point where the bumper flat surface (1 10) and the bumper lip (120) are joined.

The T-channel (123) is used to install the bumper profile (100) to the console, and the parts on the bumper profile (100) to the bumper profile (100). The embossed section (124) is the non-slip surface formed outside the bumper lips (120). This section enables to use the bumper profile (100) as non-slip top ladder.

The spring clearance (125) enables to decrease the weight of the bumper profile (100).

The side cover (130) will be used to enclose the side edges of the bumper profile (100).

The other members attached to tanker’s bumper profile (100) include the frame (200), the fixing console (300), the mat (400) and the fog reflector bracket (500).

The frame (200) constitutes the main bearing profiles where the bumper profile (100) is fixed. Fixing console (300) and frame connector (210) are used to connect the bumper profile (100) to the frame (200). The frame connector (210) is the member to which the bumper profile (100) is fixed directly, and the frame connector (210) is used to fix it to the frame (200). Figure 2 clearly shows this embodiment.

The console support (310) is used to attach the said fixing console (300) and the bumper profile (100); figure 4 shows this embodiment. The console support (310) is used between the bumper profile (100) and the fixing console (300) for additional support. The fixing console (300) and the console support (310) are made of steel.

The mat (400) is fixed to the bumper profile (100) and let to lean out of it in order to prevent the foreign matters such as mud, dirt, stone, etc. from flying to the rear part when the tanker (T) is in movement.

The fog reflector bracket (500) is used to warn the following drivers when it is foggy.

Installing principle;

As shown in figure 2, the frame connector (210) is welded on the bottom of each frame (200) located reciprocally. And the fixing console (300) is fixed to each frame connector (210).

Then, as shown in figure 4, the bumper profile (100) is installed to the fixing console (300) by means of the console support (310).

The side covers (130) produced to fit on both sides are put on the open sides of the bumper profile (100), and they are fixed to the bumper profile (100) through the side cover connection holes (1 12).

Installation of the mat (400) is completed by using the mat connection holes (1 13) formed on the bumper lip (120) at the bottom of the bumper profile (100).

Finally, the installation of the entire construction is completed by installing the fog reflector bracket (500) to the reflector bracket connection holes (1 14) formed on the bumper lip (120) at the top of the bumper profile (100). Figure 2 shows the perspective view of the construction as installed.

Figure 5 shows the bumper profile (100) as attached to the tanker (T).

use; Upon installation, the bumper embodiment fulfills the test forces required to be applied to the rear protection bumper profile (100) as stated in the regulation ECE R58.03 with the extruded aluminum bumper profile (100), the fixing console (300), the frame connector (210) and the console support (310). Thanks to this construction developed, the results will comply with the test conditions specified in the regulation ECE R58.03.

The T-channel (123) located on the top and bottom edges of the extruded aluminum bumper profile (100) is designed on a symmetric axis in order to provide the best moment of inertia against the counter forces. On this symmetric axis, the extruded aluminum bumper profile (100) reacts to the frontal forces the spring (121 ) structure.

The inner radii (122) inside the extruded aluminum bumper profile (100) prevents the bumper lips (120) from opening due to the frontal forces. The extruded aluminum bumper profile (100) is achieved to be lightweight thanks to the spring clearances (125) on the top and bottom sides.