US-12617360-B2 - Retractable bumper assembly with actuator based on vehicle speed

Abstract

A vehicle includes a bumper assembly. The bumper assembly includes a bumper, a rod fixed relative to the bumper and elongated along an axis, and a bracket spaced from the bumper along the axis of the rod. The bracket movably receives the rod. An actuator is supported by the bracket and is releasably engageable with the rod. A spring is on the rod between the bumper and the bracket. The spring biases the bumper away from the bracket.

Inventors

• S.M. Iskander FAROOQ
• Mohammad Omar Faruque
• Dean M. Jaradi

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230519

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A vehicle-bumper assembly comprising: a bumper; a rod fixed relative to the bumper and elongated along an axis; a bracket spaced from the bumper along the axis of the rod, the bracket movably receiving the rod; the rod including a distal end distal to the bumper, the bracket being between the bumper and the distal end of the rod; an actuator supported by the bracket and releasably engageable with the rod; and a spring on the rod between the bumper and the bracket, the spring biasing the bumper away from the bracket.
2. 2 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is movable relative to the rod between an engaged position engaged with the rod and a disengaged position disengaged with the rod.
3. 3 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the rod is moveable axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the disengaged position and the rod is fixed axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the engaged position.
4. 4 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the rod includes a groove, the actuator being movable relative to the rod between an engaged position engaged with the groove and a disengaged position disengaged with the groove.
5. 5 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a solenoid supported by the bracket and a gate supported by the solenoid, the solenoid being configured to move the gate relative to the rod to selectively engage the gate with the groove.
6. 6 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a solenoid selectively engageable with the rod.
7. 7 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a retainer fixed to the rod, the bracket being between the bumper and the retainer, and the retainer being sized to retain the bracket between the bumper and the retainer.
8. 8 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spring is polymeric.
9. 9 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the spring is coaxial with the rod.
10. 10 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to be fixed relative to a vehicle frame.
11. 11 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein: the actuator is movable relative to the rod between an engaged position engaged with the rod and a disengaged position disengaged with the rod; and when the actuator is in the disengaged position, the spring biases the bumper away from the bracket in a design position and is resiliently compressible to allow the bumper to move from the design position to a retracted position.
12. 12 . The vehicle-bumper assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the rod is moveable axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the disengaged position and the rod is fixed axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the engaged position.
13. 13 . A vehicle comprising: a bumper; a vehicle frame; a rod fixed relative to the bumper and elongated along an axis; a bracket fixed relative to the vehicle frame and being spaced from the bumper along the axis of the rod, the bracket movably receiving the rod; the rod including a distal end distal to the bumper, the bracket being between the bumper and the distal end of the rod; an actuator supported by the bracket and releasably engageable with the rod; and a spring on the rod between the bumper and the bracket, the spring biasing the bumper away from the bracket.
14. 14 . The vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising a computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to: disengage the actuator from the rod when a speed of the vehicle is within a predetermined speed range; and engage the actuator with the rod when a speed of the vehicle is outside of the predetermined threshold.
15. 15 . The vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the rod is moveable axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is disengaged with the rod and is fixed axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is engaged with the rod.
16. 16 . The vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the rod includes a groove, the actuator being movable relative to the rod to engage the groove to engage the actuator with the rod and to disengage the groove to disengage the actuator with the rod.
17. 17 . The vehicle as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the actuator includes a solenoid supported by the bracket and a gate supported by the solenoid, the solenoid being configured to move the gate relative to the rod to selectively engage the gate with the groove.
18. 18 . The vehicle as set forth in claim 13 , wherein: the actuator is movable relative to the rod between an engaged position engaged with the rod and a disengaged position disengaged with the rod; and when the actuator is in the disengaged position, the spring biases the bumper away from the bracket in a design position and is resiliently compressible to allow the bumper to move from the design position to a retracted position.
19. 19 . The vehicle as set forth in claim 18 , wherein the rod is moveable axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the disengaged position and the rod is fixed axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the engaged position.

Description

BACKGROUND The Global Technology Regulation (GTR) and the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) specify leg-injury criteria for pedestrian protection. The regulations are aimed at reducing the impact force to the legs of a pedestrian by a vehicle bumper during certain vehicle-pedestrian impacts. Some vehicles, such as light duty trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), for example, may have a bumper height that could lead to an uneven impact on the femur and/or tibia of the pedestrian by the vehicle bumper during certain vehicle-pedestrian impacts. For example, light duty trucks may have bumper heights to provide ground clearance to clear speed bumps, curbs, parking blocks, inclined driveway ramps, hills, rough roads, etc. Some vehicles with such bumper heights also have off-road capabilities that preclude having any components below the bumper. As such, a design for the vehicle front-end is investigated for pedestrian leg impact energy management while addressing ground clearance requirements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle including a bumper assembly with an energy-absorbing system in broken lines and with a retracted position of a bumper shown in broken lines. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the bumper assembly and a portion of a vehicle frame. FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a portion of FIG. 2 an actuator in an engaged position. FIG. 4 is the view of FIG. 3 with the actuator in a disengaged position. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the energy-absorbing assembly with a bracket of the energy-absorbing assembly not shown for illustrative purposes. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bumper assembly on the vehicle frame. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system of the vehicle. FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an example process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A vehicle-bumper assembly includes a bumper and a rod fixed relative to the bumper. The rod is elongated along an axis. The vehicle-bumper assembly includes a bracket spaced from the bumper along the axis of the rod, the bracket movably receiving the rod. The vehicle-bumper assembly includes an actuator supported by the bracket and releasably engageable with the rod. The vehicle-bumper assembly includes a spring on the rod between the bumper and the bracket, the spring biasing the bumper away from the bracket. The actuator may be movable relative to the rod between an engaged position engaged with the rod and a disengaged position disengaged with the rod. The rod may be moveable axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the disengaged position and the rod may be fixed axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is in the engaged position. The rod may include a groove. The actuator is movable relative to the rod between an engaged position engaged with the groove and a disengaged position disengaged with the groove. The actuator may include a solenoid supported by the bracket and a gate supported by the solenoid. The solenoid is configured to move the gate relative to the rod to selectively engage the gate with the groove. The actuator may include a solenoid selectively engageable with the rod. The rod may include a distal end distal to the bumper. The bracket may be between the bumper and the distal end of the rod. The vehicle-bumper assembly may include a retainer fixed to the rod. The bracket is between the bumper and the retainer and the retainer is sized to retain the bracket between the bumper and the retainer. The spring may be polymeric. The spring may be coaxial with the rod. The bracket may be configured to be fixed relative to a vehicle frame. A vehicle includes a bumper and a vehicle frame. A rod is fixed relative to the bumper and elongated along an axis. A bracket is fixed relative to the vehicle frame and is spaced from the bumper along the axis of the rod. The bracket movably receives the rod. An actuator is supported by the bracket and is releasably engageable with the rod. A spring is on the rod between the bumper and the bracket. The spring biases the bumper away from the bracket. The vehicle may include a computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to: disengage the actuator from the rod when a speed of the vehicle is within a predetermined speed range; and engage the actuator with the rod when a speed of the vehicle is outside of the predetermined threshold. The rod may be moveable axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is disengaged with the rod and may be fixed axially relative to the bracket when the actuator is engaged with the rod. The rod may include a groove. The actuator is movable relative to the rod to engage the groove to engage the actuator with the rod and to disengage the groove to disengage the actuator with the rod. The actuator may include a solenoid supported by the bracket and a gate supported by the solenoid. The solenoid is configured to move the gate relative to the rod to selectively engage the gate with the groove. W