Bumper (automobile)

The bumper is since the early years of the automobile integral part of the vehicle. It is mounted at the front and rear. The first cars with bumpers were built in 1905 by Frederick R. Simms.

History

In the past on vehicles a cross- bow, usually of steel, attached to two brackets that were connected to the frame of the vehicle. In a collision, the rod bent and took her by the deformation of the energy of the impact on. Due to the fixed connection to the chassis, a vehicle could be towed to the bumper.

Bumpers until the end of the 20's an accessory that had to be ordered separately; rear came later in use. They were often in two parts, to leave room for the intervening mounted spare wheel. Early bumpers were made of a simple piece of round steel, which was usually painted or plated in the color of the chassis and often wore at the ends of a nickel-plated sleeve as a conclusion. Later, this actual " bumpers " were always shallower steel parts ( " leaves " ), which were increasingly nickel or chrome. The first production car with chrome instead of nickel trim came from Buick 1926.

Protection and design element

Due to the different size of these vehicles bumpers offered only limited protection. It happened that the rod of a larger vehicle that ran over a smaller one. This was followed by a much stronger damage. Therefore, we went on to broaden bumper leaves or twice to lead, so to arrange two leaves above the other. Additional protection is offered horns and Over Rider, which should prevent the bumpers " hooked ", which under certain circumstances could already happen in minor collisions. At the same time the bumper to a design element and often a distinguishing feature of the brand was.

After the Second World War, the bumpers were increasingly difficult and increasingly integrated into the body. Some cars were even raised to change wheels on the bumpers. In the seventies, the energy absorbing bumper was mandatory only at the front and then the rear. This bumper consist of a steel backing, which is coated with plastic. Mounting on the chassis or body at the body self-supporting bodies is carried out with a bumper on each side, which should absorb energy at a slight impact.

Disadvantages

Basic disadvantages of these systems were that impacts virtually unhindered by banging on the vehicle frame and moved them. More importantly, it the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists increased and the forces introduced easily lead to fractures especially in the lower leg. With time, more angular and sharper forms of the bumper, which attracted additional risk of being cut after emerged.

Special form

A special form of bumper depicts the much more massive bull bar, which is also attached to the chassis and partially protects the front underbody. Originally, the bull bar to protect the body or parts of it served in all-terrain vehicles for expeditions, military, agriculture, forestry or rallies. Because of its sturdy construction, it is also sometimes used for attaching winches. The above also popularly known as "bull trap " Crash protection is often mounted optical reasons as attachment to vehicles that are never moved away from the roads. Thus equipped SUVs provide but in normal traffic a potentially greater risk to other road users; they are therefore in some states such as Switzerland banned.

Today

Since the mid- 1990s, the bumper is surrounded by a plastic skin, the skirt. This is integrated into the design of the vehicle. Except the bumper hides optionally other equipment ( e.g. distance sensors ). Because of the closed form of the apron can improve the aerodynamics of a vehicle.

Through the use of "thinking" plastics and defined break points can be controlled, such as energy to be absorbed. For example, the crumpled plastic apron versa for small parking accidents ( up to about 7 km / h) back to its original state ( " reversible bumper ").

In the recent time designed bumpers are especially help to minimize injury to pedestrians or cyclists. These new security systems increasingly include the front of the vehicle and also the bonnet is included. The bumpers used here are made ​​of energy absorbing foams. These semi- rigid foams dampen already low film thickness the impact of an impinging body and allow you to develop bumper systems that meet strict safety requirements. In case of accidents at higher speeds, foam trays take under her apron on the energy and distribute it thereby to a large area.