DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the field of automobile engineering.

Particularly, this invention relates to an automobile or a vehicle, and more particularly to an automobile or a vehicle having relatively lower ground clearance. It relates to improvement in safety of passenger vehicles during collision between a vehicle (with relatively lower ground clearance) and a vehicle such as a truck or the like (with relatively higher ground clearance).

Specifically, this invention relates to an under run protection device for four wheeler vehicles having low ground clearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Today, roads all over the world are populated with vehicles comprising various categories including sport utilities vehicles, small hatchbacks, sedans, trucks, and buses. Among various categories, the hatchback car shares maximum percentages out of total number of vehicle on Indian road. The passenger vehicles are provided with safety features like airbags, anti-lock braking system, seatbelts which offers safety to its occupant. The basis on which this safety system are designed is that passenger vehicles have proper uniform contact with object or surface on which it collide, but in real world accident the contact between two colliding vehicles or individual vehicle with stationary object like trees, street light poles may be not uniform. Also the heavy vehicles likes trucks and buses used for public transportation generally have high ground clearance and when passenger car (of category M1 as classified by EEC) having low ground clearance collide with trucks and buses (of category N as classified by EEC) having high ground clearance, the proper contact of energy absorbing structures between two vehicles does not take place. Opposition forces which are necessary to slow down vehicles having low ground clearance in control manner are not produce in such kinds of scenario and cause under run of passenger vehicle having low ground clearance beneath the truck having high ground clearance causing serious injuries to passenger inside the vehicle
In light of this, it is desirable to provide mechanism on vehicle body having low ground clearance like cars, which will avoid car from submerging under truck or buses having high ground clearance.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide a mechanism on any vehicle body having relatively lower ground clearance which shall prevent the vehicle from submerging under a vehicle with relatively higher ground clearance, such as a truck or a bus, during collision between them.

Another object of this invention is to increase contact points between a vehicle having relatively lower ground clearance and a vehicle having relatively higher ground clearance during collision between them for producing opposition force to velocity of the vehicle having relatively lower ground clearance, for improved safety.

Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a mechanism on any vehicle body having relatively lower ground clearance which shall prevent the vehicle from submerging under a vehicle with relatively higher ground clearance, such as a truck or a bus, during collision between them, which mechanism has improved reliability.

Still another objective of this is to provide a mechanism on any vehicle body having relatively lower ground clearance which shall prevent the vehicle from submerging under a vehicle with relatively higher ground clearance, such as a truck or a bus, during collision between them, which mechanism is simple, cost effective, and easy to repair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The following specification describes the invention, which is a mechanism fitted on vehicles (cars) having low ground clearance to avoid under run of car beneath the truck and basically comprises of the bar at front end of car, which will come out in vertically upward direction through hole provided on bonnet lid surface when condition of collision is going to occur between car and truck or between car and any vehicle having high ground clearance with respect to car. The main objective of bar is, to increase the contact between car and truck and to transfer load from point lying above cars energy absorbing structure to energy absorbing structure of car, the bars are connected to actuating system and medium for actuation is compressed air supplied by a onboard compressor which is coupled with a motor or can be directly coupled with engine of car just like compressor of air conditioner is. In order to maximize the force transfer from bars to energy absorbing structure of car, the localized bending and twisting of bar is minimized. To minimize the localize bending and twisting of bar mechanism comprises a long panel of which one end is connected to bar and other end to firewall ,which undergo bending during collision .Also mechanism comprises a special locking arrangement by which long panels are connected to firewall for purpose of satisfying pedestrian safety norm. The mechanism also comprises of a long range sensor to sense object in danger zone of the car which is interfaced with a microcontroller which on receiving signal from a sensor activates the actuating system to bring bars out in vertical upward direction just like horns of bull or cow, so that the car will be ready in advance to deal with collision between car and truck. The micro controller provided checks continuously for object in danger front zone of car and also controls the actuating system and also controls the movement of bar for which the mechanism comprises of a two short range proximity sensor to monitor movement and position of bar

For the purposes of this invention, a vehicle with a relatively lower ground clearance is referred to as a car.

For the purposes of this invention, a vehicle with a relatively higher ground clearance is referred to as a truck.

According to this invention, there is provided an under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance, said device comprising:
- at least a bar placed at a front end of said vehicle and connected with at least a panel, said bar being configured to move in an operatively outward direction from its initial resting position underneath a bonnet of said vehicle to an actuated position through said bonnet, just before an impending collision;
- at least an actuating system configured to actuate said at least a bar;
- at least a long panel being connected with said at least a bar at its first end;
- at least a bracket being connected with said at least a bar at its second end; and
- at least a sensing mechanism configured to sense an impending collision in order to actuate said actuating system.

Typically, said bars being placed between two front wheels of said vehicle.

Typically, said at least a sensing mechanism comprising at least long range proximity sensors configured to sense obstacles in front of said vehicle in order to sense an impending collision.

Typically, said bonnet being a holed bonnet, said hole being provided, advantageously, in correlation with said at least a bar, in order to allow said bar to pass through said hole.

Typically, said actuation system comprising a pneumatic cylinder as actuator, compressed air in said cylinder being provided by a compressor.

Typically, said actuation system comprising a motor coupled to a compressor for providing force for movement of said at least a bar.

Typically, said actuation system comprising a motor coupled to a compressor for providing force for movement of said at least a bar, said compressor being coupled with engine of said vehicle.

Typically, said actuation system comprising a pneumatic cylinder as actuator, compressed air in said cylinder being provided by a compressor, characterised in that, said compressor being communicably coupled to at least a direction control valve configured to control direction of input compressed air from said compressor to said cylinder in order to control direction of movement of said at least a bar, said direction being chosen from an operative outward direction with respect to said bonnet and an operative inward direction with respect to said bonnet.

Typically, said device comprising a cap fixed at operative top surface of bar in order to cover said bonnet hole when said bar is at its initial resting position underneath said bonnet.

Typically, operative top surface of said bracket is joined to operative lower surface of a bumper lock cross panel of said vehicle.

Typically, said long panel is placed on panel.

Typically, said hole of said long panel is co-axial with hole of said bracket and said bar

Typically, said bracket is joined to said long panel and wherein, said bracket is joined to bracket such that said long panel along with said bracket can move in operatively vertically downward direction only in slot provided in bracket to satisfy pedestrian safety norms.

Typically, said bracket is joined to a firewall, characterized in that, said bracket being configured to allow to move said long panel only in direction vertically downward perpendicular to wheel axis and parallel to firewall.

Typically, said bracket and said cylinder is joined to surface of said bracket and surface of said bracket is joined to panel.

Typically, said sensing mechanism comprising proximity sensors configured to sense distance between said vehicle and an oncoming vehicle and further configured to transmit a sensed signal to said actuating system when said sensed distance it less than or equal to a pre-determined distance.

Typically, said actuating system switches on a motor upon receipt of a sensed signal, said motor switches on a coupled compressor in order to provide compressed air to direction control valve of said actuation system in order to control direction of input compressed air to pneumatic cylinder such that an upward pressure is created in said cylinder, said upward pressure moving a piston rod in an operative outward direction, said piston rod being configured to slide freely into a hallow bore inside said cylinder, said piston rod being connected with said bar in order to move said bar in outward direction out of said bonnet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
Referring now to the drawing wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same. The following figure below explains the invention in detail and same elements mechanism is denoted by same numerical.
FIGURE 1 shows front view and side view of the truck;
FIGURE 2 shows front view and side view of passenger car;
FIGURE 3 shows side view of condition of collision between car and truck;
FIGURE 4 shows effect of forces acting on car body due to collision with truck;
FIGURE 5 shows side view of the collision between car and truck with mechanism activated;
FIGURE 6 shows side view position of cap in normal position while FIGURE 7 in actuated position;
FIGURE 8 shows side view of car and explains basic component of mechanism;
FIGURE 9 shows side view and FIGURE 10 shows front view of mechanism during normal condition;
FIGURE 11 is a top view of FIGURE 9;
FIGURE 12 shows detail of bracket 25;
FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view along the line 70-70 of FIGURE11;
FIGURE14 shows top view and side view of panel 19;
FIGURE 15 is an isometric view of locking arrangement between bracket 20 and bracket 21;
FIGURE 16 explains condition of collision;
FIGURE 17 shows side view and FIGURE18 shows front view of mechanism during condition of collision;
FIGURE 19 shows isometric view of FIGURE18 in actuated condition;
FIGURE 20 shows the bracket 36;
FIGURE 21 shows isometric view of FIGURE19 when looked from direction D;
FIGURE 22 shows bracket 51;
FIGURE 23 shows short range proximity sensors;
FIGURE 24 shows block diagram of microcontroller based system; and
FIGURE 25 and FIGURE 26 shows flowchart of program which microcontroller follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
According to this invention, there is provided an under run protection device for four wheel vehicles for vehicles having low ground clearance.

Now with reference to FIGURE1 shows a truck 2 having wheel 1, chassis 4, Z1 is the distance of chassis 4 from surface of ground 100 .The figure also shows rear underbody protection device 3 often term as RUPD which is joined to chassis 4 at the end 80 and 81 of the truck 2 in order to provide sufficient opposition force to vehicle with low ground clearance during collision and more particularly during car-to-truck collision
FIGURE2 shows front view and side view of car 10 which have A pillar 6 which supports the front wind screen and hood of car 10, bonnet lid 5 provides space under it for engine, battery, air conditioner system, the energy absorbing structure etc. The floor 7 supports the seats and Z2 is the distance of floor 7 from road surface 100, generally in passenger car 10 the distance Z2 is considerably less than distance Z1 of the truck 2.The difference in height Z2-Z1 causes compressive force on car leading to under riding of car 10 beneath the truck 2.
Wheels 8 have compressed air filled in it and it is connected to car 10 body through spring type gas filled shock absorber (not shown in figure). Bumper 9 is at the front of car 10 and is made of much softer material than crumple zone’s material in order to provide safety to pedestrian during low speed bumper to bumper traffic
FIGURE3 shows the side view of car 10 having collision with truck 2.The truck 2 is provided with under body protection device 3 which provides opposition force to velocity of car 10 at point A, but due to impact from car 10 the RUPD 3 will deform to some extend or will get damage completely depending upon actual condition. Thus car 10 will also contact with truck at point P
FIGURE4 shows force acting on car 10 at point P. The force at point P will get resolved into two components F1 & F2.
F1 component of force is acting in vertically downward direction perpendicular to wheel 8 axes of rotation
F2 is tangential component of force and is perpendicular to F1 component of force
F1 component causes huge compressive force to act on car 10 body which transfers this compressive force to wheel 8 causing it to compress .Due to F1 component of force the shock absorber (not shown in fig) also further get compressed .The combine compression of wheel 8 and shock absorber car 10 behave like wedge i.e. The front end of car 10 slides under the truck 10 and enough opposition to velocity V in forward direction is not produced causing car 10 to run under the truck 2 causing serious injuries to passenger. This tendency of passenger car 10 going beneath the truck 2 during collision between them is called under riding .The under riding is caused due to height mismatch of energy absorbing structure of two colliding vehicle
FIGURE5 shows the basic concept of the invention and shows side view of the car 10 colliding with the truck 2 .In order to minimize the compressive force component F1 and to avoid under run of car 10 beneath the truck 2,a mechanism in installed on car’s 10 body. The mechanism comprises a pair of bars 12 placed at the front end of the car 10 and are connected with panel 15.The bars 12 are placed in free space available between two wheel 8.The bar 12 are connected to actuating system (not shown in figure). The actuating system moves bars 12 out in vertically outward direction above boundary line of the surface of the bonnet lid 5 just before the collision is going to take place, so that car 10 will be ready in advanced to avoid under run of car 10 beneath the truck 2 during car to truck collision or collision of car 10 with any vehicles having high ground clearance than car 10.The mechanism also comprises a pair of long panels 19 ,long panels 19 are connected with bars 12 at one and opposite end of the panel 19 is joined to bracket 20 by suitable joining method. The bracket 20 is joined to bracket 21 by threaded joint. The mechanism comprises a long range proximity sensors (not shown in figure) which senses obstacles in front the car 10 so that if any vehicle having high ground clearance than car 10 comes in front of the car 10 and collision can take place, the proximity sensors sends signal to control unit which comprises a microcontroller (not shown in figure).The control unit then actuates actuating system to bring bar 12 out in vertically upward direction.
The objective of the bar 12 is that when RUPD 3 of the truck 2 gets deflected or get damage due to the impact from car 10 the bars 12 will come in contact with truck 2 so that opposition force to the forward velocity V of the car 10 is produced. The forces from bars 12 are transferred to panel 15, long panel 19 and to energy absorbing structure further
In order to allow bars 12 move out in vertically upward direction holes 66 equal to number of bars 12 are provided on the surface of the bonnet lid 5 as shown in FIGURE7.The diameter of the hole 66 is slightly greater than diameter D1 of the bar 12 so that bars 12 can easily pass through hole 66.
FIGURE6 shows position of the bars 12 during normal driving condition. The bars 12 is at position below the boundary of the surface of bonnet lid 5.The circular cap 33 fixed at the top surface of bar 12 fills the hole 66 when the bars 12 is at position below surface of bonnet lid 5 ,so that any external agent will not enter into engine compartment
FIGURE8 shows side view of car 10 and shows the position of bars 12 below the boundary line of the surface of bonnet lid 5.Car 10 have pair of front rail 14 placed in free space between two wheel 8.The bracket 21 is joined to firewall 32 by suitable joining method. The bracket 21 allow to move panel 19 only in direction vertically downward perpendicular to wheel 8 axis and parallel to firewall 32 and is discussed in detail in FIGURE13
FIGURE9 shows the side view of mechanism and FIGURE10 front view of FIGURE9
Now referring to FIGURE9 and FIGURE10 the mechanism comprises a pair of bars 12 which is provided movement in vertically upward and vertically downward direction by the actuating system comprising of pneumatic cylinder 48 as actuator. The compressed air to pneumatic cylinder 48 is supplied by a compressor 26.The mechanism comprises a motor 22 which is coupled with compressor 26. The compressor 26 also can be directly coupled with engine of the car 10.If the amount of compressed air supplied by compressor 26 is not sufficient then the reservoir(not shown in figure) can be placed between compressor 26 and pneumatic cylinder 48,the reservoir will always be filled with pressurized compressed air so that high velocity can be provided to bars 12.The mechanism comprises a direction control valve 40 which controls the direction of input compressed air from compressor 26 to pneumatic cylinder 48 to control the direction of the movement of the bars 12
FIGURE11 shows top view of FIGURE9, the distance Y between the panels 19 depends on the engine size and placement of the car 10
FIGURE13 is a cross section of FIGURE11 along line 70-70 and explains the connection formed between bars 12, panel 15 and long panel 19.The top surface 28 of the bracket 25 is joined to lower surface of bumper lock cross panel 15.The detail of the bracket 25 is shown in FIGURE12.Again referring to FIGURE13 the long panel 19 are placed on panel 25.The axis of the hole 23 of the panel 19 is made aligned with the axis of the hole 29(as shown in FIGURE12) of the bracket 25 and with axis of bars 12.The detail of long panel 19 is shown in FIGURE14.As shown in FIGURE13 the bracket 20 is joined to panel 19 by suitable joining method. The bracket 20 is joined to bracket 21 by threaded joint, the bolt 38 with square cross section joins bracket 20 with bracket 21.The purpose of such kind of arrangement is that the panel 19 along with the bracket 20 can move in vertically downward direction only in the slot 65 (which was shown in FIGURE13) provided in the bracket 21 to satisfy pedestrian safety norms
FIGURE15 shows the isometric view of the connection formed between bracket 20 and bracket 21.The long panel 19 is joined to surface 67 of the bracket 20 .The bracket 20 is joined to bracket 21 by threaded joint. The bolt 38 with middle square cross section restrains the rotational movement of the panel 19.The nut 39 provides sufficient torque only to hold the bracket 20 in upper position in the in the slot 65 as shown in figure 13
FIGURE16 shows side view of car 10 and truck 2 at distance X from each other. The distance X is a unsafe distance at which collision between car 10 and truck 2 can take place. The long range proximity sensor (not shown in figure) continuously checks for distance X and when the distance between car 10 and truck 2 becomes less than or equal to distance X,the proximity sensors sends signal to microcontroller based control unit (not shown in figure)
Now referring FIGURE17 and FIGURE18 when the microcontroller receives signal from long range proximity sensors, the microcontroller (not shown in figure) will turn on the motor 22.The motor 22 is coupled with compressor 26,the compressor 26 then supplies compressed air to direction control valve 40.The direction control valve 40 controls the direction of input compressed air to pneumatic cylinder 48 such a way that upward pressure is created in cylinder 48,the upward pressure created inside the cylinder 48 moves piston rod 50 in vertically upward direction. The piston rod 50 slides freely into the hallow bore provided inside the cylinder 48 .The piston rod 50 is connect with bars 12 further and moves the bar 12 in vertically upward direction above the boundary line of the surface of the bonnet lid 5 as shown in FIGURE16
FIGURE19 shows the isometric view of FIGURE17 .The mechanism comprises a long range proximity sensor 42 to sense the distance between car 10 and truck 2, the sensor 42 is interfaced with microcontroller 60 (detail of interfacing can be seen in 24).The mechanism also comprises a compressor 26 which supplies the compressed air to a pneumatic actuator 48.The compressor 26 is coupled with a motor 22 and the compressor 26 along with motor is joined to panel 27 by a bracket 36.As shown in FIGURE20 the compressor 26 is joined to surface 52 of bracket 36 while bottom of surface 53 is joined to panel 27.Again referring to FIGURE19 mechanism comprises two bar 12 ,but the quantity of bar 12 can be increased. The bar 12 is placed in front end of car just in front of engine. The mechanism also comprises two long panel 19 which is joint to front end of car 10 in such a way that bumper lock cross panel 15, bar 12 and long panel 19 form interconnection with each other which was discussed earlier in FIGURE13.The other end of panel 19 is attached to bracket 21 through threaded joint to form locking arrangement discussed earlier in FIGURE15
FIGURE21 shows isometric view of FIGURE19 when seen from direction D and explains the mechanism in more detail .The inlet port 45 is inlet port to compressor 26; the compressed air is supplied to direction control valve 40 through outlet port 44 of compressor 26, two hollow pipe 47 and 46 satisfies function of supplying compressed air to cylinder 48. The system comprises of pneumatic cylinder 48, the piston rod 50 slides freely up and down into bore provided into cylinder 48.The piston rod 50 provides motion to both bar 12 through connection formed by joining bracket 41 to end of piston bar 50.The solid bar 43 and 49 provides motion to bar 12 further from bracket 41.When proximity sensor 42 senses the object mainly truck 2 in danger zone of car 10 it sends signal to microcontroller which starts a motor 22 which is coupled with compressor 26.The compressor 26 then provides compressed air at it port 44 which is then supplied to direction control valve 40.The direction control valve 40 then adjust the direction of compressed air so that in enters the pneumatic cylinder 48 from hollow pipe 46,and due to upward pressure generated inside pneumatic cylinder 48 the piston rod 50 moves in upward direction to bring bar 12 to desired position to avoid under run of car 10 under the truck 2,while the pipe 46 is supplying input compressed air to cylinder 48 the pipe 47 allows exhaust air to pass through it in order to allow piston bar 50 slide freely in vertically upward direction and when the signal from proximity sensor 42 stops the direction control valve 40 adjust the direction of compressed air so that compressed air enters the pneumatic cylinder 48 from pipe 47 and backward pressure created moves piston 50 in backward direction to bring bar 12 back to original position while pipe 46 provides path to exhaust. The DC motor 22, direction control valve 40, pneumatic cylinder 48, piston rod 50, bracket 41, rod 43 and rod 49 together comprises actuating system.
FIGURE22 shows bracket 51 ,the cylinder 48 is joined to surface 55 of the bracket 51 and surface 56 of the bracket 51 is joined to panel 27 by suitable joining method
FIGURE24 shows block diagram of microcontroller interfacing circuit which comprises a microcontroller 60 which receives input signal from long range proximity sensor 42 when and object comes in danger zone of car 10,the microcontroller system also comprises of two short range proximity sensor 17 &18 which monitors position of bar 12 and gives information as input to microcontroller 60.The system comprises of direction control valve 40 and a motor 22 which is coupled to compressor 26 are interfaced with microcontroller 60 at its output port
FIGURE25 and FIGURE26 shows flowchart of program which microcontroller 60 fallows
With reference to FIGURE23 and FIGURE25, FIGURE26 will explain the flowchart in detail. The program starts with block 300 and proceeds further to block 301 to check whether bar 12 is at desired position which was discussed in FIGURE8 under normal driving condition .To monitor position of bar 12 the position of plate 41 as shown in FIGURE23 which connects actuating system with bar 12 is monitor continuously for this purpose as shown in FIGURE23 two short range proximity sensor 17&18 are attached to panel 16.The offset distance between proximity sensor 17 &18 is equal to addition of stroke length of pneumatic cylinder 48 and twice the range of both short range proximity sensors. The function of both proximity sensors 17 and 18 is to sense the plate 41 when it comes near their sensing range
With reference to FIGURE23 and FIGURE25 & FIGURE26 when the both bars 12 is in normal position hidden below the bonnet lid surface 5 of car 10 which was discussed in earlier in FIGURE6 , the plate 41 will be in range of short range proximity sensor 18.The proximity sensor 18 send signal to microcontroller 60. The above condition is checked by block 302; if under normal driving condition the bar 12 not in desired position hidden below the bonnet lid surface 5 of car 10, then program proceeds toward block 303 which activate the actuating system and adjust the direction of compressed air through direction control valve 40 to bring bars 12 to desired position, hidden below the bonnet lid surface 5 of car 10 which was also shown in FIGURE6 earlier. The program further proceeds to block 304 where microcontroller 60 continuously check for signal received from short range proximity sensor 18.The microcontroller keeps the actuating system active till it does not receive signal from short range proximity sensor 18 (block 304).Moment the microcontroller 60 receives signal from proximity sensor 18, the microcontroller 60 stops actuating system (block 305) and the program again jump to block 301 and proceed up to block 302.If now the driving condition are normal and bars 12 are at desired position hidden below the bonnet lid surface 5 of car 10 ,the program takes the microcontroller 60 to block 306 where microcontroller check whether long range proximity sensor 42 is sending any signal as a input to microcontroller 60 .If no signal is received to microcontroller 60 from long range proximity sensor 42 then the driving condition are normal and the program again jump to block 300 ,but if the proximity sensor 42 sends signal to microcontroller 60 it mean that the truck 2 is in danger zone of car 10 and program proceed to block 308.Once the microcontroller 60 receives signal from long range proximity sensor 42,the microcontroller 60 actuate the actuating system and adjust the direction of compressed air through direction control valve 40 , which start process of bringing both the bars 12 out in vertically upward direction through the hole provided on bonnet lid 5 surface (block 308) which was also shown in FIGURE7 earlier. While the bars 12 are coming out the microcontroller 60 checks the signal received from short range proximity sensor 17,if the short range proximity sensor does not sends signal to microcontroller 60 means that both the bars 12 have not reached to its desired position above the surface of bonnet lid surface 5 and actuating system stays actuated (block 309)
Moment the microcontroller 60 receives the signal from proximity sensor 17, the microcontroller 60 stops the actuating system because the bars 12 have reached to desired position (block 310) .Microcontroller 60 then continuously checks signal from long range ultrasonic sensor 42 (block 311).If the sensor 42 is sending signal to microcontroller 60 means that there is truck 2 in front of car 10 and microcontroller 60 keeps the bar in its position which was discussed earlier in FIGURE7 and FIGURE4 (block 312),moment the signal to microcontroller 60 from long range proximity sensor 42 stops the microcontroller 60 actuates actuating system and adjust the direction of compressed air so that bar again come to its normal driving position which was discussed earlier in FIGURE6 and program again jumps to block 301 and the cycle is repeated continuously
The advantages associated with invention are
a) The safety for passenger of vehicle having low ground clearance (car) is increased during collision with vehicle having higher ground clearance (truck)
b) The mechanism is simple and can be disassemble for maintenance purpose thus easy to maintain and is having low cost and reliable
c) When sensors are fitted to both colliding vehicles the safety of car in improved further, yet mechanism will more reliable

The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only. It is intended that any modification and alteration be included so far as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalent thereof.

While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

,CLAIMS:We Claim,

1. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance, said device comprising:
- at least a bar placed at a front end of said vehicle and connected with at least a panel, said bar being configured to move in an operatively outward direction from its initial resting position underneath a bonnet of said vehicle to an actuated position through said bonnet, just before an impending collision;
- at least an actuating system configured to actuate said at least a bar;
- at least a long panel being connected with said at least a bar at its first end;
- at least a bracket being connected with said at least a bar at its second end; and
- at least a sensing mechanism configured to sense an impending collision in order to actuate said actuating system.

2. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said bars being placed between two front wheels of said vehicle.

3. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said at least a sensing mechanism comprising at least long range proximity sensors configured to sense obstacles in front of said vehicle in order to sense an impending collision.

4. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said bonnet being a holed bonnet, said hole being provided, advantageously, in correlation with said at least a bar, in order to allow said bar to pass through said hole.

5. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said actuation system comprising a pneumatic cylinder as actuator, compressed air in said cylinder being provided by a compressor.

6. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said actuation system comprising a motor coupled to a compressor for providing force for movement of said at least a bar.

7. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said actuation system comprising a motor coupled to a compressor for providing force for movement of said at least a bar, said compressor being coupled with engine of said vehicle.

8. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said actuation system comprising a pneumatic cylinder as actuator, compressed air in said cylinder being provided by a compressor, characterised in that, said compressor being communicably coupled to at least a direction control valve configured to control direction of input compressed air from said compressor to said cylinder in order to control direction of movement of said at least a bar, said direction being chosen from an operative outward direction with respect to said bonnet and an operative inward direction with respect to said bonnet.

9. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said device comprising a cap fixed at operative top surface of bar in order to cover said bonnet hole when said bar is at its initial resting position underneath said bonnet.

10. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, operative top surface of said bracket is joined to operative lower surface of a bumper lock cross panel of said vehicle.

11. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said long panel are placed on panel.

12. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said hole of said long panel is co-axial with hole of said bracket and said bar

13. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said bracket is joined to said long panel and wherein, said bracket is joined to bracket such that said long panel along with said bracket can move in operatively vertically downward direction only in slot provided in bracket to satisfy pedestrian safety norms.

14. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said bracket is joined to a firewall, characterized in that, said bracket being configured to allow to move said long panel only in direction vertically downward perpendicular to wheel axis and parallel to firewall.

15. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said bracket and said cylinder is joined to surface of said bracket and surface of said bracket is joined to panel.

16. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said sensing mechanism comprising proximity sensors configured to sense distance between said vehicle and an oncoming vehicle and further configured to transmit a sensed signal to said actuating system when said sensed distance it less than or equal to a pre-determined distance.

17. An under run protection device for four wheel vehicles having low ground clearance as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said actuating system switches on a motor upon receipt of a sensed signal, said motor switches on a coupled compressor in order to provide compressed air to direction control valve of said actuation system in order to control direction of input compressed air to pneumatic cylinder such that an upward pressure is created in said cylinder, said upward pressure moving a piston rod in an operative outward direction, said piston rod being configured to slide freely into a hallow bore inside said cylinder, said piston rod being connected with said bar in order to move said bar in outward direction out of said bonnet.

Dated this 21st day of December, 2016

CHIRAG TANNA
of INK IDEÉ
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT