Composite impact assembly

摘要

A bumper having an outer compressible layer, such as foam, positioned to absorb an impact and an inner layer of fiberglass laminated end-grain balsa for transferring residual load. The layers are wrapped in a fiberglass skin or urethane coating. The bumper is particularly useful when integrated into a frame used to mount fuel cylinders onto a vehicle roof. The bumper is attached to the frame using struts or balsa pillars and mounting plates so that loading resulting from an impact is transferred from the bumper and into the frame for preventing damage to the fuel cylinders. The mounting system can be configured to mount cylinders longitudinally in the direction of travel of the vehicle or transverse to the direction of travel. A bumper is attached at the front of the frame and a second bumper may be positioned at the back of the frame depending upon the configuration of the mounting.