Crash Test Dummy Ankle Assembly Friction and Elastomer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crash test dummies lack an ankle assembly that accurately simulates human ankle movement and bracing during impact conditions, limiting their ability to accurately replicate the effects of collisions on human occupants.
Innovation Solution
An ankle assembly for crash test dummies featuring a clevis assembly with a clamping nut for friction adjustment and elastomeric elements to allow proper inversion and eversion, providing a human-like range of motion and visco-elastic loading response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid ankle joint is used in crash test dummies, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot simulate human ankle movement and bracing during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The ankle assembly transitions from a rigid static joint to a dynamic system with movable components. The clevis assembly allows the foot to pivot relative to the leg, and the elastomeric elements enable inversion and eversion movements, creating a dynamic ankle joint that can adapt its position and orientation during impact events to simulate human ankle behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction adjustment mechanism allows changing the friction parameter of the ankle joint during different phases of impact. By adjusting the friction force, the system can simulate different bracing conditions and impact scenarios, enabling the same physical structure to represent varying human responses to collision forces.
2Reliability
If friction adjustment is added to simulate human bracing, then impact simulation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-regulating through the interaction between the clevis assembly components and the elastomeric elements. The system automatically adjusts friction forces based on the impact conditions without requiring external control systems, allowing the structure to self-optimize its bracing simulation capability.
3Reliability
If elastomeric elements are added for inversion and eversion, then ankle movement realism improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric elements function as flexible components that allow the foot to invert and evert relative to the leg. These flexible elements provide the necessary degrees of freedom for realistic ankle movement while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using standard assembly processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ankle assembly enables more realistic simulation of human ankle behavior during impacts, allowing the dummy's foot to properly position and pivot, enhancing the accuracy of collision testing data for vehicle safety improvements.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastomeric element to provide visco-elastic loading response like a human ankle under tension
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of elastomeric elements that allow proper inversion and eversion performance
Implementation Method 3
allow friction adjustment to simulate human bracing in impact conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An ankle assembly for a crash test dummy includes an ankle clevis assembly for attachment to a leg assembly of the crash test dummy, an ankle base assembly for attachment to a foot assembly of the crash test dummy and cooperating with the ankle clevis assembly, a fastener to connect the clevis assembly and the ankle base assembly together to allow proper ankle positions for different ankles and also allow friction adjustment to simulate human bracing in impact conditions, and a plurality of elastomeric elements disposed between the clevis assembly and the ankle base assembly that allow proper inversion and eversion performance of the ankle assembly.