Arc-Shaped Guide Surface for Energy Dissipating Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection devices for multi-car vehicles lack effective guidance for the deformer to move in the compression stroke direction, leading to inefficient energy dissipation and potential structural issues.
Innovation Solution
A guide with a 3-dimensional surface, preferably an arc or ring shape, is used to interact with the deformer, allowing for improved movement and energy dissipation, with the energy dissipating member housed inside a hollow cylinder to reduce space and enhance assembly and integration into the vehicle's connection rods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional deformer guidance system is used, then the deformer can be guided to move in the compression stroke direction, but the take-up of moments around perpendicular axes is insufficient and structural issues may arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a curved guide surface with a specific arc-shaped cross-section that interacts with the deformer. This curved geometry naturally guides the deformer's movement while effectively taking up moments around perpendicular axes, eliminating the need for complex additional guidance structures and improving structural reliability through geometric design
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface is designed as a three-dimensional structure with a specific cross-sectional shape that extends in the compression stroke direction. By adding dimensional complexity to the guide surface itself rather than adding separate guidance components, the system achieves reliable moment uptake while maintaining overall structural simplicity
2Volume of moving object
If the energy dissipating member is housed inside a hollow cylinder, then space is reduced and assembly is simplified, but the guide surface design becomes more critical for proper deformer movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface is integrated directly into the hollow cylinder structure that houses the energy dissipating member. The curved guide surface and the cylindrical housing become a unified component, reducing the total number of parts and simplifying assembly while maintaining compact volume
Solution Approach 2:
The guide surface is designed with a specific cross-sectional shape (arc or ring form) that optimizes the interaction with the deformer. By carefully selecting and controlling the geometric parameters of this integrated surface, the system achieves proper deformer guidance while maintaining manufacturing feasibility and reducing overall device volume
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 solution enhances the take-up of moments around perpendicular axes, reduces weight, and simplifies manufacturing, while allowing for easier assembly and integration, improving the overall performance and efficiency of the energy dissipating device.
Implementation Method 1
The energy dissipating device has an energy dissipating member in the form of a deformation tube that dissipates energy when it is deformed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to an energy dissipating device suitable to be used as part of a connection device that connects a first car of a multi-car vehicle with a second car of the multi-car vehicle, comprising an energy dissipating member that dissipates energy when it is deformed, whereby the energy dissipating member has a first end and a second end, the first end and the second end being spaced apart from each other in a compression stroke direction, a stopper with a stopping surface, whereby the first end of the energy dissipating member is in contact with the stopping surface, the stopping surface preventing that the first end moves into the compression stroke direction, a deformer that is in contact with the second end of the energy dissipating member and is held apart from the stopper by the energy dissipating member, whereby the deformer can be moved towards the stopper by application of a linear force pointing in the compression stroke direction that is larger than a predetermined threshold value and whereby the deformer deforms the energy dissipating member when moving towards the stopper, a guide that interacts with the deformer to guide the deformer to move in the compression stroke direction, whereby the guide has a three-dimensional guide surface that interacts with a surface of the deformer, whereby the guide surface extends in a direction parallel to the compression stroke direction and that the cross-section of the guide surface in a plane that is normal to the compression stroke direction has the form of an arc or the form of a ring.