Assisted Rescue System Quick Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing a casualty from an armored vehicle are time-consuming and risky, as they require undoing or cutting seatbelts, which can cause further injury and trauma, especially when the casualty has back, neck, or spinal injuries, and moving the deadweight is difficult and potentially damaging.
Innovation Solution
A seat liner that functions as a load-carrying lifting sling and stretcher, integrated with a quick release mechanism allowing remote operation from a central location, enabling rapid release of the seatbelt harness at all anchor points without detaching it from the person, providing secure and efficient egress from the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the seatbelt is unfastened or cut away from the casualty using conventional methods, then the casualty can be removed from the vehicle, but the process is time-consuming and requires awkward manual operations in tight quarters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (cutting or unfastening seatbelts with hands and tools) with an automated mechanical system. A cable-operated quick release mechanism is installed at the anchor points, connected to a central release handle. Pulling the handle activates cables that simultaneously release all seatbelt anchor points, transforming a complex manual task into a simple single-action operation that can be performed from a convenient location outside the vehicle.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cables as intermediary elements to transmit the release force from the central handle to the distributed anchor points. These cables act as mediators that carry the mechanical action across the vehicle interior, enabling remote operation without requiring direct access to each anchor point. This intermediary system resolves the contradiction by allowing fast release (improving productivity) while eliminating the need for awkward manual operations in tight quarters (improving ease of operation).
2Productivity
If the casualty is moved manually through the hatch opening, then egress is achieved, but back, neck, spinal cord injuries or other grievous bodily harm may be exacerbated by handling the deadweight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the seatbelt system and quick release mechanisms in a state ready for immediate activation. The seatbelts are already harnessed and anchored, and the release mechanisms are pre-installed and connected. When rescue is needed, only a single pulling action on the handle is required to simultaneously release all anchor points, enabling immediate egress without manual manipulation that could harm the casualty. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by enabling fast egress (improving productivity) while eliminating harmful manual handling (reducing injury risk).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the release function from the anchor points themselves and concentrates it in a central handle. By taking out the release mechanism from each individual anchor point and consolidating control at a single location, the system enables rapid simultaneous release of all seatbelts without requiring rescuers to physically manipulate each anchor point near the casualty. This extraction resolves the contradiction by achieving fast egress (improving productivity) while removing the need for harmful manual handling of the casualty (reducing injury risk).
3Productivity
If a quick release mechanism is implemented at all anchor points, then rapid release is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple release functions into a single centralized control system. Instead of having independent release mechanisms at each anchor point that would require separate operations, the system combines all release functions and connects them through cables to a single handle. This merging approach achieves rapid simultaneous release of all seatbelts (improving productivity) while reducing operational complexity, as rescuers need to manipulate only one component rather than multiple separate mechanisms (mitigating device complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing the central handle to perform the function of releasing all seatbelt anchor points simultaneously. This single universal component replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized release mechanisms distributed throughout the vehicle. The multi-functional handle resolves the contradiction by enabling fast release of all seatbelts (improving productivity) while using a simple, unified interface that reduces system complexity (mitigating device complexity).
Data Source
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AI summary
An assisted rescue system to extract a seatbelt harnessed person from a vehicle. The system comprises a seatbelt harness and seat liner which together form a sling. The seatbelt harness is connected at anchor points with a releasable securing mechanism that is operable with a single release action.