Vehicle Blast Isolation via Explosive Linkage Severing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle occupant protection systems are inadequate in addressing both high-frequency shock and low-frequency impulse effects from explosive devices, as they fail to completely absorb the initial shock and do not counteract the vehicle's rotation and translation caused by low-frequency impulses.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle occupant blast isolation system that uses small explosive charges to sever mechanical linkages between occupants and the vehicle's structure during a blast, and small rocket motors to provide a restoring force counteracting the impulse effects, thereby isolating occupants from both high-frequency initial shock and low-frequency impulse effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a crumple zone is used to reduce the initial high-frequency shock, then some shock protection is provided, but considerable energy is still transmitted through the mechanical linkage to the occupant and the low-frequency impulse effect is not counteracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the mechanical linkage between the seat and vehicle body structure during blast events using explosive charges. This severing of the mechanical connection eliminates the transmission path for both high-frequency shock and low-frequency impulse forces, making the protection system fundamentally different from traditional crumple zones that rely on energy absorption through mechanical deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by using explosive charges to preemptively sever the mechanical linkage before the blast forces can be transmitted to the occupant. Additionally, rocket motors are ignited to create an opposing force that counteracts the low-frequency impulse effect before it can fully affect the vehicle and occupant.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a crumple zone is used to absorb energy, then some protection is achieved, but the vehicle structure still experiences low-frequency impulse that can lift and flip the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The rocket motors are ignited in response to detecting a blast wave to produce a restoring force that counteracts the low-frequency impulse effect. This preliminary anti-action prevents the vehicle from experiencing the full destabilizing effects of the impulse, including lifting and flipping, by applying an opposing force in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
By severing the mechanical linkage between the seat and vehicle body, the system removes the transmission path that would otherwise couple the occupant and seat to the vehicle's unstable motion during low-frequency impulse events. This extraction isolates the occupant from both the shock and impulse effects.
3Strength
If mechanical linkage is maintained between seat and body structure, then structural support is provided, but shock effects are transferred to the occupant
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the mechanical linkage during normal operation for structural support, but preemptively severs it upon detecting a blast wave. This allows the system to provide both structural support when needed and shock isolation when threatened, transitioning from a static support structure to a dynamic isolation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical linkage is transformed from a static, always-connected structure to a dynamic system that can transition between connected and severed states. This dynamic capability allows the system to provide structural support during normal conditions while eliminating shock transmission pathways during blast events.
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
Effectively isolates vehicle occupants from blast loads by removing mechanical linkages and providing a restoring force to counteract vehicle motion, significantly reducing the risk of injury from explosive device detonations.
Implementation Method 1
one or more explosive charges are positioned on the seat support structure. A first circuit is coupled to the one or more sensors to initiate the explosive charges in response to a detected blast wave
Implementation Method 2
The initiation of the explosive charges severs the mechanical linkage between the seat and body structure placing the seat and occupant in free-fall for a period of time spanning the coupling of the shock from the blast wave to the body structure
Implementation Method 3
A plurality of rocket motors is positioned about the vehicle's body structure. One or more motion sensors are positioned on the body structure to measure rotation and typically translation of the body structure. A second circuit is coupled to the one or more blast sensors and the one or more motion sensors to initiate one or more of the rocket motors in response to the detected blast wave and the measured rotation and typically translation of the body structure to produce a restoring force to counter the rotation and possibly translation
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle occupant blast isolation system uses small explosive charges and small rocket motors to isolate vehicle occupants from blast loads. The system initiates the explosive charges to remove all mechanical linkages between the occupants and the initial shock so that no shock effects are transferred. The system counteracts the effects of the impulse by igniting the rocket motors to provide a restoring force to counter the effects of the impulse load. This combination of mechanical isolation and impulse negation addresses both the high-frequency initial shock and low-frequency impulse effects from explosive devices.