Blast Attenuation Seat With Trailing Arm and Shock Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle seat systems fail to effectively mitigate injuries and fatalities from mine blasts due to inadequate energy absorption and complex blast dynamics, with existing solutions either being destroyed or ineffective in reducing shock-induced injuries.
Innovation Solution
A blast attenuation seat system featuring a vertically disposed post with a shock absorber, a trailing arm for stability, and a lateral energy attenuation system with a crushable element, designed to decouple occupants from the vehicle chassis and absorb energy during blasts, thereby reducing vertical and horizontal shock injuries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If more armour plating is added to deflect the blast, then blast protection is improved, but vehicle weight increases and capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the blast protection function from the vehicle chassis and relocates it to the seating system. The seat assembly becomes an independent protective unit with shock-absorbing legs and energy-dissipating mechanisms, separating the occupant protection function from the vehicle's structural armour.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock-absorbing legs act as intermediary elements between the vehicle chassis and the seat. These legs contain energy-dissipating mechanisms that absorb blast energy, serving as a mediator that protects the occupant from direct transmission of blast forces while adding minimal weight compared to full vehicle armouring.
2Device complexity
If simple strap suspension systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but effectiveness in reducing injury is insufficient as they launch the passenger into the roof or allow collision with vehicle sides
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: the seat pan, backrest, shock-absorbing legs, trailing arms, and energy-dissipating mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function in the blast attenuation process, creating a systematic approach to protection rather than a single simple strap system.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock-absorbing legs incorporate dynamic energy-dissipating mechanisms that activate during blast events. The system transitions from a static simple strap suspension to a dynamic system that actively absorbs and dissipates energy through controlled deformation and mechanical resistance, significantly improving protection effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If simplistic energy-absorbing systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but the systems are destroyed, distorted or seized under the energy of a blast, making them ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing legs are pre-configured with energy-dissipating mechanisms designed to activate during blast events. The system incorporates beforehand cushioning elements that are positioned and pre-loaded to absorb the expected blast energy, ensuring they are ready to function when needed rather than relying on ad-hoc energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy-dissipating mechanisms utilize parameter changes in materials and structures during blast events. The shock-absorbing legs undergo controlled deformation, stress-strain transformations, and mechanical property changes that allow them to absorb energy without being destroyed or seized, maintaining reliability under extreme conditions.
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 system significantly reduces injury levels by isolating occupants from the vehicle chassis, restraining appendages, and absorbing blast energy, minimizing acceleration, deceleration, and flailing-related injuries during mine blasts.
Implementation Method 1
a shock absorber, one end of the shock absorber being fixed to the post and the other end being fixed to the tube
Implementation Method 2
a lateral energy attenuation system comprising: a crushable element; a mechanical portage allowing the crushable element to deform while protecting it from damage during day to day use in a military vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle seats that reduce the potential for injury to occupants when the vehicle is subjected to a mine or similar explosive device. The seats are ceiling or wall mounted and include a trailing arm which allows for deflection while providing stability. The seat isolates the occupants from the chassis of the vehicle via a pneumatic or other shock absorber and/or a crushable element to provide protection from vertical and horizontal oriented blasts. These seats can also be combined with shock absorbing/isolating foot rests, appendage (leg) restrain systems and an occupant four-point harness to offer a completely integrated system. This integrated system reduces acceleration/deceleration related injuries, shock injuries to the lower legs, flailing injuries to the lower legs and internal collision injuries. Other options and alternatives are also described.