Vehicle Storage Compartment Breakaway Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle storage compartments lack effective design features to deform and collapse in response to impact events, which can lead to damage and intrusion of contents into the passenger compartment during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A dashboard mountable storage compartment assembly with a breakaway structure comprising a first and second section, separated by a shear plane, that allows the compartment to partially collapse along the upright and top walls upon impact, absorbing energy through curved edge portions and V-grooves, while the bottom wall remains intact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the storage compartment is designed with a rigid structure to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but the compartment cannot deform or collapse in response to impact events, causing harmful factors to worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment is divided into a first section and a second section separated by a breakaway structure. This segmentation allows the compartment to partially collapse along the breakaway structure during impact events, enabling energy absorption while maintaining integrity in non-impact areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway structure is designed with specific geometric features including V-grooves and curved edge portions that change the structural parameters at predetermined locations. These parameter changes create controlled weakness points that allow the structure to deform in a predictable manner during impact, transitioning from a fully rigid state to a partially collapsed state.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the storage compartment is designed to collapse during impact to absorb energy, then harmful factors are reduced, but the structural integrity and strength are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the structure into distinct sections separated by the breakaway structure, the patent allows controlled collapse in specific regions while maintaining the integrity of other parts. The bottom wall remains intact while the upper sections can separate, providing selective strength preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The breakaway structure introduces localized variations in structural quality through V-grooves and curved edge portions. These local modifications create predetermined failure paths that concentrate deformation in specific areas, allowing the rest of the structure to maintain its strength and integrity.
3Loss of energy
If the breakaway structure is designed to separate sections along multiple walls, then impact energy absorption is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The breakaway structure integrates multiple features including V-grooves, curved edge portions, and separation planes into a single unified structure. This merging of features allows the complex energy absorption function to be achieved through one integrated component rather than multiple separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The V-grooves and curved edge portions are pre-formed during manufacturing to create predetermined failure paths. This preliminary action prepares the structure for controlled collapse during impact, eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making mechanisms and reducing operational complexity.
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 assembly effectively absorbs impact energy by separating sections of the compartment, limiting movement and preventing contents from intruding into the passenger compartment, enhancing safety by dissipating force and maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the breakaway structure breaks separating the first section from the second section along at least a portion of the first upright wall, a portion of the second upright wall and a portion of the top wall
Implementation Method 2
The first section, the second section and the bottom wall are shaped and dimensioned to define a storage space therein
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle storage compartment assembly has a bottom wall, a first and second upright walls and a top wall. The first upright wall, the second upright wall and the top wall are each formed with a breakaway structure. A first section is defined on a first side and a second section is defined on a second side of the breakaway structure. The bottom wall extends from the first section to the second section in the absence of the breakaway structure. The first section, the second section and the bottom wall define a storage space. The breakaway structure is configured such that in response to one of the first section and the second section receiving an impacting force the breakaway structure breaks separating the first section from the second section along the first upright wall, the second upright wall and the top wall.