Compressible Energy Absorbing Device with Trapped Air

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing energy absorbing devices for vehicle collisions are inefficient in transferring and absorbing impact energy, as they rely on the resilience of individual materials and are labor-intensive to manufacture, limiting their effectiveness and applicability.

Innovation Solution

An energy absorbing device with a shell and internal walls that compress upon impact, utilizing trapped air as a first energy absorbing element and the internal walls as a second element, allowing for efficient energy transfer and absorption from various angles, and can be easily manufactured and adapted into different shapes and configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional energy absorbing devices use individual material resilience to absorb impact, then the device structure is simple, but the energy absorption effectiveness is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy absorptionVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into multiple functional zones including an energy absorption zone with collapsible structure, a transition zone, and a termination zone. This segmentation allows different portions of the device to handle different aspects of impact energy, improving overall absorption effectiveness while maintaining manageable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collapsible energy absorption structure is nested within a protective shell, creating a hierarchical structure where the inner collapsible elements are contained within the outer shell. This nesting allows the device to maintain a compact form while providing multiple layers of energy absorption and protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Loss of energy

If aluminium cans are stacked end to end in layers to absorb impact, then the device can absorb impact energy, but it only functions effectively when collision occurs head-on into the end of the cans

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy absorptionVSAvoidcollision angle adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The energy absorption elements are designed with dynamic collapse characteristics that allow them to deform and absorb energy from impacts at various angles. The collapsible structure can adapt its deformation pattern based on the direction and magnitude of the applied force, making the device effective for both head-on and angled collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a one-dimensional can stacking approach to a three-dimensional collapsible structure with multiple absorption zones arranged in different orientations. This dimensional expansion allows the device to absorb impact energy from multiple directions simultaneously, greatly improving angular adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If individual layers of cardboard and cans are not fixed together, then the assembly is easy to construct, but the energy absorbed on impact is not readily transferred throughout all layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly constructionVSAvoidenergy transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple energy absorption elements and zones are merged into an integrated collapsible structure that functions as a unified system. The interconnected design ensures that impact energy is distributed and transferred throughout the entire structure, maximizing energy absorption while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through modular assembly components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of energy

If water filled containers are used as energy absorbing devices, then the devices can absorb impact energy, but they are relatively heavy and difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact energy absorptionVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device utilizes a collapsible pneumatic or structural compression mechanism instead of water-filled containers. The air-filled or structurally-compressed design provides equivalent energy absorption capabilities while significantly reducing weight and eliminating the maintenance issues associated with fluid containment and leakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 device effectively absorbs a significant portion of impact energy, reducing the force transferred to the vehicle and its occupants, and can be easily produced and adapted for various applications, including both land and water environments.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing trapped air as a first energy absorbing element and the internal walls as a second element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS10174472B2Energy absorption device

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 VALMONT HIGHWAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED

AI summary

A method of absorbing energy from a moving object upon impact, where the method includes utilizing at least two types of energy absorbing elements to absorb at least some of the energy of the impact in an energy absorbing apparatus. A first type of energy absorbing element absorbs the majority of the energy absorbed by the apparatus and subsequent types of energy absorbing elements continue to absorb energy after the first type of energy absorbing element has ceased operation and can no longer absorb energy.