Controllable Damper for Vehicle Push Bar Collision Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rigidly attached push bars on vehicles bypass energy absorbing structures during collisions, altering collision characteristics and potentially damaging the front fascia.
Innovation Solution
A damper system is interposed between the push bar and the vehicle body structure, allowing adjustable damping ratios and resting positions to control the push bar's movement, ensuring energy absorption by the vehicle's original structures during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a push bar is rigidly attached to the vehicle body structure, then the push bar provides strong pushing capability, but it bypasses energy absorbing structures during collisions and damages the front fascia
Solution Approach 1:
A damper system is introduced as an intermediary component between the push bar and the vehicle body structure. The damper includes a rod attached to the push bar and a base attached to the body structure, with controllable damping characteristics that allow the push bar to move relative to the body during collisions, enabling energy absorption by the vehicle's original structures while maintaining pushing capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a push bar is rigidly attached to the vehicle body structure, then the push bar remains stable during normal operation, but it alters collision characteristics and prevents energy absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic controllable connection. The damper's damping ratio can be adjusted based on operating conditions: maintained at a lower level during normal operation to allow energy absorption, and increased during pushing mode to provide structural stability and support.
3Loss of energy
If a damper system with adjustable damping ratio is used to attach the push bar, then energy absorption is enabled during collisions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The damper system's damping ratio parameter is made variable rather than fixed. A controller adjusts the damping ratio based on detected collision conditions or pushing mode requests, enabling the system to adapt its mechanical characteristics dynamically. This allows a single attachment system to provide both energy absorption during collisions and stability during pushing operations.
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 damper system allows the push bar to move in a way that absorbs impact energy, maintaining the vehicle's original collision characteristics and preventing damage to the front fascia while enabling effective use of push bars.
Implementation Method 1
A damper having a base and a rod movable relative to each other. The damper is interposed between the body structure and the push bar with the rod attached to one of the push bar and the body structure, and the base attached to the other of the push bar and the body structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a body structure, a push bar, and a damper connecting the push bar to the body structure. The damper includes a base and a rod that are movable relative to each other. The rod is attached to one of the push bar and the body structure, and the base is attached to the other of the push bar and the body structure. The damper is controllable to adjust a damping ratio of the damper and/or adjust a resting position of the rod relative to the base to axially move the push bar.