Vehicle Coupling Energy Absorber With External Serviceable Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy absorbing and dissipating devices for vehicle couplings occupy significant space and are difficult to access for servicing, limiting their practicality and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compact energy absorbing and dissipating device with a fork-mounted pin, shock-absorbing inserts, and a sliding housing, featuring a locking element and a fastener with cutting knives for energy dissipation, allowing for efficient space utilization and easy servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional energy absorbing devices are mounted in a recess in the vehicle wall, then they provide adequate space for the device, but they occupy significant space within the car and make access to components for servicing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a fork portion that mounts to the vehicle and a housing portion that contains the shock-absorbing components. This segmentation allows the housing to be positioned externally where it is easily accessible for servicing, while the fork integrates with the vehicle coupling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a purely internal mounting solution to an external mounting solution, utilizing space outside the vehicle body. The housing extends outward from the fork, moving the bulk of the device away from the vehicle interior while maintaining functional connection through the coupling mechanism.
2Loss of energy
If a deformable sleeve is used for energy dissipation during collision, then energy is effectively dissipated, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable plastic sleeve is designed as a sacrificial component that deforms and fails during collision to dissipate energy. After the collision event, the sleeve is discarded and replaced with a new one, simplifying the overall device structure by eliminating the need for complex recovery or reset mechanisms.
3Reliability
If shock-absorbing inserts are secured by multiple plates and locking elements, then the structure is more secure, but the device becomes more complex and harder to service
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple fastening functions are merged into a single locking element that simultaneously secures the shock-absorbing inserts and limits movement in both directions. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the necessary security and reliability of the assembly.
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 energy during normal operations and dissipates energy during collisions while minimizing space usage and facilitating easy maintenance and servicing.
Implementation Method 1
a pin is mounted with a set of shock-absorbing inserts, the set of inserts on the side of the fork being secured by a stop plate, constituting a limiter for movement in the coupling pulling direction
Implementation Method 2
a fastener with cutting knives for energy dissipation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to an energy absorbing and dissipating device for vehicle coupling having a fork (3), wherein the fork (3) has a pin (7) mounted therein for mounting the ear assembly (1) connecting the vehicle coupling head, and on the rear side of the fork (3) a pin is mounted with a set of cushioning inserts (11). The set of inserts (11) on the side of the fork (3) is secured by a stop plate (5), constituting a limiter for movement in the coupling pulling direction, and on the opposite side by a back plate (6) and a locking element (13), and the entire structure is closed by a locking element (10), constituting a limiter for movement in the coupling pushing direction, the device additionally having a housing (4) in which the other components can move slidingly, and in which the locking element is mounted (10). The device is characterized in that the housing (4) is shaped like a sleeve, there is a circumferential fastener (2) on the outside of the housing (4), the fastener (2) having screw holes (2a') for mounting it to the vehicle wall, and cutting knives (15) for cutting the housing surface (4), the fastener (2) is fitted onto the housing (4) and further clamped onto it with a locking ring (14), the housing (4) has slots (15a) for knives (15) on the outer surface, where the fastener (2) is located.