Crash Test Dummy Joint Assembly with Adjustable Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crash test dummy joints lack easy access for tightening, have insufficient friction due to small contact areas, and are limited to specific types of joints, such as the hip joint, making them inadequate for adjusting tightness and simulating human-like mechanical impact responses across various joints.
Innovation Solution
A joint assembly featuring a spherical joint with adjustable friction, allowing for external tightening and compatibility with multiple joints, including the hip, arm, and leg joints, utilizing a ball-and-socket design with a large contact area and a mechanism for friction adjustment through an adjustable member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a current joint design is used, then the joint can be assembled, but access to adjust tightness requires disassembling the dummy
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism is nested within the joint assembly structure, with the adjustable member positioned inside the joint housing. This allows the adjustment mechanism to be compact and integrated, providing access through existing openings without requiring disassembly of the dummy, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If a current joint design is used, then the joint can function, but the contact area is very small to generate friction
Solution Approach 1:
The joint employs spherical ball members (first and second ball members) that contact curved surfaces within the joint members. This spherical geometry significantly increases the contact area compared to flat or point contacts, enabling sufficient friction generation for reliable joint function while maintaining a compact design.
3Ease of operation
If a current joint design is used, then the joint can be assembled, but it lacks friction adjustment for tightness
Solution Approach 1:
The joint incorporates an adjustable member that can dynamically change the friction characteristics of the joint. By moving the adjustable member, the friction between the ball members and joint members can be modified, allowing tightness adjustment. This dynamic adjustment capability is integrated into the joint structure without requiring a completely complex separate adjustment system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a current joint design is used, then the joint can function, but it only applies to a particular type of joint such as a hip joint
Solution Approach 1:
The joint assembly is designed with universal ball members and joint members that can accommodate different joint types. The spherical geometry and standardized interface allow the same basic joint assembly to be used for hip joints, knee joints, and other joints in the crash test dummy, providing multi-functionality without requiring completely different designs for each joint type.
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 joint assembly provides improved friction control, ease of access for adjustment, and versatility across different joints, enhancing the simulation of human-like mechanical responses in crash test dummies, enabling more accurate collision testing.
Implementation Method 1
an adjustable member operatively cooperating with the first ball member and the second ball member to move the first ball member and the second ball member toward and away from each other to adjust a friction tightness of the joint assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A joint assembly for a crash test dummy includes a first joint member for connection to a first member of the crash test dummy. The joint assembly also includes a first ball member received by the first joint member. The joint assembly includes a second ball member spaced from the first ball member. The joint assembly also includes a second joint member for connection to a second member of the crash test dummy. The second joint member receives the second ball member and is operatively connected to the first joint member. The joint assembly further includes an adjustable member operatively cooperating with the first ball member and the second ball member to move the first ball member and the second ball member toward and away from each other to adjust a friction tightness of the joint assembly.