Deformable Vehicle Air Deflector Hinge Reduces Head Injury
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air deflectors are rigid and do not deform upon impact, leading to increased head injury criterion (HIC) values during pedestrian collisions, which is a concern for vehicle safety ratings and pedestrian protection.
Innovation Solution
A deformable air deflector with a hinged portion and angled top portion is designed to absorb impact forces by deflecting and deforming towards the vehicle's centerline, featuring a living hinge and attachment means that allow partial detachment during an impact to enhance deformation and reduce HIC values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid air deflector is used to prevent heated air from entering the cabin, then air deflection function is improved, but head injury criterion increases during pedestrian impact
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflector is designed with a hinged portion that allows it to transition from a stable, rigid configuration during normal operation to a deformable configuration during impact. The hinge enables the deflector to rotate and absorb impact energy, reducing HIC values while maintaining air deflection functionality when not subjected to impact forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural parameters of the air deflector are modified by introducing a hinged portion with reduced thickness. This creates a region of controlled flexibility that changes the deflector's mechanical properties from rigid to semi-flexible, allowing it to deform under impact loads while maintaining its air deflection function during normal use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a deformable air deflector with hinged portion is used to reduce HIC, then pedestrian safety is improved, but structural stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflector incorporates a hinged portion that provides conditional stability - remaining stable during normal operation to maintain air deflection function, but allowing controlled deformation during impact to reduce HIC. The hinge creates a dynamic response that adapts to loading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinged portion is located specifically at the base of the air deflector, creating a localized region of reduced stiffness. This allows the majority of the deflector structure to maintain its rigid, stable configuration for effective air deflection, while the localized hinge area provides the necessary deformability to absorb impact energy and reduce HIC values.
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 deformable air deflector significantly reduces HIC values below regulatory thresholds, providing improved pedestrian impact safety and enhancing vehicle safety ratings by effectively absorbing impact forces.
Implementation Method 1
a force of impact on the deflector (e.g., via a hood of a vehicle) can be better absorbed through deflection and deformation of the air deflector along the hinged portion
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~4
AI summary
An air deflector (10) for a vehicle cowl (33) is provided. The air deflector (10) includes a first side (3) extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle (1), attachment means (35) configured for removably attaching the air deflector (10) to the vehicle (1), resulting in an attached configuration, a second side (5) opposite and parallel to the first side (3), wherein when in the attached configuration, the second side (5) faces inward toward a centerline of the vehicle (1), and a hinged portion (15) positioned on the first and/or second side such that a force applied at a top portion (20) of the air deflector in the attached configuration causes deformation of the air deflector (10) along the hinged portion (15).