Deformable Ramp for Vehicle Trim Panel Head Injury Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
During oblique vehicle impacts, occupants experience significant head injury due to direct contact with pillar trim panels and grab handles, leading to high Head Injury Criteria (HIC) values, as existing safety measures are inadequate in deflecting and absorbing energy effectively.
Innovation Solution
A deformable ramp is integrated into the vehicle trim panel assembly at the corner between the pillar trim panel and grab handle, which deflects and absorbs energy from the occupant's head, reducing the angle of impact and energy transfer by being fixed relative to both components and featuring a cavity with ribs and a filler block for enhanced energy absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid trim panel assembly is used, then structural strength is maintained, but occupant head injury risk increases during oblique impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The trim panel assembly incorporates a deformable ramp component that transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic energy-absorbing element during impact. The ramp is designed to deform controllably upon occupant contact, transforming the static rigid structure into a dynamic system that adapts to impact forces, thereby reducing head injury risk while maintaining overall structural integrity through its fixed attachment to the pillar and grab handle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the ramp component by selecting materials with specific deformability characteristics. The ramp's material parameters are chosen to allow controlled deformation at impact forces while maintaining structural strength during normal vehicle operation. This parameter change enables the component to function as both a structural element and an energy-absorbing safety feature.
2Loss of energy
If existing safety measures are used, then basic structural protection is provided, but energy absorption and deflection effectiveness are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable ramp is pre-positioned and pre-configured in the trim panel assembly to provide cushioning before impact occurs. The ramp's deformability is designed in advance to absorb and deflect impact energy, creating a protective buffer zone between the occupant's head and the rigid pillar-grab handle corner. This beforehand cushioning reduces the severity of impact by dissipating energy through controlled deformation during the impact event.
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 ramp effectively reduces the movement of the occupant's head towards the pillar trim panel and grab handle, thereby lowering HIC values by deflecting and absorbing energy, thus enhancing occupant safety during oblique impacts.
Implementation Method 1
The ramp is deformable relative to the grab handle. The ramp effectively reduces the movement of the occupant's head towards the pillar trim panel and grab handle, thereby lowering HIC values by deflecting and absorbing energy
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle trim panel assembly includes a pillar trim panel, a grab handle extending from the pillar trim panel defining a corner between the pillar trim panel and the grab handle, and a ramp at the corner. The ramp is fixed relative to the pillar trim panel and the grab handle at the corner. The ramp is deformable relative to the grab handle.