Deformable Seat Bracket for Side Impact Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat securing systems fail to effectively manage seat movement during severe impacts, where deformation of the safety cage can compromise passenger safety by allowing intrusion into the passenger compartment, necessitating a solution that allows controlled seat movement to mitigate injury.
Innovation Solution
A seat bracket system with a U-shaped third portion that allows relative motion between the first and second portions when a predefined force is exceeded in a specific direction, enabling controlled deformation and movement of the seat away from the compromised safety cage, while maintaining stability in other impact directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seat is securely fixed to the vehicle frame using rigid brackets, then the seat remains stable during normal operation and most impacts, but the seat cannot move away from a compromised safety cage during severe side impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic system that can change its mechanical properties. The bracket includes a deformation region with reduced thickness that allows controlled deformation under severe impact forces, enabling the seat to move away from a compromised safety cage while maintaining stability during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket's physical parameters are designed to change under different load conditions. The deformation region has specific geometric parameters (reduced thickness, defined length) that allow it to remain rigid under normal forces but deform when forces exceed a threshold, changing the bracket's stiffness parameter dynamically
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the bracket is designed to allow seat movement during side impacts, then passenger safety is improved by minimizing exposure to compromised areas, but the seat may become unstable during frontal, rear, or rollover impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with non-uniform properties: most of the bracket maintains full thickness and rigidity, while only a specific deformation region has reduced thickness. This localized weakness allows controlled movement in severe side impacts while the rest of the bracket maintains stability during other impact types
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is divided into distinct functional segments: a stable first portion attached to the vehicle frame, a deformation region with reduced thickness, and a second portion attached to the seat. This segmentation allows different parts to perform different functions under impact loads
3Reliability
If conventional rigid safety features are used, then passenger safety is optimized for fixed positions, but additional safety features are needed when the passenger compartment is deformed or compromised by foreign objects
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket system provides self-service safety functionality by automatically deforming to allow seat movement when subjected to severe impact forces. The deformation region's geometric design inherently provides the movement capability without requiring additional sensors, actuators, or control systems
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 system ensures the seat remains securely fastened during frontal, rear, and rollover impacts but allows controlled movement during side impacts, enhancing passenger safety by minimizing exposure to compromised areas, thus optimizing the function of safety features like seat belts and head-and-neck devices.
Implementation Method 1
one or more seat brackets deforming, in response to the vehicle experiencing an acceleration above a predefined amount in a particular direction
Implementation Method 2
The third portion may include a U-shaped bend... allow relative motion between the first portion and the second portion in response to a force exerted on the seat above a predefined amount
Data Source
AI summary
A system for securing a seat within a vehicle may include a seat bracket with a first portion configured to be attached to a structural frame of a vehicle by a first fastener passing there through, a second portion configured to be attached to a seat installed in the vehicle by a second fastener passing there through, and a third portion attaching the first portion to the second portion. The third portion may include a U-shaped bend, and the first portion may be configured to receive the second fastener there through. The second portion may include a hole for the second fastener to pass through, and the first portion may include a hole for the second fastener to pass through. The first portion may define a fracture propagation region disposed proximate the hole for the second fastener.