Vehicle Door Trim Impact Absorber with Slanted Sidewalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional impact absorbing bodies for vehicle doors struggle to consistently meet the specific impact absorption characteristics required for different vehicle models, particularly in terms of space constraints and attachment locations, making it difficult to satisfy collision safety standards effectively.
Innovation Solution
The impact absorbing body is designed as a hollow box with slanted sidewall portions and rib members that extend from the top face to the base, featuring slits and rounded boundary portions, allowing for adjustable deformation to absorb collision energy effectively across the early, middle, and late stages of a side collision, and is attached to the door trim with detachable attachment portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional impact absorbing bodies are used with fixed structures, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different vehicle models and attachment positions is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorbing body is divided into multiple sidewall portions (first through fourth sidewall portions) that can deform independently. Each sidewall portion has specific structural features (slits, rounded boundary portions, slanted portions) that allow controlled deformation. This segmentation enables the body to adapt to different collision scenarios and vehicle model requirements while maintaining a manageable overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the impact absorbing body have different structural properties tailored to their specific functions. The first and second sidewall portions have slits and rounded boundary portions for controlled deformation, while the third and fourth sidewall portions have different configurations. This local differentiation allows the structure to meet various attachment position requirements without requiring complete redesign.
2Reliability
If the impact absorbing body structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but impact absorption characteristics cannot be consistently met across different vehicle models
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorbing body is pre-configured with specific structural features (slits at predetermined positions, rounded boundary portions, slanted portions) during manufacturing. These pre-designed elements ensure that when a collision occurs, the body will deform in a controlled manner to meet the required impact absorption characteristics. This preliminary structuring provides reliability across different vehicle models without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure incorporates variable parameters such as the positioning of slits, the degree of rounding at boundary portions, and the slant angles of sidewall portions. These parameters can be adjusted based on specific vehicle model requirements and attachment positions, allowing the same basic structure to reliably meet impact absorption characteristics across different applications through parameter optimization rather than complete redesign.
3Adaptability or versatility
If space constraints between exterior panels and door trim are considered, then design generalizability improves, but available deformation space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorbing body is designed to transition from a rigid pre-collision state to a dynamically deforming state during collision. The slits and rounded boundary portions enable the structure to progressively collapse and absorb energy through controlled deformation. This dynamic behavior allows the body to achieve effective impact absorption within limited deformation space by utilizing time-dependent structural collapse rather than requiring large static deformation volumes.
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
This design enables the impact absorbing body to reliably produce desired impact absorption characteristics by adjusting the deformation of sidewall and rib members, effectively managing collision energy throughout the collision sequence, thus enhancing occupant protection and aligning with specific safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
fractures are produced in the boundary portion of adjacent sidewall portions by the slits, and, as that fracturing advances, each sidewall portion is enabled, through the existence of the slanted portions, to deform so as to open in the sideways direction
Implementation Method 2
each sidewall portion is enabled, through the existence of the slanted portions, to deform so as to open in the sideways direction
Implementation Method 3
The rib members of the impact absorbing body also deform, so that collision energy can be absorbed during the middle stage and the late stage of the collision
Data Source
AI summary
An impact absorbing body for attachment to a door trim is capable of bearing a collision load from an exterior panel at the time of a side collision. The impact absorbing body has a top face portion with linear edge portions and sidewall portions extending from the linear edge portions toward the door trim to provide a hollow box. The impact absorbing body also includes base portions connected to edge portions of the sidewall portions. The base portions are open toward the door trim and are attached to the door trim. The impact absorbing body also includes slits between adjacent sidewall portions, and the sidewall portions have outwardly slanted portions. In addition, rib members extend from the top face portion toward the base portion, toward the inside of the hollow box, and connect the adjacent sidewall portions.