External Flex Cage Helmet Structure for Impact Energy Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing helmets and safety barriers are ineffective in dissipating shock energy before it reaches the wearer's head or vehicle occupants, often resulting in injuries such as concussions or fractures due to the direct transfer of impact energy.
Innovation Solution
An energy absorption system comprising flex cells with a deformable flex cage made from resilient materials, attached to a support surface like a helmet shell, which absorbs and disperses energy through deformation, reducing the force transferred to the wearer or vehicle occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rigid outer shell and internal padding are used in traditional helmets, then the helmet provides basic impact protection, but the shock wave energy is not sufficiently dissipated before reaching the wearer's head, resulting in potential concussions or fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The helmet shell is segmented into multiple independent flex cells, each containing a flex cage structure. These segmented cells allow localized deformation and energy absorption throughout the shell, preventing concentrated shock wave transfer to the wearer while maintaining overall structural integrity for impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The flex cages within each cell are designed to dynamically deform under impact forces. The resilient material allows the cage structure to flex and absorb energy during collision, then return to its original shape, providing continuous energy dissipation capability that adapts to varying impact intensities.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional rigid barriers are used to stop vehicle movement, then the barrier prevents vehicles from entering unwanted areas, but much of the impact energy is transferred to drivers and passengers, causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple flex cell units that can independently deform during vehicle impact. This segmentation allows the barrier to absorb and dissipate impact energy through localized cell deformation while maintaining the overall barrier structure to continue preventing unauthorized vehicle access.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier design converts the harmful impact energy from vehicle collisions into beneficial energy absorption through flex cage deformation. The resilient material in each flex cell transforms kinetic energy from the striking vehicle into deformation work, reducing the energy transferred to occupants while the barrier maintains its vehicle access control function.
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 energy absorption system significantly reduces the force and acceleration of impacts by allowing the flex cells to deform and absorb energy independently, thereby minimizing the risk of injury to the wearer or vehicle occupants.
Implementation Method 1
The flex cage is made from a resilient material that allows deformation of the flex cage when a force is applied to the flex cell. The deformation of the flex cage absorbs at least a portion of the energy from the force applied to flex cell
Implementation Method 2
The flex cage is made from a resilient material that allows deformation of the flex cage when a force is applied to the flex cell
Data Source
AI summary
A flex cell for absorbing energy from an applied force includes a panel attached to a flex cage. The flex cage is made from a resilient material that allows deformation of the flex cage when a force is applied to the flex cell. The flex cell is attachable to a support surface. In some instances, the flex cell is detached from the support surface when sufficient force is applied to the flex cell.