Deployable Flexible Panel for Vehicle Door Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with removable doors face challenges in preventing occupants from exiting during impacts, as existing door mechanisms may not effectively block the exit path, and the design limitations restrict the integration of advanced safety features like side curtain airbags.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a removable door system with a deployable flexible panel that extends across the door opening, activated by a pyrotechnic actuator, which deploys in response to impacts and absence of the removable door, providing a barrier to prevent occupant egress while allowing for greater design flexibility and integration with side curtain airbags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If removable doors are used to provide design freedom, then design flexibility is improved, but safety protection during impact is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions between door and flexible panel configurations based on impact conditions. The flexible panel is deployed only when needed (during impact with removable door absent), providing adaptive safety protection while maintaining design freedom for removable door applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible panel acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the removable door and the occupant. When the removable door is absent during impact, the flexible panel deploys to provide the necessary safety function, mediating the protection gap created by door removal.
2Reliability
If traditional door mechanisms are used to block exit path, then safety protection is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the safety function from the traditional door mechanism. Instead of making the door itself complex to prevent egress, the system separates the safety function into a distinct flexible panel that deploys independently, simplifying the door mechanism while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The complex mechanical door egress-prevention mechanisms are replaced with a simpler flexible panel deployment system activated by impact sensors and pyrotechnic actuators. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the same safety outcome.
3Reliability
If flexible panel is deployed to extend across door opening, then safety protection is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible panel is nested within the vehicle structure, stowed in a compact form when not in use. The panel integrates with existing door openings and structural elements, allowing deployment without adding significant external complexity to the vehicle design.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible panel system is self-deploying through pyrotechnic actuators that automatically inflate or extend the panel upon impact detection. This self-service deployment reduces the need for complex manual or electronically controlled deployment mechanisms.
4Speed
If pyrotechnic actuator is used for rapid deployment, then response speed is improved, but manufacturing complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state or configuration of the flexible panel rapidly through pyrotechnic actuation. By utilizing chemical energy conversion to mechanical deployment, the system achieves rapid response without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems that would be difficult to manufacture.
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 flexible panel effectively prevents occupants from exiting the vehicle during impacts, enhancing safety by providing a barrier and serving as a reaction surface for airbags, while allowing for the removal of doors for design freedom.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrotechnic actuator, disposed in the track and communicatively coupled to the controller
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a door opening shaped to receive a removable door, a flexible panel deployable to a position extending across the door opening, and a controller programmed to deploy the flexible panel in response to an impact based on an absence of the removable door from the door opening. The vehicle may include a track elongated along the door opening, and the flexible panel may be deployable along the track.