Flexible Vehicle Step Assembly with Resilient Shock Absorbing Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
As vehicle sizes increase, existing flexible step assemblies face challenges in maintaining stability during impacts, leading to potential damage and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A flexible step assembly with shock absorbing assemblies, comprising upper and lower sections connected by a resilient connection, including a spring and flexible connector, allowing the assembly to move under impact while recoupling to prevent damage and maintain stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the step assembly is made more rigid to improve stability, then stability is improved, but damage due to impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorbing assembly incorporates movable sections that can dynamically adjust their position during impact events. The upper section, lower section, and resilient connection form a dynamic system that allows controlled movement to absorb impact energy while maintaining structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for stability and flexibility for impact protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient connection acts as a pre-configured cushioning element between the upper and lower sections. This elastic component is designed beforehand to deform and absorb impact energy, providing protective cushioning before damage can occur to the step assembly, thus preventing impact damage while maintaining stability during normal use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shock absorbing assembly allows more movement under impact, then impact damage is prevented, but stability during normal use is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient connection changes its mechanical parameters dynamically - remaining rigid during normal use to maintain stability, but deforming elastically during impact to absorb energy. This parameter change allows the assembly to provide both stability during normal operation and protection during impact events without compromising either function.
3Strength
If the resilient connection is made stronger to prevent damage, then damage prevention is improved, but the ability to absorb impact through movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorbing assembly uses composite construction with multiple materials having different mechanical properties. The resilient connection combines elastic materials that can deform and absorb energy, while the upper and lower sections use stronger materials for structural integrity. This composite approach allows the assembly to both absorb impact through movement and resist damage simultaneously.
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 solution effectively absorbs impact forces, reducing the risk of damage and ensuring long-term reliability by allowing the step assembly to move during impacts and return to its neutral position, maintaining stability and preventing twisting of parts.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient connection between the upper section and the lower section, the upper section and the lower section being resiliently interconnected and partially separable under impact by the resilient connection
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible step assembly for a vehicle configured to provide stability when being mounted by a user. The flexible step assembly includes a top-plate secured on the top of each side member through a backing plate. The top-plate each seat in a recess of an upper member that is connected to the vehicle and the top-plate and the upper member are connected by a resilient connection such that they can separate by an impact load but will be recoupled by the resilient connection. The top-plate is substantially bisected by its connection to the backing plate so that the backing plates are each substantially centered on the top plates.