Floating Support Surface With Friction Energy Conversion in Vehicle Crashes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passive safety systems in vehicles often exert high forces on passengers and cargo due to their short duration and distance of deceleration, potentially leading to injuries and damage during crashes, and may not be suitable for unmanned vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A passive safety system featuring a support frame and a support surface that floats relative to the frame, equipped with an energy conversion device that converts kinetic energy into frictional energy using a frictional surface, allowing for reduced deceleration forces on passengers and cargo by extending the stopping distance without altering the surface's position relative to the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional passive safety systems are used, then the deceleration duration and distance are extremely short, but high forces are exerted on the passenger leading to potential injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is made movable relative to the support frame through a guide mechanism, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position during deceleration. This dynamic configuration extends the deceleration distance and duration while reducing the peak force exerted on the payload, resolving the contradiction between short deceleration duration and high force.
2Strength
If conventional passive safety systems are used, then the structure is simple, but the forces exerted on cargo and passengers are high causing damage and injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: a support frame fixed to the vehicle, a movable support surface for the payload, and an energy conversion device with frictional surfaces. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while working together to provide enhanced protection capability without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy conversion device acts as an intermediary between the support frame and the support surface. It contains frictional surfaces that convert kinetic energy into frictional energy, providing a controlled energy dissipation mechanism that reduces the force transmitted to the payload while adding only moderate system complexity.
3Length of moving object
If the support surface is fixed relative to the support frame, then the system is simple, but the deceleration distance is short resulting in high forces
Solution Approach 1:
The support surface is designed to move relative to the support frame along a guide during deceleration, extending the deceleration distance. The guide mechanism provides structured movement paths while maintaining controlled complexity, allowing the system to achieve longer deceleration distance without excessive structural complexity.
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 effectively reduces the severity of injuries to passengers and damage to cargo by dissipating kinetic energy as frictional energy, operating independently or in conjunction with conventional safety systems, and is applicable to various crash scenarios, including unmanned vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an energy conversion device between the support frame and the support surface, the energy conversion device including a frictional surface configured to engage a portion of the support surface when the support surface tends to move in a predetermined direction with respect to the support frame to thereby convert kinetic energy of the support surface into frictional energy
Data Source
AI summary
A passive safety system is provided for a vehicle. The passive safety system includes a support frame configured to be secured on the vehicle in a fixed position and a support surface configured to support a payload carried by the vehicle. The support surface is configured to float with respect to the support frame. The passive safety system includes an energy conversion device between the support frame and the support surface, and includes a frictional surface configured to engage a portion of the support surface when the support surface tends to move in a predetermined direction with respect to the support frame to thereby convert kinetic energy of the support surface into frictional energy and increase the stopping/braking distance.