Hollow Shock Absorber Structure for Stable Plastic Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbers, such as knee bolsters and bumper absorbers, experience rapid load increase and reduced energy absorption after reaching the elastic limit, leading to excessive impact forces on occupants and inadequate energy absorption in collisions.
Innovation Solution
A hollow molded shock absorber with transverse groove ribs featuring bending induction portions at varying distances from the load input surface, which deform sequentially to control load fluctuation and distribute deformation more evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hollow shock absorber is formed by blow-molding without bending induction portions, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the load fluctuation is large after plastic deformation and energy absorption is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The connection surface is segmented into multiple bending induction portions positioned at different distances from the load input surface. This segmentation causes sequential plastic deformation of different portions, extending the energy absorption process and reducing load fluctuation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through integrated molding
Solution Approach 2:
Bending induction portions are pre-formed during the blow-molding process at specific positions and orientations. These pre-formed geometric features guide the deformation sequence during impact, ensuring controlled energy absorption without requiring additional manufacturing steps
2Ease of manufacture
If the shock absorber structure is simple without bending induction portions, then manufacturing is easier, but load fluctuation after elastic limit is large causing excessive impact force on occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The connection surface is divided into multiple bending induction portions at different positions, creating a sequential deformation mechanism that extends the energy absorption duration and reduces peak impact forces transmitted to occupants, while remaining integrally molded for manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric parameters of bending induction portions (position, orientation, shape) are optimized during design to control the deformation sequence and load characteristics, reducing harmful impact forces while maintaining ease of manufacture through standard blow-molding processes
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 suppresses load fluctuation after plastic deformation, reducing the impact force on occupants and increasing the total energy absorption capacity during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the load received by the shock absorber gradually increases with the amount of deformation until the load on the shock absorber reaches Lmax, which is the limit of elastic deformation (elastic limit)
Implementation Method 2
the plastic deformation occurs rapidly in the entire shock absorber when the amount of deformation exceeds the elastic limit Lmax
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber capable of suppressing load fluctuation after the start of plastic deformation. The shock absorber formed of a hollow molded body, including a load input surface; a fixed surface opposed to the load input surface; and a connection surface connecting the load input surface and the fixed surface. The connection surface includes at least one transverse groove rib, the at least one transverse groove rib includes at least two bending induction portions provided at positions where distances from the load input surface are different from each other, the at least two bending induction portions each being convex toward an outside of the shock absorber.