Vehicle Impact Attenuator with Draw Element and Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact attenuators for vehicles face challenges in durability due to corrosion and contamination, leading to jammed movable parts and compromised functionality over time, and they often require large dimensions to effectively decelerate collision forces, which increases material and cost requirements.
Innovation Solution
An impact attenuator comprising a beam and a collision catcher connected to an energy absorbing device, where the draw element is displaceable along the beam, allowing for deceleration through a braking mechanism with pins that provide a high braking effect and progressive increasing braking action, enabling compact design and low manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional impact attenuators use large dimensions to decelerate collision forces, then the deceleration effectiveness is improved, but the material consumption and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the energy-absorbing element by using a coiled spring mechanism that transforms collision energy through elastic deformation. The spring's coil geometry and material properties are optimized to achieve high deceleration forces in a compact volume, resolving the contradiction between deceleration effectiveness and material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The coiled spring structure utilizes curved geometry to efficiently store and release energy during compression. The spiral shape allows the spring to absorb collision forces through progressive coil compression, achieving high deceleration in a compact cylindrical form factor that reduces material consumption compared to straight beam structures.
2Force
If movable parts are used in impact attenuators to decelerate forces, then the deceleration function is improved, but corrosion and contamination cause parts to jam and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the collision catcher as a separate, removable component that can be independently replaced. This separation allows the energy-absorbing spring mechanism to remain protected and sealed, while only the exposed collision catcher needs periodic maintenance or replacement, thereby improving overall system reliability against corrosion and contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The coiled spring is pre-compressed or pre-positioned to provide immediate energy absorption capability. This beforehand preparation ensures that the deceleration function is ready to activate instantly upon collision without requiring movable parts that could jam, thereby maintaining reliability in harsh environments.
3Device complexity
If the collision catcher is fixedly connected to the beam, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ability to decelerate forces through displacement is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces controlled dynamics by allowing the collision catcher to displace along the beam during collision events. This dynamic movement activates the energy-absorbing spring mechanism, enabling force deceleration. The system transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic controlled-displacement connection that activates only when needed, balancing structural simplicity with deceleration capability.
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 decelerates collision forces from vehicles while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design, ensuring reliable operation over time and adaptable to various collision scenarios, including those involving vehicles of different sizes.
Implementation Method 1
an energy absorber comprising a housing, a store of plastically deformable material mounted in the housing and having an end stop... the housing mounting a pair of space pins around which the deformable material from a coil is plastically deformed in different directions in a sequential manner to absorb energy
Implementation Method 2
Upon each rail an angle bar is displaceably mounted along the rail which on its inner surface is provided with pieces of friction material, e.g. brake lining, serving to apply a braking effect between the displaceable angle bar and the capped angle bar
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~11
AI summary
The invention relates to an impact attenuator for vehicles, including an energy absorbing device (8) for decelerating forces, comprising a housing, at least two pins (13) arranged in the housing which are arranged in parallel to each other in the housing, as well as a metallic, elongated draw element (14), which can be positioned within the housing such that it extends between and in contact with the pins, wherein the pins and the draw element are positioned such that a change of direction appears on the draw element when passing by each pin such that at mutual moving of the draw element and the housing in relation to each other, the movement is decelerated due to deformation of the draw element at passage of each pin. The pins (13) and the draw element (14) are positioned such that the draw element obtains a change of direction of at least 90° when passing at least two of the pins. The impact attenuator comprises a beam (3) and a collision catcher (9), which is connected to the beam and displaceable along its outer side, wherein one of the energy absorbing device (8) or the draw element (14) is connected to the collision catcher and displaceable together with it, while the other of these is fixedly connected to the ground or a fixed structure such that at a possible collision with the collision catcher, this is decelerated due to the mutual movement between the energy absorbing device and the draw element.