Inflatable Console Panel for Frontal Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
During a frontal vehicle impact, occupants in the second row of seats may move forward and collide with the console, leading to energy absorption issues as their legs, feet, and knees impact the console, which current restraint and energy absorption systems fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle console with an integrated impact absorbing device comprising a bladder and a rigid panel, where an inflator inflates an inflation chamber to deploy the panel towards the occupant, absorbing energy from their knees, legs, and feet by moving the panel and bladder away from the console frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an impact absorbing device is integrated into the console, then energy absorption capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorbing device is integrated into the console structure by merging the bladder, panel, and inflator components with the console frame. The bladder is positioned within the console, the panel is attached to the console surface, and the inflator is mounted to the console, creating a unified structure that absorbs impact energy while maintaining console functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The console structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the structural support for the vehicle interior and as an impact absorbing device. The same console that provides structural separation between front seats also incorporates the bladder, panel, and inflator to absorb impact energy from occupants during collisions, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated impact absorption system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the panel is moved away from the console frame to absorb impact, then occupant protection is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The panel transitions from a fixed position attached to the console frame to a movable position during impact. The panel is initially positioned against the console frame providing structural stability, but upon impact detection, the inflator deploys the bladder which pushes the panel away from the frame to absorb impact energy, then returns to its original position, providing dynamic response to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflator deploys the bladder to position the panel in a cushioning configuration before actual occupant contact occurs during impact. This preliminary positioning of the panel away from the console frame creates an energy-absorbing barrier that is ready to absorb impact energy, reducing the force transmitted to the occupant.
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
Effectively absorbs kinetic energy from occupants during a frontal impact, preventing or limiting the impact between the occupant and the console, thereby enhancing occupant safety by deploying the impact absorbing device in response to rapid vehicle deceleration.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator (20) in communication with the inflation chamber (18) is configured to inflate the inflation chamber (18) to deploy the panel (16) and the bladder (21) away from the console frame (30)
Implementation Method 2
the inflated inflation chamber (18) may absorb energy from the knees, legs, ankles, and/or feet of the occupant
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle console includes a frame and an impact absorbing device supported on the frame. The impact absorbing device includes a bladder connected to the frame and a panel connected to the bladder. The bladder and the panel define an inflation chamber between the bladder and the panel. The panel is rigid relative to the bladder. An inflator is in communication with the inflation chamber.