Inflatable Vehicle Protection Panel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protection systems for two-wheeled vehicles, such as motorcycles and scooters, have complex designs that require intricate folding mechanisms for reliable deployment in the event of an accident, which complicates their design and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A protection system featuring an inflatable protective structure mounted on a support, with frontal and side uprights and nets that fold over the support in an inactive state and inflate to form protective panels perpendicular to the direction of movement upon detecting an accident, simplifying the design and enhancing deployment reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex folding mechanism is used to ensure reliable deployment of the protective structure, then the reliability of deployment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure is divided into multiple segments (front uprights, side uprights, cross members, and netting) that can be independently folded and deployed. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler in design while collectively providing reliable protection, resolving the contradiction between deployment reliability and design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective structure components are nested within each other in a compact configuration when not in use, with the netting folded within the frame structure. This nesting enables reliable deployment without complex mechanisms, as the components naturally unfold in a predetermined sequence, reducing design complexity while maintaining deployment reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the protective structure is designed to be compact and portable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the protective coverage may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure transitions from a compact, portable configuration to an expanded protective coverage configuration upon deployment. The dynamic nature of the inflatable structure allows it to provide full protective coverage only when needed, while remaining compact and portable during normal use, thus resolving the contradiction between portability and protective coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective structure provides enhanced protection at critical locations (front, sides, and rear of the rider) through strategically positioned uprights and netting, while maintaining a compact overall form factor. This local quality approach ensures adequate protective coverage without requiring a large overall structure, balancing portability and protection.
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 provides effective protection by forming a frontal and side protective panel that can absorb impact, improving user safety while simplifying the design and ensuring reliable deployment, and is portable and easily mountable on various vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
the protective structure is inflated such that the front protective panel extends from the support perpendicular to the first direction
Data Source
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AI summary
A protection system for a user riding on a vehicle equipped with a steering handle (5), the protection system comprising: - a support (11), - a protection device (25) comprising an inflatable protective structure (26) mounted on the support, the protective structure (26) being configured to form at least part of a front protection panel (27), in which the protection device (25) has: - an inactive state in which the protective structure (26) is deflated, - an active state in which the protective structure (26) is inflated such that the front protection panel (27) extends from the support (11) with a thickness less than a width and a height.