Inflatable Wheel Pusher for Offset Frontal Crash Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

During offset frontal vehicle impacts, the rigid barrier may miss major structural components and directly impact wheels, increasing the likelihood of wheels intruding into the passenger cabin, which is a critical metric in SORB frontal crash tests.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising an inflatable member fixed to the vehicle's frame, which inflates upon impact to contact the wheel and push it away from the frame, reducing the likelihood of wheel intrusion into the cabin.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If no additional protective device is installed, then the vehicle structure remains simple, but the wheel may intrude into the passenger cabin during offset frontal impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel intrusion into passenger cabinVSAvoidvehicle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

An inflatable member is introduced as an intermediary element between the wheel and the passenger cabin. During normal operation, it remains deflated and invisible. Upon impact detection, it inflates rapidly to contact the wheel and push it away from the cabin, thereby mediating the harmful interaction without permanently altering the vehicle structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable member is pre-positioned in a deflated state within the wheel well area before impact occurs. Impact sensors are pre-configured to detect the offset frontal collision condition. Upon detection, the system preliminarily prepares the inflatable member for rapid inflation, enabling immediate protective action without requiring complex real-time decision algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a deployable protective device is added to prevent wheel intrusion, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel intrusion preventionVSAvoidprotective device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective device utilizes an inflatable member composed of flexible thin-walled structure. This flexible shell can rapidly expand from a compact deflated state to a large deployed state that effectively contacts and redirects the wheel. The flexibility allows it to adapt to the wheel's position and movement without requiring complex mechanical linkages or rigid structural components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs pneumatic inflation mechanism to deploy the protective element. An inflator device rapidly fills the inflatable member with gas upon impact detection, enabling quick deployment without complex mechanical actuation systems. This pneumatic approach simplifies the control mechanism compared to traditional mechanical deployable structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the wheel orientation is turned away from the frame rail, then wheel intrusion likelihood is reduced, but the vehicle's handling and steering capabilities may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel intrusion likelihoodVSAvoidsteering capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective system dynamically adapts to the wheel's position and movement. The inflatable member is positioned to become effective only when the wheel moves toward the cabin during impact, not during normal steering operations. This dynamic deployment ensures that steering capability is maintained during normal operation while providing protection during crash conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable member is pre-positioned to counteract the wheel's potential movement toward the cabin during impact. By being in place before impact occurs (in deflated state), it can immediately engage the wheel and push it away from the cabin upon inflation, preventing the harmful orientation change that would occur without the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 device effectively reduces the likelihood of wheel intrusion into the passenger cabin by forcing the wheel away from the frame during offset frontal impacts, enhancing safety metrics in crash tests.

Implementation Method 1

the inflatable member 20 of the device 16 inflates away from the frame 12 and into contact with the wheel 14

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS10065586B2Deployable device mounted to vehicle frame

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

A vehicle includes a frame, a wheel supported by the frame; and a device fixed to the frame. The device includes an inflator and an inflatable member in fluid communication with the inflator. The inflatable member is inflatable away from the frame and into contact with the wheel to push the wheel away from the frame during sensed impact of the vehicle.