Blast energy attenuating recoverable seat insert

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional blast seats in military vehicles are heavy, costly, and complex to manufacture and install, requiring the entire seat to be replaced to switch between standard and blast configurations, which is inefficient and impractical.

Innovation Solution

A seating system with interchangeable energy attenuating inserts that can be easily swapped without removing the seat from the vehicle, featuring a frame designed to accommodate both standard and energy attenuating inserts, allowing for reconfiguration between standard and blast seat modes without the need for seat replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional blast seats are used to provide energy attenuation, then occupant protection is improved, but weight and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant protectionVSAvoidseat weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is divided into modular components: a reusable seat frame and interchangeable inserts (energy attenuating inserts for blast protection, standard inserts for normal use). This segmentation allows the heavy protective elements to be isolated to removable inserts rather than the entire seat structure, reducing overall weight while maintaining protection capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state and properties of the insert materials based on operational requirements. Energy attenuating inserts use specialized materials with specific energy absorption properties that are only deployed when blast protection is needed, rather than permanently incorporating these heavy materials into the entire seat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional blast seats are replaced to switch between standard and blast configurations, then protection level is improved, but device complexity and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection levelVSAvoidseat configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat system is segmented into a permanent frame and removable inserts. To switch between configurations, users simply remove one insert and install another, rather than replacing the entire seat assembly. This dramatically simplifies the reconfiguration process from complex full-seat replacement to simple insert exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The seat frame is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple types of inserts (energy attenuating inserts, standard inserts, different sizes). This multi-functionality allows a single frame to serve both standard seating and blast protection roles by simply changing the insert, reducing the need for multiple specialized seats.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If traditional blast seats are used, then energy attenuation is improved, but manufacturing cost and installation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy attenuationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Manufacturing is segmented into frame production and separate insert production. The frame can be manufactured once and reused, while only the inserts need to be manufactured with specialized energy attenuating materials. This reduces overall manufacturing cost compared to producing entire blast seats with these expensive materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The energy attenuating inserts are designed as replaceable components that can be manufactured more economically than full blast seats. If an insert becomes degraded or damaged, only that specific insert needs replacement rather than the entire expensive seat assembly, reducing long-term manufacturing and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This solution provides effective energy attenuation without the weight and cost of traditional blast seats, allowing for quick configuration changes and improved occupant protection across various vehicle types and conditions, while maintaining comfort and reducing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

an energy attenuating insert configured to attenuate energy from an impact on a vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy attenuation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

configured to reduce an amount of energy transferred to an occupant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact force absorption: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3313688B1Blast energy attenuating recoverable seat insert

Publication Date: 2019.11.13 OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC

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AI summary

A vehicle includes a chassis and a seating system. The seating system includes a frame coupled to the chassis, a seat cushion supported by at least one of the frame and a floor of the vehicle, a first recoverable insert configured to provide a first energy attenuation response, and a second recoverable insert configured to provide a second energy attenuation response different than the first energy attenuation response. The seat cushion defines a cavity shaped to interchangeably receive either the first recoverable insert or the second recoverable insert to thereby selectively vary an energy attenuation provided by the seating system.