Meandering Support Element for Vehicle Interior Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior lining fastening systems do not effectively absorb accident energy, leading to excessive deformations, fractures, and exposure of sharp edges during side impacts, while also being costly and requiring additional components for energy absorption.
Innovation Solution
A support element with a meandering deformation region that absorbs accident energy by deforming under force, acting as an integrated energy absorption element between the structural part and interior lining, thereby reducing the load on the interior lining and preventing excessive deformations and fractures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fastening systems are used to attach interior lining parts, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the system cannot effectively absorb accident energy leading to excessive deformations and fractures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fastening function and energy absorption function into a single integrated support element. The support element includes both a fastening region for attaching the interior lining part and a deformation region for absorbing accident energy, eliminating the need for separate energy absorption components and reducing overall structural complexity while improving accident behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The support element is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs fastening (via the fastening region with fastening elements) and energy absorption (via the deformation region with meandering configuration). This universal design allows one component to fulfill multiple roles, reducing the number of parts needed while enhancing safety performance
2Reliability
If additional structural parts are added to absorb accident energy, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorption capability is integrated into the existing support element structure through the deformation region, eliminating the need for additional separate energy absorption components. This merging approach maintains manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness while significantly improving energy absorption capability during accidents
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation region employs a meandering configuration with specific geometric parameters (loop arrangement, wall thickness variations) that enable effective energy absorption. By optimizing these geometric parameters rather than adding complex structural components, the patent achieves improved energy absorption capability while maintaining ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness
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 support element effectively absorbs accident energy, preventing undesired deformations and fractures of the interior lining, while being produced in a simple and cost-effective manner without additional structural parts, thus enhancing the vehicle's accident behavior.
Implementation Method 1
a force which acts for example in the event of an accident from the structural part to the interior lining part via the support element thus runs from the structural part to the interior lining part via the deformation region
Implementation Method 2
the deformation region is configured in a meandering shape at least in the plane, the deformation region can be particularly advantageously deformed and thereby take up a particularly large amount of energy, in particular accident energy, convert it into deformation energy and thus absorb it
Data Source
AI summary
A support element fastens an interior lining part to a structural part of a vehicle, wherein the interior lining part is fastenable to the structural part via the support element. The support element has at least one deformation region which is of meandering design in at least one plane and is deformable under the application of a force.