Offset-Rib Impact-Absorbing Structure for Smoother Crush Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional impact-absorbing structures exhibit large load variations in destructive loads due to sequential crushing of cells, leading to inconsistent energy absorption and increased deceleration forces.
Innovation Solution
The impact-absorbing structure is designed with series portions arranged perpendicular to the load direction, offset rib positions, and weakened portions to stagger destructive load generation, ensuring consistent energy absorption and reduced load variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If cells are sequentially crushed along the impact load direction, then impact energy is absorbed in stages, but large load variations occur due to alternating crushing and free running
Solution Approach 1:
The impact-absorbing portion is divided into multiple series portions arranged in the width direction, with each series portion containing multiple cells. This segmentation allows different series portions to crush alternately rather than sequentially, reducing load variations while maintaining energy absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The ribs in adjacent series portions are positioned asymmetrically relative to each other, creating an offset arrangement. This asymmetry ensures that when one series portion is crushing, adjacent series portions are in free running, and vice versa, thereby smoothing out load variations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple series portions are arranged in the width direction, then load variations are reduced through alternating crushing, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple series portions and their respective cells are integrated into a single monoblock structure formed by die-casting. This merging approach reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps, thereby reducing structural complexity despite having multiple series portions for load variation reduction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If ribs are positioned to create offset cell arrangements, then destructive load peaks are staggered, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rib positions are designed with specific offset dimensions that can be optimized during the design phase. By carefully selecting the offset distance between ribs in adjacent series portions, the patent achieves load variation reduction while maintaining manufacturability within standard precision tolerances.
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 design reduces destructive load variations and deceleration forces by staggering the timing of load generation, enhancing energy absorption efficiency and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
impact energy can be absorbed by these cells being crushed
Data Source
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AI summary
An impact-absorbing structure is provided with an impact-absorbing portion (16, 27) for a vehicle. The impact-absorbing portion (16, 27) is molded by a die and disposed along an application direction of an impact load. The impact-absorbing portion (16, 27) includes plural series portions (18, 20) and plural ribs (26, 30). The series portions (18, 20) are arranged in a direction intersecting a load application direction, which is the application direction of the impact load. Each series portion (18, 20) is provided with an opening portion (22, 24) that is open in the direction in which the impact-absorbing portion (16, 27) is disposed and a direction intersecting the load application direction. The ribs (26, 30) partition the interior of each opening portion (22, 24) into plural cell portions (28, 32) in the load application direction. Disposition positions in the load application direction of at least some of the ribs (26, 30) are offset between adjacent the series portions (18, 20).