Pivoting Crash Attenuator Backup Frame to Prevent Underride
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted crash attenuators are not optimized for urban and metropolitan environments where space is limited, and they fail to prevent vehicle underride during impacts, posing a danger to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A compact vehicle-mounted crash attenuator with a low-pivot backup system and adjustable lockout frame members that pivot between deployed and stowed orientations, providing reinforcement against impact forces and preventing system rotation, thereby enhancing safety and space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing vehicle-mounted crash attenuators are used, then they provide basic impact absorption, but they are not optimized for urban environments with limited space and fail to prevent vehicle underride
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the backup frame pivotable between a vertical deployed orientation and a horizontal stowed orientation. The actuator system enables the backup frame to dynamically change its position, allowing the attenuator to provide full safety coverage when deployed and reduce to minimal height when stowed, thus resolving the contradiction between safety performance and system height in urban environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the crash attenuator into distinct functional modules: the energy-absorbing cartridge portion and the pivotable backup frame with lockout members. This segmentation allows the backup frame to be independently controlled and positioned, enabling it to pivot between deployed and stowed states while maintaining the integrity of the energy absorption system, thereby achieving both safety and space efficiency
2Volume of moving object
If a pivotable backup frame is implemented, then space efficiency is improved, but the system may rotate during impact without proper reinforcement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating lockout frame members that engage with the backup frame before impact occurs. These lockout members prevent the backup frame from rotating about the pivot axis during impact by providing counteracting reinforcement, thus allowing the system to maintain both space efficiency through pivoting and strength through preemptive structural support
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator system performs preliminary action by positioning the backup frame in the vertical deployed orientation before impact occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that the energy-absorbing cartridge is properly aligned and the lockout members are engaged, preparing the system to absorb impact forces effectively while maintaining a compact profile
3Reliability
If the lockout frame member contact surface is made adjustable, then engagement optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by making the lockout frame member contact surface adjustable along the backup frame. This adjustment capability allows the contact point to be optimized for different backup frame positions and impact scenarios, improving engagement reliability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A crash impact attenuator is adapted for deployment on a vehicle, and includes a cartridge portion having at least one energy absorbing module, as well as a backup system having a backup frame, which is adapted to attach the cartridge portion to the vehicle. The backup system includes an actuator configured to pivot the cartridge portion between a deployed orientation and a stored orientation about a pivot axis disposed on a lower half of the backup system. The backup system further includes a lockout frame member having a contact surface on one end thereof, the lockout frame member being actuatable between a deployed orientation wherein the contact surface engages a portion of the backup frame to support the backup frame against vehicular impact forces and a stowed orientation wherein the contact surface is not engaged with the backup frame.