Pneumatic Measuring Device for Side Impact Reproducibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring devices for determining the space remaining for vehicle occupants after a side impact lack reproducibility and versatility across different vehicle series, and they do not effectively control the pressure and force applied during testing.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic piston rod cylinder-based measuring device with a pressure-reduction valve and adjustable plates, allowing for controlled force application and measurement of the remaining space, which can be used autonomously with a pressure vessel and is adaptable for various biomechanical criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pneumatic piston rod cylinder is used to apply force to vehicle components, then the force application can be controlled and reproduced, but the device complexity increases due to the need for pressure control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic piston rod cylinder to generate and control the pressing force against vehicle components. The pneumatic system provides controlled, reproducible force application through regulated air pressure, eliminating the need for complex mechanical force transmission mechanisms while achieving reliable and repeatable measurement conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes a pressure-reduction valve to precisely control and adjust the air pressure parameter in the pneumatic system. By changing the pressure parameter, the system can reproduce identical force conditions across multiple tests, ensuring measurement reliability while keeping the control mechanism simple through single-parameter adjustment.
2Reliability
If the pressure in the piston rod cylinder is limited to a predefined pressure, then the force acting on vehicle parts can be limited for reproducible tests, but the adaptability to different biomechanical criteria is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a pressure-reduction valve that allows dynamic adjustment of the predefined pressure level. This enables the system to adapt to different biomechanical criteria by changing the pressure parameter while maintaining reproducible test conditions for each specific pressure level selected. The valve provides continuous or stepless adjustment capability to match various testing requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If plates with predefined area are provided at each end of the piston rod cylinder and can be exchanged, then the area with which the piston rod cylinder presses against the vehicle can be varied, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pressing interface into separate, exchangeable plates with predefined areas. Each plate can be independently attached or removed from the piston rod cylinder ends, allowing the system to adapt to different vehicle geometries and measurement requirements by simply changing the plate configuration without modifying the core measuring device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The exchangeable plates serve multiple functions: they adapt the pressing area to different vehicle component geometries, distribute force differently across various test scenarios, and can be selected based on specific measurement requirements. This universal approach allows a single measuring device to handle diverse testing situations through plate selection rather than requiring multiple specialized devices.
4Ease of operation
If the measuring device is designed as a portable unit with detachable connection for pressure vessel, then the ease of handling and positioning is improved, but the reliability of pressure supply may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the pressure vessel from the main measuring device body through a detachable connection, allowing the pressure vessel to be independently handled, filled, and replaced. This segmentation enables the measuring device to be easily transported and positioned while the pressure vessel can be separately managed to ensure adequate pressure supply for each measurement campaign.
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 solution enables reproducible and objective measurement of the survival space by controlling pressure and force, reducing statistical variation in results and allowing for easy handling and positioning, thus improving occupant safety assessments.
Implementation Method 1
A force can be applied to components of the motor vehicle and those components can be pressed to the side with the pressure prevailing in the pneumatic piston rod cylinder
Implementation Method 2
A pressure-reduction valve may be provided and may be configured to limit the pressure P in the piston rod cylinder to a predefined pressure P_s
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring device (10) for measuring the space remaining after a side crash has a pneumatic piston rod cylinder (20) with a cylinder (22), and a piston rod (24) that can move relative to the cylinder (22). A measuring unit (40) measures the movement (26) of the piston rod (24) relative to the cylinder (22), and a base part (12) positions the piston rod cylinder (20). The piston rod cylinder (20) can be connected to a pressure vessel (70) to permit the piston rod (24) to move out when a fluid is applied to the piston rod cylinder (20).