Impact absorption member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact absorbing members struggle to achieve a balance between impact absorbing performance and lightness in weight, with conventional designs often compromising on one or the other.
Innovation Solution
The impact absorbing member features a cylindrical shape with a first cross section that includes shared vertices and recessed grooves corresponding to the vertices of a second polygonal cross section, where the interior angles and side lengths are strategically designed to enhance stability and resistance to bending stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the impact absorbing member uses a conventional cylindrical shape with uniform cross-section, then the manufacturing is simple, but the impact absorbing performance per weight is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing recessed grooves at specific locations (vertices) of the polygonal cross-section and varying interior angles at different vertices. This creates non-uniform local characteristics that enhance buckling behavior and impact absorption performance while maintaining overall cylindrical shape for manufacturability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry by designing the cross-section as a polygon with varying interior angles at different vertices, rather than a uniform circular or regular polygon shape. This asymmetric distribution of geometric features optimizes the buckling pattern and energy absorption characteristics.
2Weight of moving object
If the impact absorbing member reduces wall thickness or simplifies structure to reduce weight, then the weight decreases, but the resistance to bending stress and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the cross-section, specifically setting interior angles of vertices to 100° or more and providing recessed grooves at vertex locations. These parameter changes optimize the structural efficiency, allowing the member to achieve better strength-to-weight ratio through improved buckling characteristics rather than simply increasing material quantity.
3Reliability
If the impact absorbing member increases structural complexity to improve impact absorbing performance, then the impact absorbing performance improves, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous cylindrical surface by introducing recessed grooves at specific vertex locations of the polygonal cross-section. This segmentation creates distinct structural zones that control buckling propagation while maintaining overall structural integrity and relatively simple manufacturing processes.
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 achieves a superior balance between impact absorbing performance and weight, with improved stability and resistance to bending stress, making it suitable for applications requiring both properties.
Implementation Method 1
an impact absorbing member that absorbs an impact by being crushed in an axial direction
Implementation Method 2
buckling proceeds continuously in a bellows shape in the member, to thereby absorb the impact
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~3(d)
Figure 4~5
AI summary
There is provided an impact absorbing member that absorbs an impact by being crushed in an axial direction, the impact absorbing member having a cylindrical shape extending along the axial direction, in which when a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the impact absorbing member is set to a first cross section, and a cross section defined by extension lines of a plurality of sides in the first cross section is set to a second cross section, the second cross section is a polygon, the first cross section includes a shared vertex that is shared by the second cross section, and a recessed groove that is positioned to correspond to a vertex of the second cross section, and an interior angle of at least one vertex of the first cross section is 100° or more.