Inverted Pendulum Vehicle Seat Extension Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inverted pendulum vehicles with downward extensions for rider support have a low mechanical strength, making them susceptible to damage from frontal impacts, which can transmit force to the outer shell, compromising its structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A forward-projection from the vehicle body frame, made of a metallic tube with an elastomeric plug, is integrated to absorb and redirect impact forces from the seat extension to the body frame, preventing damage to the outer shell, combined with a guide mechanism for stable vertical adjustment of the seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a downward extension is added to the seat for rider support and guidance, then the rider's stability and guidance capability are improved, but the mechanical strength of the front part of the vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reinforcement projection as an intermediary structural element that connects the seat extension to the vehicle body frame. This projection acts as a mediator that transmits and distributes impact forces from the extension to the stronger body frame, preventing direct stress concentration on the extension itself while maintaining the extension's guidance function.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement projection is constructed using composite material structure - a metallic tube providing rigid structural support and high strength, combined with an elastomeric plug providing shock absorption and energy dissipation. This composite construction allows the projection to simultaneously handle mechanical strength requirements and impact absorption, resolving the contradiction between providing rider guidance and maintaining structural strength.
2Ease of operation
If the extension is made longer to provide better rider guidance, then the guidance surface length is increased, but the susceptibility to impact and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement projection serves as a protective intermediary between the extension and the impact source. When impacts occur on the extended guidance surface, the projection intercepts and redirects these forces to the vehicle body frame before they can damage the extension, allowing the extension to be longer without proportionally increasing damage risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric plug in the reinforcement projection provides beforehand cushioning by being pre-installed in a compressed state ready to absorb impacts. This pre-positioned cushioning element is prepared in advance to protect the extension from impact damage, allowing the extension to extend further into potentially hazardous zones without compromising durability.
3Weight of moving object
If the extension is made from lightweight material to reduce vehicle weight, then the overall vehicle weight is reduced, but the mechanical strength and impact resistance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement projection is segmented into two functional parts: a metallic tube section providing structural strength and rigidity, and an elastomeric plug section providing shock absorption. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function - the metallic tube for strength-to-weight ratio and the elastomeric plug for impact energy absorption - resolving the contradiction between lightweight construction and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection uses composite construction combining metallic tube and elastomeric plug materials. The metallic tube provides high strength-to-weight ratio maintaining vehicle weight efficiency, while the elastomeric plug provides superior impact resistance. This composite approach allows the extension assembly to achieve both lightweight characteristics and high impact resistance that neither material could provide alone.
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
Enhances the mechanical strength of the front extension and absorbs crash impacts, preventing damage to the outer shell while maintaining stable rider support and adjustment capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the impact of a crash can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the plug
Data Source
AI summary
An inverted pendulum vehicle (10) comprises a main wheel (14) configured to be driven under an inverted pendulum control, a vehicle body frame (30) supporting the main wheel, an outer shell (12) covering the vehicle body frame, and a seat (16) mounted on the vehicle body frame in a vertically adjustable manner for seating a rider of the vehicle, wherein the seat is provided with an extension (92) extending downward therefrom along a front side of the outer shell, and the vehicle body frame is provided with a projection (102) projecting forward from the vehicle body frame and passed through a front part of the outer shell, the projection being provided with a free end configured to contact a rear side of the extension.