Seat Energy Attenuation Fuse Layout for Variable Occupant Weights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy attenuation systems in vehicles fail to accommodate a wide range of occupant weights, leading to potential injuries due to insufficient or excessive spinal column loading during high energy impact events, as they are typically designed for a single percentile weight, such as the 50th percentile male, neglecting the safety needs of lighter or heavier individuals.
Innovation Solution
An energy attenuation system with a fuse system comprising multiple fuse elements and an engagement element that adjusts to different occupant weights by selectively engaging fuse elements, ensuring lumbar loads remain within safe thresholds for occupants ranging from a 5th percentile female to a 95th percentile male, using the same energy attenuation components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the energy attenuation capacity and stroke is designed for the 5th percentile female, then the energy attenuation characteristics are optimized for lighter occupants, but the seat will come into contact with the vehicle floor very soon and prevent further energy attenuation for heavier occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse system is divided into multiple fuse elements (first fuse element, second fuse element, third fuse element) with different break loads corresponding to different occupant weight percentiles. This segmentation allows the system to provide differentiated energy attenuation characteristics for different occupant weights by selectively breaking specific fuse elements based on the actual occupant weight.
2Reliability
If the energy attenuation capacity and stroke is designed for the 95th percentile male, then the energy attenuation characteristics are optimized for heavier occupants, but the acceleration applied to lighter occupants will not be sufficiently absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse system is divided into multiple fuse elements (first fuse element, second fuse element, third fuse element) with different break loads corresponding to different occupant weight percentiles. This segmentation allows the system to provide differentiated energy attenuation characteristics for different occupant weights by selectively breaking specific fuse elements based on the actual occupant weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the mechanical parameters (break load) of the fuse elements to match different occupant weight percentiles. By selecting fuse elements with appropriate break loads (first break load for 5th percentile female, second break load for 50th percentile male, third break load for 95th percentile male), the system adapts its energy attenuation characteristics to the specific occupant weight.
3Device complexity
If a single percentile weight design is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the safety coverage across different weight categories is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse system is divided into multiple fuse elements (first fuse element, second fuse element, third fuse element) with different break loads corresponding to different occupant weight percentiles. This segmentation allows the system to provide differentiated energy attenuation characteristics for different occupant weights by selectively breaking specific fuse elements based on the actual occupant weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy attenuation system is designed to serve multiple functions by accommodating different occupant weight percentiles (5th percentile female, 50th percentile male, 95th percentile male) within a single seat design. The fuse system enables the same seat structure to provide appropriate energy attenuation for various occupant weights, eliminating the need for separate seat designs for different weight categories.
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 system effectively maintains lumbar loads below safety limits for various weight ranges, providing consistent protection across a wide spectrum of occupant weights without requiring separate designs for each weight category, thus preventing injuries.
Implementation Method 1
a fuse system comprising a plurality of fuse elements and an engagement element... each said fuse element is configured for breaking under a corresponding predetermined fixed load
Data Source
AI summary
An energy attenuation system for a seating system (having a bucket and a frame includes at least one energy attenuation component operatively coupled with a fuse system. The energy attenuation component includes first and second ends securable to the bucket and the frame, respectively. The fuse system includes a plurality of fuse elements and an engagement element. Each fuse element has a first and second fuse ends, and operates to break under a corresponding predetermined fixed load. The engagement element is movable with respect to the fuse elements and is engageable in a load bearing manner via the respective said second fuse ends thereof with any desired fuse element group chosen, each fuse element group including one or more fuse elements. The engagement element is securable to the bucket or the frame, and the first fuse ends of all the fuse elements are securable to the frame or bucket, respectively.