Segmented Shock Absorbing System with Replaceable Fluid Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shock absorbing systems in sports equipment and footwear degrade or rupture, reducing their effectiveness in absorbing and dissipating impact energy, leading to increased risk of injuries from repetitive stress and forceful impacts.
Innovation Solution
A shock absorbing system comprising compressible cylinders with a working fluid and an accumulator, connected by fluid conduits with flow restriction elements, integrated with resilient structural members and a membrane for enhanced impulse attenuation and easy replacement of unitary cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shock absorbing elements are used in prior art systems, then impact energy can be absorbed, but the elements degrade or rupture reducing their effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the shock absorbing function into multiple independent compressible cylinders, each capable of absorbing impact energy. If one cylinder degrades or ruptures, the other cylinders continue to provide shock absorption, thereby maintaining system reliability while extending effective service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables easy replacement of individual compressible cylinders when they degrade or rupture. Users can discard the damaged cylinder and replace it with a new one, rather than replacing the entire shock absorbing system, thus recovering the functionality of the system and extending its overall service life.
2Reliability
If multiple shock absorbing components are integrated into a system, then impulse attenuation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple identical compressible cylinders with standardized structures, simplifying the design and manufacturing process. Each cylinder is a independent module with the same structure, reducing the complexity of individual components while achieving improved impulse attenuation through their collective action.
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple compressible cylinders, accumulators, and fluid conduits into a unified shock absorbing system where components work together synergistically. The fluid connection system merges the functionality of multiple cylinders into a coordinated system that provides superior impulse attenuation compared to isolated components.
3Reliability
If shock absorbing elements are made durable, then reliability is improved, but ease of repair decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system design separates the shock absorbing function into discrete, independently replaceable compressible cylinders. This segmentation allows users to replace only the specific cylinder that has degraded or ruptured, rather than replacing the entire system, thereby maintaining high reliability while significantly improving ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible cylinders are designed as extractable components that can be removed from the system independently. This extraction capability enables easy replacement of individual worn components while keeping the rest of the durable system in place, resolving the contradiction between durability and repairability.
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 attenuates impact energy by transferring fluid between cylinders and using resilient members for energy dissipation and recovery, providing improved shock absorption and ease of maintenance by allowing individual replacement of components.
Implementation Method 1
At least one accumulator is connected to the first plurality of compressible cylinders through a fluid conduit such that the first working fluid is transferred from the related compressible cylinder to the accumulator responsive to compression induced an applied force.
Implementation Method 2
A flow restriction element may be associated with each fluid conduit.
Implementation Method 3
The resilient structural members deform responsive to compression of the foot bed induced by foot strike or other applied force, provide both impulse attenuation and resilient recovery of the compression cylinders to their uncompressed state.
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorbing system for impact energy dissipation employs removable unitary cells of compressible members in communication with a reservoir and containing a first working fluid. Resilient structural members may be placed intermediate the compressible members to deform responsive to compression to provide both energy dissipation and resilient recovery of the compression cylinders to their uncompressed state.