Vehicle Sensor Mount With Lever Retraction for Multi-Angle Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor arrangements on vehicles are inadequate in protecting sensors from damage during low-speed collisions, as they often fail to effectively translate collision forces into protective movements, especially in non-longitudinal impact scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement with a lever mechanism that translates collision forces into proportional movements of a holding device, allowing it to move into a protective position, utilizing pivot arms and holding arms to adapt to various impact angles and forces, and incorporating a restoring arrangement to return the device to its operating position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is arranged in a protected position behind an exterior component, then the sensor is protected from damage in low-speed collisions, but the sensor arrangement cannot effectively respond to collision forces from multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The holding device is designed to be movable relative to the exterior component, allowing it to dynamically transition between an operating position (extending forward for sensor functionality) and a protective position (retracted for collision protection). This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different operational states and collision scenarios, resolving the contradiction between protection and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting arrangement changes the positional parameter of the holding device in response to collision forces. When collision forces are detected, the holding device's position parameter changes from the operating position to the protective position, allowing the sensor to be protected while maintaining the ability to respond to various collision directions through force-dependent activation.
2Reliability
If a connecting arrangement movably connects the holding device to the vehicle component, then the sensor can move into a protective position, but the arrangement fails to translate collision forces effectively in non-longitudinal impact scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting arrangement acts as an intermediary mechanism between the collision force and the holding device. It includes force transmission elements that mediate the transfer of collision forces from the exterior component to the holding device, enabling effective force translation in multiple directions and improving the efficiency of protective movement activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting arrangement is designed to respond to collision forces in multiple spatial dimensions, not just the longitudinal direction. By incorporating force transmission capabilities in transverse and vertical directions, the system expands the dimensional response to collision forces, enabling effective protection against oblique and lateral impacts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the holding device is designed to move in multiple spatial directions, then the sensor protection is improved for various impact angles, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting arrangement is designed as a multi-functional system that handles collision forces from multiple directions (longitudinal, transverse, vertical) using a unified structural design. The force transmission elements and lever arrangements serve multiple purposes: transmitting forces, guiding movement, and activating protection across different impact scenarios, thereby reducing overall system complexity compared to separate mechanisms for each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting arrangement merges multiple force transmission functions into a single integrated structure. The lever arrangements and force transmission elements are combined to simultaneously handle longitudinal and transverse collision forces, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining multi-directional protection capabilities.
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 sensor protection by allowing flexible movement away from collision forces in multiple directions, preventing damage during low-speed collisions, and ensuring the sensor remains functional by converting collision energy into kinetic and frictional energy, thus protecting the sensor and associated components like cooling air inlets.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting arrangement has at least one lever arrangement which, in addition to a force component of an acting collision force acting in the vehicle longitudinal direction, translates at least one force component of the collision force acting in a further spatial direction into a proportional movement of the holding device in the corresponding spatial direction
Implementation Method 2
The at least one pivot arm can be pivoted about the holding region against the return force of the corresponding return arrangement
Implementation Method 3
A restoring force from at least one restoring arrangement transfers the holding device from the at least one protective position into the operating position
Implementation Method 4
the at least one pivot arm can have a first guide geometry on the holding region, which can interact in a centering manner with a second guide geometry arranged on the second end region of the holding arm
Implementation Method 5
converting collision energy into kinetic and frictional energy, thus protecting the sensor and associated components
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor arrangement (10) on a vehicle, having a connection arrangement (20) which connects a retaining apparatus (12) to at least one vehicle component (2) so as to be movable between an operating position and at least one protection position, wherein: the retaining apparatus (12) receives a sensor (60); a collision force, caused by a collision counterpart, comprises a first force component which acts in a first spatial direction (R1) and moves the retaining apparatus (12) proportionately in the direction of the corresponding first spatial direction (R1) into the at least one protection position; and a restoring force from at least one restoring arrangement (51) transfers the retaining apparatus (12) from the at least one protection position into the operating position, the first spatial direction (R1) corresponding to a vehicle longitudinal direction (x). According to the invention, the connection arrangement (20) has at least one lever arrangement (30) which additionally translates at least one force component of the collision force, acting in an additional spatial direction (R2, R3, y, z), into a proportionate movement of the retaining apparatus (12) in the corresponding spatial direction (R2, R3, y, z), wherein the at least one lever arrangement (30) transfers the retaining apparatus (12) into the at least one protection position in a direction of action resulting from the collision force.