Separable Front Part Glove Box for Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle glove box storage devices are prone to intrusion into the passenger compartment during frontal impacts, leading to potential injury due to insufficient energy absorption and complex, costly deformation mechanisms that may not adequately limit intrusion or absorb impact energy.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with a separable fixing device that allows the front and rear parts to detach under external forces greater than a predetermined threshold, enabling the front part to enter the storage volume and absorb impact energy without deformation, thereby limiting intrusion into the passenger compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the storage device is made deformable to absorb impact energy, then the risk of injury to the passenger is reduced, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is divided into two separable parts: a front part and a rear part. The front part is designed to separate from the rear part upon impact, allowing the front part to be absorbed into the storage volume. This segmentation enables energy absorption through separation rather than complex deformation mechanisms, reducing both device complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining safety effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the storage device deforms to absorb impact energy, then intrusion into the passenger compartment is limited, but the deformation may not be immediate enough in violent impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is pre-configured with a separable front part that is ready to detach immediately upon impact. The separation mechanism is designed in advance with frangible connections that break at predetermined force thresholds, ensuring immediate response without requiring complex real-time deformation calculations or active control systems. This preliminary configuration enables instant energy absorption upon impact occurrence.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the storage device is made to deform for energy absorption, then impact energy is absorbed, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is segmented into a front part and a rear part that can be manufactured separately using standard manufacturing processes. The front part contains frangible connections that are simple to produce, avoiding the need for complex deformation mechanisms. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured independently at lower cost while still achieving effective impact energy absorption through separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The front part of the storage device is designed as a sacrificial element that can be easily replaced after impact. Rather than designing for complex deformation and potential repair, the frangible front part is intended to be replaced if damaged, which is simpler and more cost-effective than maintaining complex deformation mechanisms.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the space between the bottom of the storage device and structural elements is enlarged to provide energy absorption means, then the risk of injury is reduced, but the available storage volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorption mechanism utilizes the storage volume itself as the absorption space. When the front part separates upon impact, it is absorbed into the storage volume, effectively using the existing third dimension (depth of storage compartment) for energy absorption. This approach does not require additional space beyond the storage volume, maintaining both safety and storage capacity.
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 solution effectively absorbs impact energy and limits intrusion into the passenger compartment by allowing the front part to separate and penetrate the storage volume, providing immediate and efficient protection without the need for complex deformation, thus reducing the risk of injury to occupants.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing device being arranged to allow the separation of said front part from said rear part under the effect of an external force greater than a predetermined threshold
Implementation Method 2
the absorption of energy and the limitation of intrusion into the passenger compartment of the vehicle is done by the displacement of one part of the device relative to the other, after the separation of these parts, and the penetration of this part in the storage space
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
This storage device (6) comprises at least a front part (14) and a rear part (12) defining a storage volume (8). The front part (14) and the rear part (12) are fixed to each other by a separable fastening device (16), said fastening device (16) being arranged to allow the separation of said front part (14) from said rear part (12) under the effect of an external force exceeding a predetermined threshold, so that the front part (14) or the rear part (12) is detached from the other part and enters the storage volume (8) under the effect of said external force.