Side Impact Absorber With Nested Shells For Lateral Energy Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle shock absorbers are ineffective in absorbing lateral impacts, failing to protect the vehicle's structural components during side collisions.
Innovation Solution
A side impact absorber design featuring an inner and outer shell with folded wings and impact platforms that form concave surfaces, allowing for deformation and energy dissipation, integrated with structural elements to absorb and distribute mechanical energy without damaging crossmembers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid shock absorber structure is used to protect the shock absorber spring support, then vertical impact protection is improved, but side impact absorption capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber is divided into multiple functional segments: a rigid support structure for vertical protection, and separate deformable side impact absorbers positioned at lateral locations. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its designated impact direction without compromising overall system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-direction (vertical) impact protection to multi-directional protection by adding lateral impact absorption capabilities. The side impact absorbers are positioned and oriented to handle forces from the side, creating a three-dimensional impact protection system that addresses both vertical and lateral collision vectors.
2Reliability
If a deformable shock absorber structure is used to absorb side impacts, then side impact protection is improved, but vertical shock absorption capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber is divided into multiple functional segments: a rigid support structure for vertical protection, and separate deformable side impact absorbers positioned at lateral locations. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its designated impact direction without compromising overall system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges rigid and deformable structural elements into a unified shock absorption system. The rigid support maintains vertical protection while the deformable side impact absorbers provide lateral protection, creating a hybrid structure that combines the advantages of both rigid and flexible designs for comprehensive multi-directional protection.
3Device complexity
If a single-shell shock absorber design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but energy distribution and absorption effectiveness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shock absorber employs a nested configuration where an inner shell is positioned within an outer shell. This nested structure allows multiple deformation zones to be compactly arranged, maximizing energy absorption capacity within a limited space while maintaining relatively simple overall geometry and assembly requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from single-direction (vertical) impact protection to multi-directional protection by adding lateral impact absorption capabilities. The side impact absorbers are positioned and oriented to handle forces from the side, creating a three-dimensional impact protection system that addresses both vertical and lateral collision vectors.
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
Effectively absorbs and dissipates mechanical energy from side impacts, preventing damage to the vehicle's structure by distributing force through compression and bending zones, thus enhancing safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the inner and outer impact platforms distribute the mechanical energy of said impact so that the shock absorber subsequently dissipates this energy. Thus, the inner and outer impact platforms are the first parts of the side impact absorber to be deformed during the impact. Depending on the intensity of the side impact, the deformation of the inner and outer impact platforms is plastic.
Implementation Method 2
Depending on the intensity of the side impact, the deformation of the inner and outer impact platforms is plastic.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns a side impact absorber 13, 14 the conformation of which allows absorbing of a mechanical force due to an impact by deforming said side impact absorber 13, 14 by compression in a compression zone 20, 21 and by bending in a bending zone 22, 23. The side impact absorber 13, 14 comprises an inner shell 18 interacting with an outer shell 19. Each shell 18, 19 comprises a wing 181, 182, an attachment lug 182, 192 and an impact platform 183, 193, the impact platform 183, 193 and the wing 181, 182 forming, together with the attachment lug 182, 192, a concave surface 180, 190. The two shells 18, 19 are rigidly attached to one another at their respective attachment lugs 182, 192 in order to form a cavity that is closed along four sides.