Square Pipe Impact Absorber with Localized Notches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional impact-absorbing members for railway vehicles often fail to adequately absorb collision energy due to bending in two or forming a V-shape, leading to insufficient impact absorption and increased structural complexity and cost, especially when using impact absorbers of different lengths and thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
An impact-absorbing member is designed with a square pipe structure featuring notches at the front end edges of opposed surfaces, with at least four absorbers arranged in the width and height directions, where the notches on adjacent absorbers differ, allowing continuous buckling in a bellows manner and enhanced bending rigidity, reducing the risk of intermediate bending and V-shape formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional impact absorbers are used without notches or with notches on all surfaces, then the structure is simple, but the impact absorption is insufficient due to V-shape buckling or intermediate portion bending
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing notches only on specific surfaces (one or two opposite surfaces) rather than all surfaces of the square pipe. This localized notching creates controlled deformation zones that guide the buckling behavior to occur in a bellows manner along the intended surfaces, preventing unwanted V-shape buckling or bending at intermediate portions while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If multiple impact absorbers of different lengths and thicknesses are used to shift crush timing, then the impact absorption is improved, but the structure becomes complicated and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning notches on specific surfaces of the square pipes before collision. These pre-configured notches determine the deformation sequence and timing during impact, allowing multiple absorbers to crush in a controlled sequence without requiring different lengths or thicknesses. This achieves load peak reduction while maintaining uniform absorber dimensions and simple structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If notches are provided on all surfaces of square pipes, then the buckling control is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing complexity by providing notches only on one or two opposite surfaces of the square pipe cross-section rather than all four surfaces. This localized notching approach maintains sufficient buckling control precision for achieving bellows-mode deformation while significantly reducing the number of notches required per absorber, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
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 collision energy by continuously generating bellows distortions, reducing the load peak and minimizing impact on passengers, crew, and vehicle body while simplifying the structure and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
the impact-absorbing member receives a collision impact to buckle a wall surface in a bellows manner, thereby absorbing collision energy
Data Source
AI summary
The impact absorbers having different lengths are formed by providing notches in one of opposed surfaces on front end side in a collision direction of a square pipe having a square in cross section. The three impact absorbers are disposed in a width direction while two impact absorbers are disposed in a height direction such that directions of the notches differ from each other, and the impact absorbers are disposed in integrally welded to form the impact-absorbing member.