Vehicle Storage Compartment Assembly With Artificial Muscle Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional storage compartments in vehicles allow small objects to move around, causing noise and potential damage, and objects can be unintentionally removed during vehicle movement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of artificial muscles within storage compartments, actuated by an electrode pair to expand and contract, securing objects within the compartment and preventing egress and ingress through a compartment portal with cantilevers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional storage compartments are used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but objects can move around causing noise and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The storage compartment uses artificial muscles that can dynamically change their state between relaxed and contracted positions. When the vehicle is stationary, the artificial muscles are relaxed allowing easy access. When the vehicle moves, the artificial muscles contract to secure objects, dynamically adapting to different operational conditions to prevent object movement while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial muscles change their physical parameters (length and position) in response to electrical signals from electrodes. By controlling the contraction and extension of artificial muscles through parameter changes, the system can secure objects during vehicle movement without requiring a permanently complex structure, thus reducing noise and damage while maintaining ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If traditional storage compartments are used, then the structure is simple, but objects can be unintentionally removed during vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The artificial muscles provide dynamic retention by contracting when vehicle movement is detected and relaxing when stationary. This dynamic behavior ensures objects are securely retained during movement without requiring permanent complex locking mechanisms, thereby improving reliability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing acceleration data from sensors to automatically control the artificial muscles without requiring additional complex control systems. The artificial muscles self-adjust based on vehicle motion states, improving object retention reliability while avoiding increased structural complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If artificial muscles are added to retain objects, then object retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and utilizes the vehicle's existing acceleration sensors and control systems to operate the artificial muscles. By taking out and repurposing existing vehicle components rather than adding entirely new systems, the patent improves object retention while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The artificial muscles serve multiple functions: they secure objects during vehicle movement, maintain structural integrity, and can potentially assist with compartment closure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby improving object retention without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 artificial muscles effectively retain objects by expanding to contact and deform around them, maintaining their position and preventing movement, thus reducing noise and accidental removal.
Implementation Method 1
The electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated position and an actuated position such that actuation from the non-actuated position to the actuated position directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region to expand the expandable fluid region into the storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
The compartment portal includes a plurality of artificial muscle cantilevers. The cantilevered region of the housing of each of the plurality of artificial muscle cantilevers extends over the opening
Data Source
AI summary
A storage compartment assembly including a storage compartment having at least one inside surface and defining an opening for receiving an object, one or more artificial muscles disposed within the storage compartment along the inside surface. Each artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated position and an actuated position such that actuation from the non-actuated position to the actuated position directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region to expand the expandable fluid region into the storage compartment.