Tailgate Hinge Crumple Features for Collision Force Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
External events, such as collisions, cause force transfer between vehicle components, leading to potential damage and costly repairs.
Innovation Solution
A hinge system for a vehicle tailgate featuring crumple features that absorb and distribute kinetic energy, reducing the length of the hinge when a threshold force is applied, thereby mitigating force transfer to the vehicle's support structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hinge is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then the support structure strength is improved, but collision forces are directly transferred causing damage to vehicle components
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge incorporates crumple features designed to deform in a controlled manner when collision forces are applied, absorbing impact energy before it can be transferred to the support structure and vehicle components. This predetermined cushioning mechanism protects the rigid support structure from collision forces while maintaining its structural integrity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The crumple features act as an intermediary element between the tailgate and the support structure. When collision forces are applied, these intermediary features deform to absorb energy, serving as a buffer that prevents direct force transfer to the rigid support structure and vehicle components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the hinge length is reduced to absorb collision forces, then force transfer mitigation is improved, but the normal rotational function between open and closed positions may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge exhibits dynamic behavior where the crumple features remain rigid during normal rotational operation to maintain full rotational functionality, but deform controllably when collision forces exceed a threshold, absorbing impact energy. This dynamic response allows the hinge to provide full rotational movement during normal use while mitigating force transfer during collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge design allows for parameter changes in the crumple features based on applied force magnitude. During normal operation, the hinge maintains its full length and rigidity for proper rotational function. When threshold collision forces are applied, the crumple features deform, effectively changing the hinge length and stiffness parameters to absorb energy while protecting the support structure.
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 hinge system minimizes deformation of the vehicle's support structure by absorbing and distributing collision forces, reducing repair costs and damage.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more crumple features cause a length of the hinge to be reduced when a threshold force is applied to the hinge
Implementation Method 2
The second portion rotates relative to the first portion to move the tailgate between an open position and a closed position
Data Source
AI summary
Hinges for mitigating force transfer are disclosed. A hinge coupling a tailgate to a support structure of a vehicle includes a first portion, a second portion, and one or more crumple features. The second portion rotations relative to the first portion to move the tailgate between an open position and a closed position. The one or more crumple features cause a length of the hinge to be reduced when a threshold force is applied to the hinge while the tailgate is in the closed position.