Solenoid-Damped Tow Hook Assembly for Collision Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tow hooks can cause further damage to vehicle components and barriers during collisions due to their movable or retractable portions contacting fixed parts, leading to potential damage to the tow hook and other components.
Innovation Solution
A tow hook assembly with a housing coil and a tow hook coil that receive current to generate a magnetic field, providing energy absorption and damping the movement of the tow hook between extended and retracted positions, preventing contact with the housing rear wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a movable or retractable portion is added to the tow hook to reduce damage to vehicle components during collision, then the protection of vehicle components is improved, but the movable portion may damage other portions of the tow hook or itself when contacting fixed portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a movable portion with a buffer mechanism that absorbs impact energy before the tow hook contacts fixed portions or vehicle components. The buffer mechanism is pre-configured to engage during collision, cushioning the impact and preventing direct contact between the movable portion and fixed portions, thus protecting both vehicle components and the tow hook itself from damage.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tow hook is made fixed to remain on the vehicle during towing, then the stability during towing is improved, but the tow hook may contact barriers during collision causing further damage to internal components and the barrier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing the tow hook with a movable portion that can change its state between fixed and movable. During normal towing operations, the tow hook remains fixed to the vehicle, providing stability. During collision events, the movable portion can retract or move independently, allowing the tow hook to absorb impact energy and reduce damage to internal components and barriers, thus dynamically adapting to different operational conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a buffer mechanism is added to the tow hook to reduce impact damage, then the protection of components is improved, but the complexity of the tow hook structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by integrating the buffer mechanism within the existing tow hook structure. The movable portion is nested inside the tow hook housing, and the buffer mechanism is incorporated within the movable portion's structure. This nested arrangement allows the buffer mechanism to be compact and integrated, reducing the overall space requirement and minimizing the increase in structural complexity while still providing effective impact protection.
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
Minimizes damage to the tow hook assembly and surrounding components by absorbing energy during collisions, reducing the likelihood of contact with the housing rear wall.
Implementation Method 1
the housing coil and the tow hook coil receive a current such that the housing coil generates a magnetic field providing an energy absorption effect on the tow hook damping movement
Data Source
AI summary
A tow hook assembly includes a housing and a tow hook. The housing includes one or more side walls, a rear wall, a front wall, an aperture formed in the front wall, and a housing coil encircling the one or more side walls. The tow hook is slidably movable through the aperture of the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The tow hook includes a tow hook coil encircling an outer surface of the tow hook. The housing coil and the tow hook coil are configured to receive current and cooperate to provide an energy absorption effect inhibiting the tow hook from contacting the rear wall of the housing during movement from the extended position to the retracted position.