Towing Assembly with Energy Dissipating Diffuser Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towing systems face risks of injury and property damage due to the failure of towing straps, which release significant kinetic and potential energy upon breaking, and current solutions are either difficult to manufacture or use.
Innovation Solution
A towing assembly comprising a recovery strap and a diffuser strap with sleeves, where the diffuser strap is longer or more elongatable than the recovery strap, allowing it to absorb and dissipate the energy released when the recovery strap fails, thereby restraining it and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a recovery strap is used for towing, then the vehicle can be dislodged and towed, but the strap may break under shock load or excessive weight, releasing stored energy that can injure persons or damage property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating an energy-absorbing element (such as a telescoping section with friction elements, or a controlled failure mechanism) into the towing strap assembly. This element is designed to absorb or dissipate the stored elastic energy in the strap before it can be released as dangerous kinetic energy upon strap failure, thereby cushioning against the harmful effects of breakage while maintaining towing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary energy-absorbing component positioned between the recovery strap and the vehicles being towed. This intermediary element (such as a telescoping section with friction pads, or a separate absorber device) mediates the force transmission and captures the stored energy, preventing direct release of hazardous energy to persons or property while still enabling the towing operation to proceed.
2Reliability
If a towing strap designed to fail before other components is used, then receivers and other items will not become projectiles, but the breaking strap still carries significant kinetic and potential energy that can injure persons or damage vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful stored energy in the towing strap into a beneficial controlled dissipation process. By incorporating energy-absorbing mechanisms (such as friction-based telescoping sections or controlled failure zones), the strap's elastic energy is transformed into friction heat or controlled deformation rather than dangerous kinetic energy release, turning the potential hazard of strap breakage into a safe energy dissipation event.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the towing strap system by incorporating sections with different mechanical properties (such as telescoping sections with varying friction coefficients, or zones with different tensile strengths). These parameter changes allow the strap to progressively dissipate energy through controlled friction or deformation, reducing the dangerous energy release upon failure while maintaining overall towing capability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If prior art solutions like guide elements or restraint bodies are used to minimize damage from strap failure, then damage is reduced, but the devices are difficult to manufacture or use by consumers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the energy-absorbing function directly into the towing strap itself by incorporating telescoping sections, friction elements, or controlled failure zones as integral parts of the strap assembly. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex guide elements or restraint bodies, making the device easier to manufacture and simpler for consumers to use while maintaining the safety function of energy dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional towing strap that combines towing, energy storage, and energy dissipation functions in a single integrated assembly. The strap includes features that allow it to perform its primary towing function while simultaneously incorporating mechanisms to absorb and dissipate its own stored energy upon failure, eliminating the need for separate specialized safety devices and simplifying both manufacturing and user operation.
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 towing assembly effectively captures and dissipates the energy from a broken recovery strap, minimizing the risk of injury and property damage by ensuring the diffuser strap remains intact and absorbs the kinetic and potential energy, thus protecting nearby persons and property.
Implementation Method 1
the diffuser strap is able to capture and absorb the stored energy released from the recovery strap
Implementation Method 2
absorb and dissipate the energy released when the recovery strap fails
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a towing assembly that is used in towing operations to avoid damage or injury to persons when a soft tow apparatus, such as a tow strap, tow rope, or cable, fails during vehicle recovery operations. The assembly comprises: (a) a recovery strap that can be connected to a towing vehicle and a vehicle to be towed; (b) a diffuser strap that can be connected to a towing vehicle and a vehicle to be towed and (c) two or more sleeves disposed on the diffuser strap. The diffuser strap captures and dissipates the kinetic and potential energy that is released when the recovery strap breaks.