Tubular Energy Absorber With Buffer and Cutting Impact Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional impact absorbers suffer from limited effectiveness and durability due to irreversible destruction when external impacts exceed a certain level, necessitating a design that can absorb impacts stably and with high durability across various impact magnitudes.
Innovation Solution
A tubular energy absorber with a buffer unit that reversibly absorbs impacts within a predetermined range and employs cutting to absorb excess impacts, utilizing a combination of a buffer unit, collision unit, and cutting unit to stabilize and enhance impact absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cutting is performed to absorb external impact, then impact absorption capability is improved, but durability deteriorates due to irreversible destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorber is divided into multiple functional segments: a buffer unit for reversible impact absorption and a cutting unit for irreversible impact absorption. This segmentation allows each unit to specialize in different impact scenarios, with the buffer unit handling minor impacts repeatedly and the cutting unit providing backup for severe impacts, thus resolving the contradiction between impact absorption capability and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer unit is positioned beforehand to absorb minor impacts reversibly, cushioning against frequent small impacts before they can cause irreversible damage. This prior cushioning mechanism protects the cutting unit from unnecessary activation, maintaining durability while still providing strong impact absorption capability when needed.
2Strength
If cutting is performed to absorb large impacts, then impact absorption capability is improved, but cutting stroke increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the impact absorption function between the buffer unit and cutting unit, the cutting unit only needs to absorb the excess impact that exceeds the buffer unit's capacity. This segmentation significantly reduces the cutting stroke required, as the cutting unit handles only the residual impact after buffer absorption, thereby improving cutting efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer unit absorbs a predetermined amount of impact fully, and the cutting unit only performs partial action on the remaining excess impact. This partial action approach minimizes the cutting stroke while still providing adequate protection for large impacts, resolving the efficiency contradiction.
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 tubular energy absorber effectively absorbs impacts through reversible and irreversible mechanisms, ensuring stable and durable impact absorption even for large impacts, minimizing cutting stroke and enhancing durability.
Implementation Method 1
The buffer part may be reversibly restored to an original state, when the impact within a predetermined range is applied
Implementation Method 2
The external unit cuts or performs cutting and absorbs the external impact, as the collision unit moves
Data Source
AI summary
An energy absorber includes an external unit, a collision unit and a buffer unit. The external unit extends with forming a stepped portion, and forms a predetermined inner space. The collision unit extends from the inner space to outside, and moves toward the inner space due to an external impact. The buffer unit is disposed in the inner space, and is connected to the collision unit to absorb the external impact. The external unit cuts or performs cutting and absorbs the external impact, as the collision unit moves.