Vehicle Impact Energy Absorber with Rapid Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle interior energy absorbers face challenges in minimizing their footprint while maintaining effectiveness, particularly for active energy absorbers that need to deploy quickly during impacts, due to limited space constraints.
Innovation Solution
The impact absorbing device features a plate and panel with a thinner intermediate portion that expands rapidly upon actuation, creating a larger impact surface, allowing for efficient packaging and deployment, and is integrated with an actuator and chute system for controlled inflation and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an active energy absorber is designed with sufficient thickness to effectively absorb impact energy, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the footprint and space required before deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorber is folded into a compact configuration that nests within the instrument panel footprint. The panel is folded along crease lines to create a nested structure that minimizes the space occupied before deployment, while maintaining the full surface area needed for energy absorption when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy absorber transitions from a static, thick structure to a dynamic, deployable structure. The panel can be rapidly deployed from a compact folded state to a full-size energy-absorbing surface, and then retracted back to the compact state, providing both small footprint and adequate energy absorption capability at different times.
2Speed
If an active energy absorber is designed to deploy rapidly during impact, then the response speed is improved, but the structural complexity and packaging difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is divided into multiple sections connected by crease lines that act as hinges. This segmentation allows the panel to be folded into a compact configuration and deployed through simple rotational movements around the crease lines, reducing the complexity of the deployment mechanism while enabling rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
An inflatable structure is used to provide rapid deployment. The panel can be quickly inflated to its full size configuration during impact, providing fast response without complex mechanical deployment mechanisms. The inflation system simplifies the packaging and deployment complexity while achieving high deployment speed.
3Strength
If more material is used to create a larger impact surface, then the energy absorption effectiveness is improved, but the material usage and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorber uses a thin panel that can be dynamically deployed to provide a large surface area when needed. The panel is thin to minimize material usage and weight, but can be expanded to the full size required for effective energy absorption during impact events, achieving both material efficiency and adequate 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
This design enables a compact, efficient, and rapid deployment of the energy absorber, effectively absorbing impact energy while minimizing material usage and stress concentrations, thus enhancing safety and durability.
Implementation Method 1
An actuator 32 is configured to inflate the impact absorbing device 20
Data Source
AI summary
An impact absorbing device includes a plate and a panel having a panel thickness. An intermediate portion has a portion thickness and extends between the plate and the panel. The intermediate portion defines a chamber between the plate and the panel. A port is in communication with the chamber. The portion thickness is less than the panel thickness. The impact absorbing device is movable to a deployed position to contact an occupant during a collision. Since the portion thickness is less than the panel thickness, the intermediate portion expands more quickly, providing an impact surface for the occupant.