Energy-Absorbing Vehicle Table With Crush-Core Impact Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large transportation vehicles lack safety features for passengers during accidents, as solidly built tables can cause injuries due to the lack of seatbelts and the risk of passengers being thrown against the table during sudden movements.
Innovation Solution
An energy absorbing table design featuring a support assembly with a tabletop, energy absorbing assemblies, and linear guide assemblies that allow the tabletop to translate upon impact, incorporating plunger assemblies and crush chamber assemblies with energy absorption cores to absorb impact energy, reducing the force of collision with passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the table is solidly built to provide stability and damage resistance, then the table can withstand jolts and vibrations, but the table presents a danger to passengers during accidents or emergency stops
Solution Approach 1:
The table support assembly is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to translate horizontally upon impact. The support assembly includes energy absorbing assemblies with crushable cores that enable controlled movement, transforming the table from a static harmful object to a dynamic safety feature that moves with passengers during collisions
Solution Approach 2:
The solid table structure that originally caused harm by being too rigid is transformed into a safety feature by incorporating energy absorbing assemblies. These assemblies allow the table to absorb impact energy through controlled crushing of cores, converting the harmful rigidity into a beneficial energy absorption mechanism that protects passengers
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the table is made movable to reduce impact force, then passenger safety is improved, but the table stability during normal use deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The table design changes the physical parameters of the support assembly by incorporating energy absorbing assemblies with crushable cores. These assemblies maintain the table in a stable, fixed position during normal use but enable controlled horizontal translation when impact forces exceed a threshold, effectively changing the mechanical properties based on loading conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The table support system is segmented into multiple components including the tabletop, support assembly, and energy absorbing assemblies. This segmentation allows the table to remain stable during normal use while enabling specific parts (the support assembly) to move independently during impacts, resolving the contradiction between stability and safety
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 energy absorbing table effectively reduces the impact force on passengers by translating the tabletop and crushing energy absorption cores, thereby minimizing injuries during accidents or sudden stops, while maintaining a stable work surface.
Implementation Method 1
crush chamber assembly configured to slidably receive an end portion of each of the pair of plunger assemblies and includes a pair of energy absorption cores. Each energy absorption core is aligned with a respective one of the end portions
Data Source
AI summary
An energy absorbing table includes a support assembly and a table assembly. The support assembly includes a sidewall support that mounts to a sidewall, a support post that attaches to a floor, and a table support assembly coupled to the sidewall support and the support post. The table assembly includes a tabletop, at least one energy absorbing assembly, and at least one linear guide assembly. The at least one energy absorbing assembly includes a pair of plunger assemblies secured to the tabletop, and a crush chamber assembly secured to the table support assembly. The crush chamber assembly is configured to slidably receive an end portion of each of the pair of plunger assemblies and includes a pair of energy absorption cores. The at least one linear guide assembly includes a linear guide secured to the tabletop, and a pair of mounts secured to the table support assembly.