Vehicle Table Guide Element Layout for Impact Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle table designs in rail vehicles either require costly and complex structures or result in passenger injury due to limited movement and energy absorption during strong acceleration, necessitating replacement of essential parts after incidents.
Innovation Solution
A table design with guide elements that allow one guide element to be immovably connected along the transverse axis and another along the longitudinal axis, enabling a wide range of movement and energy absorption through friction and plastic deformation, while being simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If plastically deformable connecting elements are used to absorb energy during impact, then the risk of injury to passengers is reduced, but essential parts of the table have to be replaced after an incident, which is time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into two separate guide elements (first guide element connected to tabletop, second guide element connected to base) that interact through friction. This segmentation allows the energy absorption function to be distributed across the friction interface rather than concentrated in a single deformable component, eliminating the need for part replacement after impact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful friction force (which normally resists movement) into a beneficial energy absorption mechanism. During impact, the friction between the two guide elements generates heat and dissipates kinetic energy, protecting passengers while leaving the structural components intact and reusable
2Strength
If elastically movable connecting arms and rods are used to prevent part destruction, then parts are not destroyed in the event of emergency braking, but passengers' body parts can be crushed as the height of the tabletop changes during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controlled dynamic movement mechanism where the tabletop can move transversely relative to the base through the interaction of the two guide elements. This dynamic adjustment allows the table to absorb impact energy through controlled movement rather than rigid resistance, preventing both component destruction and passenger injury by maintaining a stable tabletop height through friction-based guidance
3Adaptability or versatility
If slotted hole-pin connections are used to enable rotation along two different axes, then the table can adapt to different impact points, but the design becomes very complex and cost-intensive with limited range of movement
Solution Approach 1:
The two guide elements are designed with universal functionality to handle multiple impact scenarios. The first guide element (connected to tabletop) and second guide element (connected to base) can interact through friction to provide both translational and rotational movement capabilities along the longitudinal axis, eliminating the need for complex slotted hole-pin connections while maintaining adaptability to different impact points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential function of multi-axis rotation from the complex slotted hole-pin connection system and implements it through a simpler friction-based guide element interaction. By removing the slotted holes and pins, the design achieves the same adaptability with significantly reduced complexity and cost
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 design effectively reduces passenger injury risk by absorbing energy through a wide range of movement, ensuring safe and reliable operation without the need for extensive replacement or complex structures.
Implementation Method 1
a force transfer takes place between these guide elements
Implementation Method 2
plastically deformable connecting elements that deform plastically in the event of an impact and thus absorb energy
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a table for a vehicle, wherein the table has at least one base for attachment to the vehicle, and comprises a tabletop connected to the base, and wherein the tabletop can be moved in relation to the base along a transverse axis of the table transverse to a longitudinal axis of the table, wherein the tabletop and the base are connected to one another via at least two connection systems and wherein each connection system comprises a guided connection between tabletop and base via two mutually interacting guide elements, wherein the guide elements are designed such that, during a movement along the transverse axis, a force transfer takes place between these guide elements, characterised in that for each connection system a first guide element is connected to the tabletop such that it is immovable along the transverse axis, and a second guide element is connected to the base such that it is immovable along the transverse axis, and in that at least one guide element of at least one connection system is connected to the element to which it is connected such that it is immovable along the transverse axis such that it is movable along the longitudinal axis.