Whiplash Protection Safety Device Inspection Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inspection of whiplash protection devices is time-consuming and costly, requiring extensive disassembly and visual inspection to determine if the device has been triggered, which is inefficient and labor-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An inspection tool with a first and second fitting element arranged with a predetermined fixed displacement, allowing quick determination of the safety device's status by matching the relative positions of these elements with corresponding safety device reference points, indicating whether the device is in an un-triggered or triggered state without the need for extensive disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection methods are used to determine safety device status, then inspection accuracy can be maintained, but inspection time and labor cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection with an automated inspection tool that uses mechanical engagement of fitting elements with reference points on the safety device. The tool automatically determines trigger status through mechanical positioning and detection, eliminating the need for time-consuming visual examination while maintaining accurate status determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device includes self-explanatory reference points that are automatically positioned and visible after normal disassembly procedures. These reference points enable the inspection tool to self-determine the trigger status without requiring operator interpretation or complex visual analysis, thereby speeding up the inspection process while maintaining accuracy.
2Reliability
If extensive disassembly is performed to inspect safety device components, then thorough inspection can be achieved, but operational complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for inspection by using reference points that remain accessible after standard disassembly procedures. The inspection tool engages with these extracted reference points to determine trigger status, eliminating the need for complex disassembly while ensuring reliable inspection of the critical safety device state.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device is designed with reference points that are pre-positioned and become automatically accessible upon normal disassembly procedures. This preliminary arrangement of reference points allows the inspection tool to quickly determine trigger status without requiring additional or complex disassembly steps, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining inspection reliability.
3Loss of information
If traditional inspection procedures are used, then complete component visibility can be achieved, but labor cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection procedures with an automated mechanical inspection tool that engages with reference points on the safety device. The tool mechanically determines trigger status through positioning and detection mechanisms, providing complete information about device state without requiring time-consuming manual examination of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection tool uses reference points on the safety device as proxies for the actual trigger state. By detecting the position and configuration of these reference points, the tool creates a simplified representation of the safety device status, obtaining complete diagnostic information without needing to visually inspect every component of the complex safety device.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to an inspection tool (100, 200, 208, 600) for inspecting the status of a safety device (110, 302) which is adapted to be triggered by stress exceeding a threshold. The inspection tool comprises a first fitting element (102, 202) and a second fitting element (104, 204) arranged with a predetermined fixed relative displacement relative each other. The relative positions of the fitting elements are configured to simultaneously match with corresponding first (106, 304) and second (108, 306) safety device reference points when the safety device is in an un-triggered state.