Energy absorbing hydro pneumo mechanical mechanism to enhance passive safety in motor vehicles

Abstract

The article describes one of the ways to enhance safety in cars. The topic is addressed by analyzing how to absorb kinetic energy during a car collision with an obstacle. The article analyzes opportunities to convert motor vehicle's kinetic energy into another type of energy in the case of collision. For this purpose, various mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices are normally used. Such devices are designed to absorb collision energy and reduce or eliminate its impact on the driver, the passengers or cargo in the motor vehicle and are typically referred to as additional elements of safety to the passenger and cargo. The energy absorbing device described in the present article incorporates hydraulic, pneumatic and mechanical mechanisms. The layout of the device presented in the article includes mathematical description of mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic processes in the equipment. Analysis of the developed mechanism employs a special application to calculate major parameters of the motor vehicle and the installed device. The article also includes sample calculations.