WO2012093947A1

WO2012093947A1 - Rotor device for taking over and dissipating impact energy

Info

Publication number: WO2012093947A1
Application number: PCT/PL2011/050060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lucjan ŁĄGIEWKA; Stanisław GUMUŁA
Original assignee: Centrum Badawczo-Rozwojowe Epar Sp. Z O.O.
Priority date: 2011-01-04
Filing date: 2011-12-30
Publication date: 2012-07-12
Also published as: PL393569A1

Abstract

A device is destined to convert kinetic energy of progressive motion into kinetic energy of rotary motion. A ram element (1) cooperates with at least two serially connected racks (2, 3, 4) slidably mounted on a runner (15), the said racks driving toothed wheels (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) of kinetic energy rotary accumulators (10, 11, 12). Distances (5, 6, 7) are formed between the ram element (1) and the first rack (2), as well as between separate racks (2, 3, 4) in order to enable shifting of the ram element (1) in relation to racks (2, 3, 4), as well as shifting of these racks in relation to one another.

Description

Rotor device for taking over

and dissipating impact energy

Technical Field

This invention concerns a device taking over and dissipating impact energy in order to convert kinetic energy of progressive motion into kinetic energy of rotary motion. The invention may be used especially in motorized vehicles as well as in other objects exposed to effects of unexpected collisions.

Background Art

From patent application WO2004028864 a rotor device for taking over and dissipating impact energy is known in which kinetic energy suddenly created by a collision is converted into kinetic energy of rotating masses. In this known solution a ram element is connected with two racks which drive by means of gears the rotors shaped as rods with movable weights sliding on them. Minimizing of percussive load of cooperating elements in the preliminary phase of the energy transfer is realized in the known solution by using movable weights situated possibly near a rotation axis of a bar-rotor so as to achieve a minimum moment of inertia of the rotor in this initial phase. In the further stage of this motion, when the rotor begins its rotation, these weights are moved by the centrifugal force increasing their distance from the rotation axis along the bar axis till reaching the extreme position near the end limiters. In this position the highest moment of inertia of the rotor is achieved, enabling the takeover of increased kinetic energy.

Rotor device for taking over and dissipating kinetic impact energy is also known from patent application WO2005121593, said device comprising a ram element cooperating with a rack making, by means of a toothed wheel, a kinetic energy rotary accumulator to rotate in order to convert impact energy into kinetic energy of rotary motion of the rotary accumulator.

In one of embodiments of the known rotor device for taking over an impact energy a kinetic energy rotary accumulator cooperates with movable weights maintained in a suitable distance from a rotation axis by means of springs. Such a solution provides gradual increment of the ability of the device to take over kinetic energy during an impact.

The known solutions do not provide effective taking over of energy at different speeds of an impact and different masses of objects participating in the collision. The aim of the solution according to the invention is hence to ensure greater effectiveness of taking over and dissipating energy of different and random values.

Disclosure of Invention

The rotary device according to the invention comprises a ram element that by means of cushioning elements, racks and toothed wheels transmits kinetic energy of progressive motion to kinetic energy rotary accumulators in order to convert this energy into kinetic energy of rotary motion. The solution is characterized in that the ram element cooperates with at least two serially connected racks slidably mounted on a runner and driving the toothed wheels of the kinetic energy rotary accumulators , wherein distances are created between the ram element and the first rack and moreover distances are created between the racks to ensure the action of cushioning elements and to enable shifting of the ram element in relation to the racks, as well as shifting of these racks in relation to one another.

The kinetic energy rotary accumulators advantageously have different energy accumulation abilities.

Advantageously, kinetic energy rotary accumulators have differentiated moments of inertia.

It is also advantageous when the kinetic energy rotary accumulator driven by the first rack has its moment of inertia smaller than one of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator driven by means of the second rack.

It is also advantageous when kinetic energy rotary accumulators are driven by speeding up transmissions having different gear ratios.

It is also advantageous when the kinetic energy rotary accumulator has a one-way clutch.

As a result of serial connection of the ram element with at least two serially connected racks which drive toothed wheels of kinetic energy rotary accumulators , with distances provided between the said racks, it is assured gradual driving in rotation of the subsequent kinetic energy rotary accumulators , what enables an abrupt increase of energy taking over ability of the device according to the invention. Cushioning elements fastened in the front of the racks in series decrease the percussive load of elements cooperating when starting the subsequent kinetic energy accumulators .

By using the gradation of the torque of consecutive kinetic energy rotary accumulators , especially when the kinetic energy rotary accumulator driven through the first rack has its moment of inertia smaller than moment of inertia of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator driven by the second rack, one obtains the particularly advantageous, gentle and gradual increase of the ability of taking over the kinetic energy of the impact through the device according to the invention when increasing the shift of the ram element.

The device according to the invention is suitable both for taking over small as well as great impact energy. In the first case the device ensures the effective and very gentle takeover of the impact energy because kinetic energy of progressive motion is carried out by kinetic energy rotary accumulators having the least moment of inertia. In the second case the device according to the invention provides also effective and uniform dissipation of the impact energy because taking over of kinetic energy of progressive motion is carried out by several kinetic energy rotary accumulators having ever greater energy taking over ability .

In a case of collisions of greater energy, in the device according to the invention there appears also an additional beneficial effect consisting in that kinetic impact energy, before being taken over by the kinetic energy rotary accumulators having the greater moment of inertia, is accumulated in its substantial part by kinetic energy rotary accumulators having the smaller moment of inertia. Such an order of taking over the energy provides the gentler operation of the device according to the invention during starting of next kinetic energy rotary accumulators , even those having the greatest moment of inertia .

By using a one-way clutch, the free rotation of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator is provided after taking over the impact energy until the energy accumulated in it is dissipated. Brief Description of Drawings

The object of the invention is presented schematically in its embodiment in figures, where

Fig. 1 presents the first embodiment of the rotor device for taking over and dissipating impact energy in a top view,

Fig. 2 presents the device from Fig. 1 in the side view,

Fig. 3 presents a cross section through the axis of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator along the line A-A marked in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 presents the second embodiment of the device in a top view, having kinetic energy rotary accumulators of the differentiated moment of inertia, in which the rack transmissions with different gear ratios are used, Fig. 5 presents an enlarged cross section of the rotary kinetic energy accumulator, and

Fig. 6 presents the device in its first embodiment during receiving impact energy where a rotation direction as well as shifting direction of particular parts of the device in action are marked.

Description of Embodiments

As it is presented in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the rotor device for taking over and dissipating impact energy has a ram element 1 made as a beam and coupled with three racks 2, 3, 4 connected in series. Between the racks 2, 3, 4, as well as between the ram element 1 and the first rack 2 distances 5, 6, 7 are formed which enable an action of cushioning elements 8 and cause that the racks 2, 3, 4 shift in relation to one another, as well as in relation to the ram element 1. Each of the racks 2, 3, 4 meshes with a toothed wheel 9 driving a kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10, 11, 12, whereas in order to achieve greater effectiveness of impact energy receiving and dissipating, the first kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10 driven by the first rack 2 has the least inertia moment, the second kinetic energy rotary accumulator 11 driven by the second rack 3 has an average inertia moment, and the third kinetic energy rotary accumulator 12 driven by the third rack 4 has the greatest inertia moment.

The ram element 1 is slidably engaged with side walls of a body plate 13 by means of ram runners 14, whereas these ram runners 14 are fastened perpendicularly to the ram element 1. Moreover, a runner 15 is fastened to the body plate 13, said guide ensuring shifting of the racks 2,

3, 4 in a suitable distance from the toothed wheels 9.

As it is shown in Fig. 2, the cushioning elements 8 are located in cylindrical openings 16 made in the racks 2, 3,

4. These openings cooperate with pressing mandrels 17 carrying impact energy from the ram element 1 onto the consecutive racks 2, 3, 4. In embodiments illustrated in the figure the cushioning elements 8 have a form of helical springs, however this solution does not limit the possibility of using other cushioning elements such as, in particular, fluid or elastomer absorbers.

As it is schematically shown in the cross section in Fig. 3, in an opening 18 formed in the body plate 13 there is an axle 19 tightly fastened, with the rotatably mounted toothed wheel 9 combined with an internal bush 20 of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 12. The kinetic energy rotary accumulator 12 has furthermore a one-way clutch 21 of the known construction situated in the annular space around the internal bush 20.

In the second embodiment of the device according to the invention presented in Fig. 4, there are used the kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12 having different moments of inertia and rack transmissions having different transmission ratios as the result of different pitch diameters of the used toothed wheels 9a, 9b, 9c. The kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10 having the least moment of inertia is driven by means of the toothed wheel 9a having the greatest pitch diameter, and the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 12 having the greatest moment of inertia is driven by means of the toothed wheel 9c having the least pitch diameter. This construction according to the invention makes it possible to obtain increased progressiveness of taking over the impact energy by successively started kinetic energy rotary accumulators .

The characteristic of the progressiveness of taking over the impact energy by the consecutive kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 can be therefore shaped across by selecting pitch diameters of the driving toothed wheels 9a, 9b, 9c and by selecting moments of inertia of the consecutive kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12.

The arrow which is perpendicular to the external surface of the ram element drawn in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 shows the expected direction of an impact load. Every angular deflection of the impact load from the expected direction increases the probability of the damage of the device and causes the reduction of the efficiency of taking over and dispersing impact energy. Therefore, the device according to the invention should be mounted in objects exposed to results of the unexpected collision in such a way that the expected impact load is substantially perpendicular to the external surface of the ram element 1.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 the ram element 1 is connected slidably with the body plate 13 by means of ram runners 14a which are mounted slidably in openings 22 made in the body plate 13 parallel to the runner 15 of the racks 2, 3, 4. Such a solution provides the increased shape rigidity of the whole device and can be used also in case of larger angular deviations of the impact load from the direction perpendicular to the external surface of the ram element 1.

As it is shown in Fig. 5, one-way clutch 21 of the known construction is situated between the inner bush 20 and an inner surface of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 11.

The one-way clutch 21 is used to transmit the torque from the internal bush 20 to the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10, 11, 12. After taking over the impact energy, when the angular speed of the internal bush 20 is smaller than the angular speed of the suitable kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10, 11, 12, the one-way clutch 21 is disconnected to enable free rotation of the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10, 11, 12.

Thanks to enabling the free rotation of the kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12 the kinetic energy stored in a short time of an impact can be dissipated in a significantly longer time.

In Fig. 6 the device according to the invention is shown during taking over the impact energy. Sliding linear motions and rotary motions of particular parts of the device respectively are shown in this figure with arrow lines. To enable taking over of the impact energy by the device according to the invention, the body plate 13 is fastened to the supporting construction of the car (not shown in the drawings) by fastening elements 23. Depending on energy taking over capacity of the device according to the invention, fastening elements 23 can be realized by welding, riveting, gluing, screwing and any other possible connections which can be used in a construction of an object protected against results of a collision.

The energy acting during the impact on the ram element

1, transferred by racks 2, 3, 4 to the kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12, is initially absorbed by the cushioning elements 8. Because of a serial connection of racks 2, 3, 4, the kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12 begin their work one after another starting from the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 10 having the least moment of inertia, and finishing with the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 12 having the greatest moment of inertia. In the solution according to the invention the maximum idle stroke of the ram element 1 in relation to the last rack 4 which drives the kinetic energy rotary accumulator 12 having the greatest moment of inertia is equal to the sum of distances 5, 6, 7 between the ram element 1 and the first rack 2, as well as among particular racks 2, 3, 4.

In the device according to the invention, in the working position illustrated in Fig. 6 during taking over of the impact energy, the distances 5, 6, 7 existing in the rest state are decreased to the size 5a, 6a, 7a. At such position of the racks 2, 3, 4 all of the kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12 are driven, whereas in this position the kinetic energy accumulator 10 having the least moment of inertia has the greatest angular speed, the kinetic energy accumulator 11 having the average moment of inertia has the average angular speed, and the kinetic energy accumulator 12 having the greatest moment of inertia has the least angular speed.

In case of taking over greater impact energies by the rotor device according to the invention, the distances 5a, 6a, 7a can reach the zero value and in this case linear speeds of the moving racks 2, 3, 4 are equal, and at equal ratios of the rack transmissions, the angle velocities of the kinetic energy rotary accumulators 10, 11, 12 are also equal.

Claims

1. A rotor device for taking over and dissipating impact energy, comprising a ram element transmitting kinetic energy of progressive motion by means of cushioning elements, racks and toothed wheels to kinetic energy rotary accumulators in order to convert this energy into kinetic energy of rotary motion, characterized in that the ram element (1) cooperates with at least two serially connected racks (2, 3, 4) mounted slidably on a runner (15) and driving toothed wheels (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) of the kinetic energy rotary accumulators (10, 11, 12), wherein distances (5, 6, 7) are created between the ram element (1) and the first rack (2), as well as between the particular racks (2, 3, 4), said distances enabling the displacement of the ram element (1) in relation to racks (2, 3, 4), as well as the displacement of these racks (2, 3, 4) in relation to one another .

2. A rotor device according to Claim 1 characterized in that the kinetic energy rotary accumulators (10, 11, 12) have different energy accumulating abilities.

3. A rotor device according to Claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the kinetic energy rotary accumulators (10, 11, 12) have different moments of inertia.

4. A rotor device according to Claim 1 - 3 characterized in that the kinetic energy rotary accumulator (10) driven by the first rack (2) has a smaller moment of inertia than the kinetic energy rotary accumulator (11) driven by the second rack (3) .

5. A rotor device according to Claim 1 - 4 characterized in that the kinetic energy rotary accumulators (10, 11, 12) are driven by transmissions increasing angular speed, which have different transmission ratios .

6. A rotor device according to Claim 1 - 5 characterized in that the kinetic energy rotary accumulator (10, 11, 12) has a one-way clutch (21) .