This patent application is on a notched-energy absorber for attenuating high level accelerations such as would occur during aircraft crashes, thereby avoiding injury to a user. The energy absorber force-displacement curve has a large initial spike, followed by a valley or 'notch' and then by a constant force level intermediate the spike and valley levels. In one embodiment, a conventional square-response type shock absorber is connected between a vehicle seat and the vehicle body by a shearable diaphragm fixed to vehicle structure. The diaphragm shears at a notch when it experiences an initial high force, after which the conventional absorber moves freely without deforming until it encounters a stop. The conventional absorber then elongates or compresses in a conventional manner. In an alternative embodiment, a spring is connected between the seat and the vehicle body. Initially, the spring is compressed by experienced forces until at a predetermined force level it forces out a retaining clip or ring. The spring thereupon crushes a honeycomb, forming the valley or 'notch'. After the honeycomb is crushed, a conventional shock absorber attached thereto is compressed in a conventional manner. (Author)
Energy Absorber
1978
19 pages
Report
No indication
English
NTIS | 1978
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