US Patent No 7472935
Background
A number of applications involve a shock or impact during normal use or emergency situations. A system is needed that reduces the energy transmitted to occupant or vehicle during these high energy events. Impact Dispersal Systems, LLC has developed a patented impact dispersion system that has shown dramatic reduction in transmitted acceleration levels.
Performance
The Impact Dispersal System is a new invention that takes a novel approach to reducing force from impacts. Unlike other systems, the Impact Dispersal System does not absorb the force, but disperses it away from the point of impact. The system quickly reacts, dispersing the crash energy at the point of impact and then systematically shuts down according to the amount of crash energy produced by the impact . This feature is the unique characteristic of this invention. The system has no recoil which can be important in some applications. The concept has been tested internally by IDS and has shown to be very effective with a vehicle at a 23 mph impact. Impact Dispersal systems received a small business innovative research (SBIR) grant from the Air Force for crashworthy stowable troop seating for helicopter topic number AF081-003. In a proof of concept test conducted by PAR3 Technology for the Air Force, the system had an 86% reduction in transmitted acceleration levels in a 60 G impact test.
- In a 60 G impact test the system had an 86% reduction in transmitted acceleration levels
- Scalable system for occupant size
- Immediately activated at low-force levels reducing a high spike
- A pneumatic system can be used for lower payload applications
What is G-Force
G stands for gravity. The G-Force action on a stationary object resting on the Earth’s surface is 1-G. For example, a 100 pound object undergoing a G-Force of 20G’s, experiences 2,000 pounds of force. The reason it can cause so much harm to the body is that it causes compression and pressurization to the organs and tissues.
How It Works
The system works by using variable dispersion. The first test that we performed using dispersion, we used just one level of dispersion and one force level. It was ok at low speed impacts. At higher speeds the rate of dispersion was too slow, giving less protection. To give the most protection, the system would have to disperse more of the fluids at the point of impact than it does at the end of the dispersion. To accomplish this it would need different force levels, and different rates of dispersion for each level. If the force from the impact reaches the highest level, all the relief valves will open, and as the force reduces, the relief valves set at the higher level will shut down first. This would continue until all the valves shut down. After having success with the multiple valve system we thought it would be better to incorporate all these features into one valve. We designed and tested a variable one piston valve that can replace the multiple valve system.
Results
● Disperses more of the crash energy in a shorter distance than other systems can absorb
● Effectively responds to higher force levels and reduces it further than other systems
● Has the potential of producing lower acceleration levels more than ever before thought possible
Conclusions
● The test results suggest the Impact Dispersal System to be more effective than other alternatives at reducing transmitted acceleration levels
● The Impact Dispersal System offers a unique design option in a number of applications
New System
The newest patent pending design (Love, variable dispersion two piston return valve for Impact Dispersal Device 2008). When the system reaches extreme high energy impacts, the valve will prevent the hydraulic cylinder from reaching maximum stroke. The valve will allow the small piston to open all the way giving maximum dispersion at the point of impact and with a short delay the large piston will start shutting the small piston down reducing the amount of dispersion.
Patents
IDS Founder, Phillip (Pete) Love, has patents pending in eight other countries and more patents pending
in the U. S.
