Patent Application
20230034242
The invention relates to an anthropomorphic test device comprising a shoulder assembly. The invention also relates to the use of said test device. Furthermore, the invention relates to the manufacture of a shoulder assembly for an anthropomorphic test device.
Anthropomorphic test devices are mostly used for so-called vehicle crash tests. In these cases, the anthropomorphic test device assists in detecting the effect of a collision of a vehicle on a human being sitting in the vehicle. For this purpose, an anthropomorphic test device equipped with sensors is positioned instead of a human being in the vehicle during crash tests. The anthropomorphic test device at least partially mimics a human being in shape or in shape and weight.
An anthropomorphic test device, hereinafter also shortly referred to as a test device, has been known for many years and is also commonly referred to as a crash test dummy. One type of test device is known as a THOR dummy. A test device is often equipped with a plurality of sensors that detect one or more physical variables in the test device or in parts of the test device. In the following explanation, parts or areas of the test device are referred to by the names of human body parts or body areas. It should be understood that in a test device that mimics the human body a body part denoted in this manner has a position identical to the respective part in the human body.
Prior to a collision of the vehicle to be tested, the test device is generally positioned within the vehicle according to specifications of a test description, usually in a position identical to that of a human being. The test description is dictated by governmental regulations. During the impact, the test device should behave as much as possible like a human body. For this purpose, a test device comprises biomechanical components that during an impact should behave as identical as possible to the corresponding elements in a human body. For example, biomechanical components include arms with elbow joints, the spine comprising the area of the cervical vertebrae supporting a head, a chest, or a shoulder.
Prior to a collision, a test device is placed on a seat in a vehicle, often buckled by a so-called three-point seat belt. The belt strap of a three-point seat belt is typically secured to a vehicle body at three points: usually to one point in the lower portion of the B pillar, another point is the so-called belt lock, and a third connection point usually is in the upper portion of the B pillar. The belt strap passes from the first point across the pelvis of the test device to the second point, and from the second point across the chest over the shoulder to the third point. Often, a seat belt is also referred to as a restraint belt or safety belt. A locked seat belt passes over the shoulder of a person secured in a vehicle by the seat belt. In an analogous manner, in the sense of the present invention, a locked seat belt passes over a shoulder assembly of the test device.
In addition, a vehicle may be formed as a so-called test sled comprising a vehicle seat and fastening means for a seat belt. Test sleds of this type are often accelerated linearly and then decelerated abruptly for simulating a collision. Test sleds are often used to test child safety seats or seat belts, belt locks, belt tensioners and the like. In the following explanation, when mention is made of a vehicle this may also refer to a test sled.
According to the prior art, the shoulder of a test device comprises a shoulder assembly that is usually made of plastic. Typically, the shoulder assembly is made of one piece, for example molded as one piece. The shoulder assembly comprises an area proximal to the spine that extends substantially parallel to the spine. The shoulder assembly comprises an area distal to the spine that is radially spaced away from the spine and substantially extends in a radial direction from the spine.
A study called “Effects of Shoulder-belt Slip on the Kinetics and Kinematics of the THOR” by Suzanne Tylko, Kathy Tang, François Giguère, and Alain Bussières, 2018 IRCOBI Conference Proceedings, 12-14 Sep. 2018—Athens (Greece), found that a shoulder assembly according to the prior art bears the risk that during an impact, the seat belt may slip off the shoulder and into a gap between the spine assembly and the proximal portion of the shoulder assembly. With a seat belt displaced in such a manner, the behavior of the test device during an impact is no longer identical to that of a human body.
A shoulder assembly is known from DE102019216967A1, which corresponds to US Patent Application Publication No. 2020-0143709, which by this reference is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes, which is designed to prevent such slipping of the seat belt as mentioned above. The shoulder assembly is made of two parts wherein a clavicle portion is formed from a first thermosetting material and a neck portion is formed from a second thermosetting material. The neck portion is more rigid than the clavicle portion. The neck portion and clavicle portion are made to engage each other with flanges of the clavicle portion engaging slots of the neck portion. Therefore, mounting of the shoulder assembly to the test device is complex because two parts, the clavicle portion and the neck portion, must be mounted or require a previous mounting step for joining these two parts. Furthermore, there is a weakness in the joining area of flanges and slots so that they may lose contact to each other during an impact.
It is an object of the invention to provide a shoulder assembly that avoids the disadvantages mentioned above. It is another object of the invention to provide a shoulder assembly that avoids slipping of a seat belt during an impact and which can be mounted in a simple and efficient manner. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a shoulder assembly with the features described below as original equipment. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a process by which a pre-existing shoulder assembly can be retrofitted with the features described below.
These objects and others have been achieved by the features described hereinafter.
The present invention relates to an anthropomorphic test device, shortly referred to as a test device, wherein said test device comprises a spine assembly; wherein said spine assembly substantially extends along a spine axis; wherein said test device comprises at least one clavicle assembly; wherein said test device comprises at least one upper arm assembly; wherein said clavicle assembly substantially extends radially from the spine assembly; wherein said arm assembly is radially spaced away from the spine assembly; wherein said test device comprises a shoulder assembly; wherein said shoulder assembly is connected to the clavicle assembly; wherein said shoulder assembly is arranged adjacent to said arm assembly; wherein said shoulder assembly comprises a portion proximal to the spine assembly; wherein said shoulder assembly comprises a portion distal to the spine assembly; wherein said shoulder assembly comprises a seat belt portion; wherein said seat belt portion is arranged between the proximal portion and the distal portion; and wherein the elasticity of the seat belt portion is different from the elasticity of the distal portion.
The clavicle assembly is connected to a chest assembly. The chest assembly is connected to the spine assembly. The arm assembly is connected to the clavicle assembly.
The test device is used in a vehicle that includes a restraint device. The restraint device comprises at least a seat belt and a seat. The test device is typically arranged on the seat, and the seat belt is guided to be in contact with the shoulder assembly. The seat belt contacts the shoulder assembly in the seat belt portion.
The differential elasticity of the seat belt portion and the distal portion of the shoulder assembly of the test device prevents the seat belt of a vehicle from slipping during a vehicle collision.
In a first embodiment of the test device according to the invention, said slipping of the seat belt is prevented by a seat belt portion having a lower elasticity as compared to the distal portion. Lower elasticity means that the seat belt portion is more rigid. The seat belt portion is less deformable than the distal portion. During a vehicle collision, the vehicle is stopped abruptly. The test device is pressed against the seat belt because of its inertial mass. The seat belt exerts a force on the test device, in particular on the seat belt portion of the shoulder assembly. The lower elasticity of the seat belt portion prevents mechanical twisting or folding of the seat belt portion. The seat belt remains in the seat belt portion during the impact.
In a second embodiment of the test device according to the invention, slipping of the seat belt is prevented by a seat belt portion having a higher elasticity as compared to the distal portion. Higher elasticity means that the seat belt portion is softer. The seat belt portion is more deformable than the distal portion. During a vehicle collision, the vehicle is stopped abruptly. The test device is pressed against the seat belt because of its inertial mass. The seat belt exerts a force on the test device, in particular on the seat belt portion of the shoulder assembly. The seat belt sinks into the seat belt portion because the seat belt portion is more elastic. This forms a depression in the seat belt portion. This depression functions as a guiding means for the seat belt. Lateral slipping of the seat belt is prevented by the edges of the depression.
In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the figures in which:
Throughout the figures, identical reference numerals refer to identical objects.
The test device 1 comprises a shoulder assembly 5. The shoulder assembly 5 is connected to the clavicle assembly 3. The shoulder assembly 5 is arranged adjacent to the arm assembly 4, which extends away from the shoulder assembly 5 in a direction that lies generally parallel to the spine axis Z. The shoulder assembly 5 comprises a proximal portion 6 that is disposed proximally to the spine assembly 2. The proximal portion 6 is the portion of the shoulder assembly 5 which is located closest to the spine assembly 2. Compared to the human body, the shoulder assembly 5 represents the surface of the shoulder and the transition to the neck wherein the shoulder assembly 5 mimics a portion of the neck of a human body. Furthermore, as schematically shown in
The shoulder assembly 5 comprises a distal portion 9 that is disposed distally to the spine assembly 2. Compared to the human body, the shoulder assembly 5 represents the surface of the shoulder up to the transition to the upper arm. Therefore, the distal portion 9 is the portion of the shoulder assembly 5 which is located furthest away from the spine assembly 2. Thus, compared to the human body, the distal portion 9 is the portion of the shoulder that covers the shoulder joint as shown in
The shoulder assembly 5 desirably is made of a plastic material. The shoulder assembly 5 is desirably at least partially made of a plastic. A plastic may be a thermoplastic, for example. A thermoplastic is soft and may be molded by energy input. Thermoplastics can be formed into a desired shape by molding processes and retain their shape after the molding process. A plastic may be a thermosetting plastic, for example. Thermosetting plastics are shaped in a molding process and retain their shape after a curing process. The curing process is usually performed by heating, oxidizing agents, high-energy radiation, or the use of catalysts.
According to the invention, the shoulder assembly 5 defines a seat belt portion that is generally designated by the numeral 8 in
According to the invention, the elasticity of the seat belt portion 8 is different from the elasticity of the distal portion 9. This has the advantage that in the event of an impact, then the seat belt 10 remains located in the seat belt portion 8 and does not slip into a gap 19, which is generally designated by the numeral 19 in
In a first embodiment of the test device 1, the seat belt portion 8 is more rigid than the distal portion 9. When the test device 1 is buckled with a seat belt 10 for performing a test in a vehicle 12, the seat belt 10 extends over the seat belt portion 8 of the shoulder assembly 5 as schematically shown in
In the first embodiment of the test device 1, the seat belt portion 8 preferably is more rigid than the proximal portion 6, and thus prevents the seat belt from slipping in the direction of the arm assembly 4.
In the second embodiment of the test device, the seat belt portion 8 is more flexible than the proximal portion 6. When the test device 1 is buckled with a seat belt 10 for performing a test in a vehicle 12, seat belt 10 extends over the seat belt portion 8 of the shoulder assembly 5 as schematically shown in
In the second embodiment of the test device 1, the seat belt portion 8 preferably is more flexible than the distal portion 7, and thus prevents the seat belt from slipping in the direction of the arm assembly 4.
A difference in elasticity of two portions in the context of the present document means that an elasticity of the first portion differs from the elasticity of a second portion, to which second portion the elasticity of the first portion is compared, by at least 10%.
A first portion is understood to be more rigid in the context of the present document when the elasticity of the first portion is at least 10% lower than the elasticity of a second portion, to which second portion the elasticity of the first portion is compared. In the first embodiment of the invention, the first portion is for example the seat belt portion 8. In the first embodiment of the invention, the second portion is for example the proximal portion 6 or distal portion 9.
A first portion is understood to be more flexible in the context of the present document when the elasticity of the first portion is at least 10% higher than the elasticity of a second portion, to which second portion the elasticity of the first portion is compared. In the first embodiment of the invention, the first portion is for example the proximal portion 6 and/or the distal portion 9. In the first embodiment of the invention, the second portion is for example the seat belt portion 8. The seat belt portion 8 extends between the proximal portion 6 and distal portion 9 such that the proximal portion 6 and distal portion 9 are arranged on both sides of the seat belt portion 8.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the shoulder assembly 5 comprises an insert 7. In this case, the shoulder assembly 5 also comprises a shoulder molded part 50 schematically shown in
The material of the insert 7 has an elasticity different from the elasticity of the material of the shoulder molded part 50.
In the first embodiment of the test device 1, the material of the insert 7 has a lower elasticity than the material of the shoulder molded part 50. This has the advantage that the shoulder assembly 5 has a higher rigidity in the region of the insert 7. Therefore, the seat belt portion 8 can be easily formed in the region where the insert 7 is located in the shoulder molded part 50.
In the second embodiment of the test device 1, the material of the insert 7 has a higher elasticity than the material of the shoulder molded part 50. This has the advantage that the shoulder assembly 5 has a higher flexibility in the region of the insert 7. Material having increased deformability is softer and more flexible. Thus, the seat belt portion 8 of the second embodiment of the test device 1 can be easily formed in the region where the insert 7 is located in the shoulder molding part 50.
In one embodiment, the shoulder molded part 50 is made of polyurethane. Polyurethane may be easily molded. For example, this may be done in a negative mold. Polyurethane may be either a thermoset or a thermoplastic. In each case, the liquid starting material is introduced into a negative mold of the shoulder molded part 50 and hardens within the negative mold. The insert 7 is positioned in the negative mold before the polyurethane is introduced. The feature of this embodiment may be used advantageously in combination with both the first embodiment of the test device 1 and the second embodiment of the test device 1.
In a presently preferred embodiment, the shoulder molded part 50 completely surrounds the insert 7. This is for example achieved by positioning the insert 7 appropriately in the negative mold. This has the advantage that the shoulder assembly 5 is devoid of any seams or edges in the region where the insert 7 is inserted in the shoulder molded part 50. A seat belt might get caught on seams or edges and thereby exert strong forces locally onto the shoulder molded part 50. In addition, the shoulder molded part 50 may be designed in such a way that the insert 7 is not visible from the outside which is the case when the material of the shoulder molded part 50 is opaque. In addition, also the external structure of the shoulder assembly 5 is still uniform. Thus, the biomechanical surface condition of the shoulder assembly 5 is uniform. The feature of this embodiment may be advantageously used in combination with both the first embodiment of the test device 1 and the second embodiment of the test device 1.
Insert 7 is particularly preferably arranged within the shoulder molded part 50 in such a way that the seat belt portion 8 is formed. The seat belt portion 8 may be shaped freely due to the shape and elasticity of the material of the insert 7. The feature of this embodiment may be advantageously used in combination with both the first embodiment of the test device 1 and the second embodiment of the test device 1.
Particularly preferably, the shoulder molded part is made of one piece. Made of one piece means that it is cast in a single casting or made of a solid material. The feature of this embodiment may be advantageously used in combination with both the first embodiment of the test device 1 and the second embodiment of the test device 1.
In the first embodiment of the test device 1, the material of the insert 7 particularly preferably is more rigid than the material of the shoulder molded part 50. In this way, an insert 7 is more rigid than the material of the shoulder molded part 50 while the geometry is the same. Thus, the seat belt portion 8 may be simply formed in the region of the insert 7 and the external geometry of the shoulder assembly 5 with respect to the current state of the art according to Tylko et al. is still kept the same.
In the second embodiment of the test device 1, the material of the insert 7 particularly preferably is more flexible than the material of the shoulder molded part 50. In this way, an insert 7 is more flexible than the material of the shoulder molded part 50 while the geometry is the same. Thus, the seat belt portion 8 may be simply formed in the region of the insert 7 and the external geometry of the shoulder assembly 5 with respect to the current state of the art according to Tylko et al. is still kept the same.
A test device 1 as described above is used in a vehicle 12 as schematically shown in
In the first embodiment of the test device 1, the seat belt portion 8 advantageously prevents the seat belt 10 from effecting deformation or mechanical folding of the shoulder assembly 5 during a collision of the vehicle 12. This prevents slipping of the seat belt 10 during such collision.
In the second embodiment of the test device 1, the seat belt portion 8 advantageously prevents slipping of the seat belt by forming a depression 17 in the seat belt portion 8 of the shoulder assembly 5 in the event of a collision of the vehicle 12. This prevents slipping of the seat belt 10 during such collision.
Particularly preferably, the restraint device 12 comprises a 3-point seat belt or a shoulder seat belt or a five-point seat belt. In each case, these seat belt 10 variations are at least partially arranged over the shoulder assembly 5 when a test device 1 is placed in a vehicle 12 having this seat belt 10.
A presently preferred process for manufacturing a shoulder assembly 5 for a test device 1 includes the step of providing an insert 7. In a further step, the insert 7 is introduced into a hollow mold 14 as shown in
The manufacturing process is suitable for manufacturing a shoulder assembly 5 for the first embodiment of the test device 1 as original equipment.
The manufacturing process is also suitable for manufacturing a shoulder assembly for the second embodiment of the test device 1 as original equipment.
Particularly advantageously, the insert 7 is manufactured by means of 3D printing. In this way, the shape of the insert 7 may be adapted specifically to the shape of the shoulder assembly 5 so that the insert 7 at least partially has the same shape as the shoulder assembly 5. For example, a layer of the shoulder molded part 50 in the seat belt portion 8 covering the insert 7 may be made with constant thickness and/or with a density that differs from the density of the surrounding material in the structure.
In one embodiment, insert 7 includes acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers.
In the first embodiment of the test device 1, the material of the insert 7 preferably has a Young's modulus of between 1000 MPa (megapascals) and 2000 MPa according to ASTM D638.
A pre-existing shoulder assembly 5 desirably can be retrofitted in accordance with the present invention. The retrofitting method involves machining a cut out from the region of the pre-existing shoulder assembly 5 where the insert 7 is desired to be located in the pre-existing shoulder assembly 5. The region for the cut out desirably would be the region designated by the numeral 17 in
The first embodiment of the test device 1 disclosed herein cannot be combined with the second embodiment of the test device 1. However, other embodiments described of the test device 1 may be readily combined with the first embodiment of the test device 1 and/or the second embodiment of the test device 1.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21188966.2 | Jul 2021 | EP | regional |
