Kinetic energy dissipation system to reduce and control impact forces

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The proposed technology is a kinetic energy dissipation system composed of a cutting member and a sacrificial deformation tube. Upon impact, the device, shaped like a steel wheel with four spoke-like blades, cuts through the sacrificial deformation tube causing the metal to stretch in addition to being cut, rather than crumple unevenly. This technology is designed to allow only a predetermined magnitude of force to be transmitted through the system to the receiving body. This one-time use device is capable of dissipating high levels of energy including those from explosive devices. The intent of the device is to limit the energy to the receiving body (for example human occupants in a vehicle) to a level so that they would not be severely injured by the impact. The simplicity of the technology design enables it to be easily and inexpensively manufactured. Experimental results revealed that in tests employing the use of different axial loads (ranging from the equivalency of slow-moving vehicle collisions to explosives) and different velocities, the proposed technology can effectively dissipate the kinetic energy of various impact forces with very similar results. Technologies designed to minimize the impact of high energy shock forces have the potential to reduce critical and life-threatening injuries, mainly applicable in instances of vehicle accidents and military explosions. Each year approximately 170 000 Canadians are injured in automobile accidents, with over 2000 reported fatalities in 2014. The automotive industry has responded by putting safety at the forefront; advanced vehicle safety is no longer restricted to premium vehicles and is now commonly installed in entry level vehicles. On a global scale, the automotive safety system market is expansive, encompassing 24.3 billion USD in 2013. The proposed technology can be used to dissipate and/or absorb a set amount of energy that can be incorporated into an automobile, a military vehicle, a crash barrier, or other structures to dissipate the kinetic energy of a shock or impact force. This novel energy dissipation system has the potential to reduce critical injuries and save lives in instances of high energy impact.