Active Glove Box Door Ventilation via Perforated Reaction Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active bolster designs in automotive vehicles face challenges in efficiently venting inflation gas due to partial obstruction by the door liner, leading to increased weld stress and reduced pressure relief during initial inflation stages, which can result in inadequate energy dissipation and occupant protection during crashes.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a door inner liner with perforations in the collision region adjacent to the vent opening on the pleat peak, allowing for unobstructed flow of inflation gas and reducing stress on the hot weld seam, while maintaining a sealed and continuous surface for aesthetic and functional purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vent opening is located at the peak of the pleat close to the door liner, then the spatial distribution of restraint forces is optimized, but the gas flow is partially obstructed reducing pressure relief effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
A reaction plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the door liner and the bolster assembly. This reaction plate provides a dedicated surface for the pleat peak to contact, separating the venting function from the structural support function. The reaction plate is attached to the door liner, creating an intermediate structure that allows gas to flow freely while maintaining proper spatial distribution of restraint forces during inflation.
2Device complexity
If the door liner acts as the reaction surface, then the structure is simplified, but the weld stress increases due to gas flow obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The door liner is segmented functionally by introducing a separate reaction plate component. The door liner retains its structural role as the mounting surface, while the reaction plate provides the functional surface for gas expansion and venting. This segmentation allows the gas flow path to be optimized independently from the structural support requirements, reducing weld stress on the bolster assembly.
3Volume of moving object
If the uninflated bolster assembly is made thin to fit space constraints, then the available depth is reduced, but the vent opening becomes too close to the door liner causing flow obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The reaction plate extends the available space in the depth dimension by providing a dedicated surface for pleat contact. This allows the bolster assembly to maintain a thin profile while creating sufficient clearance between the vent opening and the door liner through the intermediate reaction plate structure, thereby maintaining effective gas flow rates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces weld stress and ensures controlled pressure relief, enhancing the active bolster's ability to absorb impact energy and protect occupants by allowing for a more efficient inflation and expansion of the bladder during crashes.
Implementation Method 1
The joint must be strong to resist separation that could result from high inflation pressures during inflation and that result when a passenger impacts the bolster. The peripheral seal is formed by hot welding, for example.
Implementation Method 2
The door inner liner includes a plurality of perforations in the collision region permitting flow of inflation gas from the vent opening through the door inner liner.
Data Source
AI summary
An active glove box door includes a bladder member joined along an outer perimeter with a front wall by a hot weld seam to form an inflatable bladder. The bladder member includes a circumferential pleat for unfolding in response to an inflation gas during a crash event. A door inner liner is joined to a central region of the bladder member and forms a generally continuous plate behind the bladder member. The door inner liner interfaces with the instrument panel to provide a reaction surface for expansion of the bladder. The pleat has a peak disposed proximate to the door inner liner, wherein the peak includes a vent opening that delineates a collision region on the door inner liner. The door inner liner includes a plurality of perforations in the collision region permitting flow of inflation gas from the vent opening through the door inner liner.