Active Vent Patch Mechanism for Airbag Occupant Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag systems may not adequately protect occupants in out-of-position (OOP) conditions due to incomplete inflation, as they lack a mechanism to adjust venting based on the occupant's position during deployment, potentially leading to excessive impact and injury.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an active vent mechanism with a patch plug and tether system that transitions between open and closed states based on the occupant's position, allowing for controlled gas egress during deployment to prevent excessive inflation and ensure proper restraint, featuring a selectively closable discrete vent that can be open during early stages of deployment for OOP conditions and close during normal inflation to retain gas for maximum efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag uses a fixed closed vent configuration, then gas is retained for maximum restraint efficiency during normal deployment, but excessive impact occurs to out-of-position occupants due to incomplete inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The vent configuration is made dynamic through a movable patch plug that can transition between open and closed states. The patch plug is attached to the airbag cushion and can move relative to the vent aperture, allowing the system to adapt its venting characteristics based on deployment conditions rather than being fixed in one state
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the venting parameter (aperture openness) based on deployment conditions. During normal deployment, the patch plug closes the vent aperture to retain gas for maximum restraint efficiency. During OOP conditions, the vent remains open to allow controlled gas egress and prevent excessive impact
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag uses an always-open vent configuration, then gas egress is allowed during early deployment stages to protect OOP occupants, but gas is lost reducing restraint efficiency during normal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The vent configuration transitions from a static always-open design to a dynamic system with a movable patch plug. The patch plug remains open during early deployment stages to protect OOP occupants, then closes during normal deployment to prevent gas loss and maintain restraint efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The vent operates in periodic states - open during early deployment stages for OOP protection, then closed during the restraint phase. This temporal separation of venting functions allows the system to provide both OOP protection and efficient restraint without continuous gas loss
3Device complexity
If the airbag uses a traditional discrete vent, then the structure is simple, but the vent cannot adapt to different occupant positions during deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The simple discrete vent structure is enhanced with a movable patch plug that adds adaptability without significantly complicating the overall design. The patch plug can move between open and closed positions, allowing the vent to adapt to different occupant positions while maintaining a relatively simple structural implementation
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 reduces the risk of injury to OOP occupants by allowing rapid gas egress during initial deployment stages and retaining gas for effective restraint during normal conditions, enhancing the safety and efficiency of airbag deployment by adapting venting dynamics based on occupant proximity.
Implementation Method 1
A tether can be coupled to the patch and also coupled to another component of the airbag cushion. The tether can be configured to pull the patch into engagement with the vent aperture as the airbag cushion inflates
Implementation Method 2
An airbag cushion can include an active vent that includes a vent aperture and a patch that can be disposed away from the aperture when the airbag cushion is in a folded configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Airbag assemblies and active vents for airbag assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly can include an airbag cushion that defines an inflatable chamber and an active vent that comprises an aperture and a patch configured to plug the aperture. A first control tether is coupled to the patch and coupled to the airbag cushion. The first control tether is drawn taut as the cushion expands during deployment to draw the patch toward the aperture from a first position that allows unobstructed venting through the aperture to a second position that obstructs venting through the aperture. The first control tether, or a second control tether, is configured to be drawn taut to close the active vent. Responsive to impact with the airbag cushion, a control tether is configured to slacken to open the active vent.