Vehicle Side Airbag Baffle Intersection Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle side airbag apparatus has complex and difficult assembly operations due to overlapping baffles and multiple joining lines, making it hard to manufacture side airbags with high productivity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle side airbag apparatus with two band-shaped baffles that intersect at a crossover opening, allowing one baffle to penetrate through the other, eliminating the need for complex joining operations and simplifying the assembly process by forming three chambers with a gap between the crossing baffles, enabling easy and skillful manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two baffles are used to section the side airbag into three chambers with overlapping configuration, then the airbag can provide effective side protection with controlled gas distribution, but the assembly operation becomes extremely complicated and difficult due to multiple joining lines at overlapping locations
Solution Approach 1:
The side airbag is divided into three independent chambers (upper front, upper rear, and lower chambers) using two band-shaped baffles. Each chamber can be filled with gas independently or sequentially, allowing for controlled deployment and improved protection effectiveness while simplifying the overall structure through functional segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
One baffle is configured to pass through the other baffle at a baffle intersection, creating a nested arrangement where the baffles are positioned within each other's spatial envelope. This nesting eliminates the need for complex overlapping joins and simplifies assembly operations.
2Strength
If multiple joining lines are used to connect baffles with vehicle interior and exterior panels, then the structural integrity and sealing are improved, but the manufacturing time and productivity are significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle intersection design merges the two baffles into a single integrated structure where one baffle passes through the other. This consolidation reduces the number of separate joining operations required, as the baffles are connected to panels at fewer locations, thereby improving manufacturing productivity while maintaining structural integrity through the integrated design.
3Manufacturing precision
If baffles are joined at overlapping locations to form three chambers, then the chamber separation and gas control are achieved, but the joining operation requires extreme complexity with multiple sewing operations at different depths
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of joining baffles in the same plane at overlapping locations (requiring multiple sewing operations at different depths), the design transitions to a three-dimensional arrangement where one baffle passes through the other at a baffle intersection. This dimensional change eliminates the need for complex multi-depth joining operations while achieving precise chamber separation.
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 design simplifies the assembly of side airbags by eliminating the need for complex joining operations, improving productivity and facilitating the formation of three chambers with efficient gas flow between them.
Implementation Method 1
the inside of the side airbag which is deployed and expanded to the side of a passenger by inflator gas inside the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
[Problem] To provide a vehicle side airbag apparatus which can eliminate the operation of joining baffles sectioning the inside of a side airbag into three chambers, facilitate and simplify the assembly operation thereof, easily and skillfully manufacture the side airbag, and improve productivity.[Resolution Means] In the state in which a side airbag is folded and stored, each of first and second baffles 5, 6 is provided facing each other in the width direction of the vehicle such that two surfaces on both sides of a ridge line Q extending in the longitudinal direction of this baffle are able to at least partially overlap each other, the side airbag includes a baffle intersection which is formed by allowing the first baffle to cross the second baffle, and this baffle intersection is partially formed at a predetermined position of the ridge line of the second baffle, in addition to having a crossover opening 16 at which the first baffle penetrates through the second baffle.