Airbag Bellows and Roll-Folded Portion for Directional Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag devices experience variations in deployment direction due to the folding shape of the bellows portion, leading to delayed inflation and deployment, which can result in unstable protection of occupants during collisions.
Innovation Solution
The airbag is folded with a bellows portion on the upper edge and a roll-folded portion on the lower edge, where the bellows portion is deployed first to push out the roll-folded portion in a predetermined direction, ensuring stable and quick deployment along the inner side wall of the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the supply path portion is folded in a non-roll-folded manner for easier deployment, then the deployment speed of the supply path portion is improved, but the timing at which the roll-folded portion pops out of the airbag cover is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into distinct functional segments: a supply path portion folded in a non-roll-folded manner for rapid deployment, and a main inflation portion roll-folded for controlled弹出. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply path portion is pre-folded in a non-roll-folded manner and positioned to deploy first, performing the preliminary action of opening the airbag cover and creating the gas flow path before the main inflation portion deploys. This preliminary action eliminates the time delay for the roll-folded portion to pop out.
2Productivity
If the roll-folded portion is disposed below the non-roll-folded portion to enable pushing out, then the popping out speed is improved, but the deployment direction may vary depending on the deployment state
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag employs asymmetric folding configurations: the supply path portion uses a non-roll-folded manner while the main inflation portion uses roll-folding. This asymmetry creates a predetermined deployment sequence and direction, ensuring the roll-folded portion is pushed out in a controlled manner rather than varying directions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the airbag are given different folding qualities tailored to their specific functions. The supply path portion has a folding structure optimized for rapid deployment, while the main inflation portion has a folding structure optimized for controlled弹出 in a predetermined direction, ensuring stable deployment characteristics.
3Speed
If the bellows portion is deployed first to push out the roll-folded portion, then the deployment speed is improved, but variations in deployment direction occur due to folding shape errors
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into a supply path portion and a main inflation portion with distinct folding characteristics. The supply path portion deploys first to initiate the process, while the main inflation portion follows in a predetermined direction, separating the speed-critical function from the direction-critical function.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local folding qualities are applied to different portions: the supply path portion uses non-roll-folding for rapid deployment without direction constraints, while the main inflation portion uses roll-folding to ensure predetermined directionality. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between speed and directional stability.
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 configuration suppresses variations in deployment direction, allowing for rapid and stable inflation and deployment of the airbag, effectively restraining and protecting occupants by ensuring consistent deployment characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator that generates and supplies gas to the airbag in an emergency of a vehicle or when an impact is detected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2E
Figure 3
AI summary
An airbag is quickly inflated and deployed along an inner side wall of a vehicle while suppressing variations of the deployment direction of the airbag inflated and deployed from an upper part of the vehicle. An upper edge side of an airbag (2), which deploys first, is bellows-folded to form a bellows portion (2J), and a lower edge side continuous with the bellows portion (2J) is roll-folded toward the vehicle's exterior side (G) to form a roll-folded portion (2R). The roll-folded portion (2R) is formed to have a larger width than the bellows portion (2J) in the vehicle's width direction and the both sides thereof are folded back upward. The bellows portion (2J) is folded in substantially half and is wrapped by the roll-folded portion (2R) from below and is accommodated therein. When the airbag (2) deploys, first, the bellows portion (2J), whose deployment is restricted by the roll-folded portion (2R) on both sides, deploys toward the lower side of the vehicle, and the roll-folded portion (2R) is pushed by the deployment force thereof toward the trim (50) and opens the trim (50), through which the roll-folded portion (2R) pops out and deploys in the vehicle.