Exterior Airbag Cushion with Variable Pressure Vents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing external airbag cushions face issues with pressure concentration in specific chambers, leading to potential damage and rapid pressure increases during high-speed collisions, making it difficult to handle various impact speeds effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates independent low-pressure and high-pressure variable vents for each chamber, positioned strategically to manage internal pressure, with connection holes to reduce pressure differences and an oblong inlet for gas flow, allowing selective vent opening based on pressure levels to prevent excessive pressure buildup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single venting structure is used for all chambers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because pressure cannot be effectively controlled at various impact speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The venting structure is segmented into multiple independent variable vents, with each vent associated with a specific chamber. This segmentation allows each vent to independently respond to pressure changes in its corresponding chamber, enabling effective pressure control at various impact speeds while maintaining overall system reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If variable vents are formed at chamber sides, then shock absorption is improved, but the vents may not effectively handle high-speed impacts due to pressure concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The variable vents are positioned at specific locations on the chambers (sides and/or ends) rather than uniformly distributed. This local quality approach allows the vents to be strategically placed where pressure buildup is most critical, enabling effective shock absorption while properly managing pressure during high-speed impacts.
3Ease of manufacture
If the airbag cushion uses a unified chamber structure, then the manufacturing is simpler, but pressure concentrates on specific chambers causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag cushion is divided into multiple separate chambers instead of using a unified chamber structure. This segmentation prevents pressure concentration on any single chamber, reducing the risk of chamber damage during impact while still maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes for each individual chamber.
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 prevents rapid pressure increases and damage to the airbag, ensuring stable shock absorption and minimizing secondary injuries across varying collision speeds by balancing pressure distribution and controlled vent operation.
Implementation Method 1
an oblong inlet through Which gas flows inside
Implementation Method 2
low-pressure variable vents and high-pressure variable vents that are disposed for the chambers, respectively, and selectively open, depending on the internal pressure of the chambers
Implementation Method 3
Connection holes may be formed through the separation walls to reduce the difference in pressure among the chambers
Data Source
AI summary
An external airbag cushion including: an outer cover that inflates to cover the front of a bumper of a vehicle; a plurality of separation walls that are disposed inside outer cover to divide the inside into a plurality of chambers in the transverse direction of the vehicle; and low-pressure variable vents and high-pressure variable vents that are disposed for the chambers, respectively, and selectively open, depending on the internal pressure of the chambers.