Airbag Dampening via Intermediate Plate Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver/steering wheel airbag assemblies face issues with dampening means being too large, costly, and difficult to tune, as they often fail to meet desired vibration/frequency targets due to coupling with horn springs and related components.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves functionally decoupling flexible, resilient dampening members from other elements of the airbag assembly, positioning them between the armature and an intermediate member, such as a plate, to prevent horn springs from affecting the natural frequency of the assembly, using flexible coupling members like wires with bends or U-shaped sections to connect components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional dampening means are used in driver airbag assemblies, then vibration damping is provided, but the dampening means become too large, costly, and difficult to tune while failing to meet desired vibration/frequency targets
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate member (intermediate plate) is introduced between the airbag module and steering wheel armature to create a dedicated mounting location for dampening members. This intermediary structure allows the dampening members to be positioned away from horn springs and other components that could affect their natural frequency, enabling effective vibration damping without requiring oversized or complex dampening systems
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling between airbag module and steering wheel armature is segmented into multiple functional zones: horn springs are coupled to the airbag module, dampening members are coupled to the intermediate member, and flexible coupling members connect the components. This segmentation isolates the dampening function from horn spring interference, allowing precise frequency tuning with smaller, less costly dampening members
2Reliability
If dampening members are coupled directly to the airbag module and steering wheel armature, then vibration damping is achieved, but horn springs and related components affect the natural frequency of the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate member serves as a mediator that physically separates the dampening members from horn springs and other components with competing spring rates. This separation ensures that the natural frequency of the dampening members is not affected by horn spring interference, enabling precise frequency tuning for optimal vibration control
Solution Approach 2:
The dampening function is extracted from the direct coupling path between airbag module and steering wheel armature. By removing dampening members from locations where horn springs would interfere with their natural frequency, the system achieves independent frequency tuning capability while maintaining effective vibration damping
3Ease of operation
If horn springs are directly coupled to the steering wheel armature, then horn actuation is provided, but they interfere with the dampening function by affecting the natural frequency of the assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into independent functional pathways: horn springs are coupled to the airbag module for horn actuation, while dampening members are coupled to the intermediate member for vibration damping. This segmentation allows both horn functionality and vibration damping to operate independently without frequency interference
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate member acts as a mediator that decouples the horn spring system from the dampening system. By positioning dampening members on the intermediate member rather than directly on the steering wheel armature, the system eliminates frequency interference while preserving both horn actuation and vibration damping functions
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 decoupling allows for improved frequency tuning and vibration damping, reducing the overall size and cost of the dampening system while maintaining effective vibration control.
Implementation Method 1
one or more dampening members coupled to the intermediate member and configured to be coupled to at least one of the driver airbag module and the steering wheel armature
Implementation Method 2
flexible, yet resilient, dampening members
Data Source
AI summary
Driver airbag cushion assemblies comprising dampening means. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a driver airbag module, a steering wheel armature, and an intermediate plate positioned between the driver airbag module and the steering wheel armature. The assembly may further comprise one or more horn actuators, such as horn springs coupled to the airbag module, and one or more dampening members. The one or more dampening members may be used to couple two or more of the armature, plate, and airbag module together. In some embodiments, the dampening member(s) may be functionally and/or physically decoupled from the one or more horn actuators.