Airbag Deflector Pivot Mechanism for Oblique Impact Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag systems struggle to effectively manage occupant impact during various types of vehicle collisions, such as full-width and oblique frontal impacts, as they fail to adequately position the airbag to mitigate head rotation and sliding during oblique impacts.
Innovation Solution
An airbag assembly with a pivotally coupled deflector and a lock mechanism that adjusts based on the impact direction, allowing the airbag to inflate without deflection in full-width impacts and deflecting during oblique impacts to align with the occupant's movement, reducing head rotation and sliding risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional airbag system is used without a deflector, then the airbag can inflate freely in all directions, but the airbag cannot effectively position itself to mitigate head rotation and sliding during oblique impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector is pivotally coupled to the housing, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position based on impact direction. During full-width frontal impacts, the deflector remains in a first position that does not interfere with airbag inflation. During oblique impacts, the deflector pivots to a second position that deflects the airbag toward the occupant, providing adaptive positioning that resolves the contradiction between reliable safety performance and adaptability to different impact scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the spatial parameters of airbag deployment by introducing a deflector that can alter the inflation direction. The deflector modifies the airbag's position and orientation parameters dynamically, enabling the same airbag system to effectively address both full-width frontal impacts (where no deflection is needed) and oblique impacts (where directional deflection is required), thus improving reliability without sacrificing adaptability
2Reliability
If a deflector is added to the airbag assembly, then the airbag can be positioned to reduce head rotation and sliding during oblique impacts, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector employs a pivotal connection rather than a fixed or actively controlled mechanism, reducing device complexity. The pivotal coupling allows the deflector to automatically assume the appropriate position based on impact forces without requiring sensors, actuators, or complex control systems. This dynamic passive adjustment mechanism achieves improved occupant safety while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector is designed to self-adjust its position in response to impact direction without external control. During oblique impacts, the deflector automatically pivots to the appropriate angle to deflect the airbag toward the occupant. This self-service characteristic eliminates the need for additional control systems, sensors, or power sources, thereby improving reliability while keeping the device complexity increase minimal
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag assembly for a vehicle that includes a housing, an airbag supported by the housing, a deflector pivotally coupled to the housing, and a lock between the deflector and the housing. The lock is moveable relative to the deflector and the housing from an unlocked position disengaged with at least one of the deflector and the housing to a locked position engaged with both the deflector and the housing. The deflector may allow the airbag to deploy, without deflecting the airbag in response to one type of sensed impact, e.g., a full-width frontal impact, and may deflect the airbag in response to another type of sensed impact, e.g., oblique frontal impact.