Vehicle Driver Airbag Diffuser Gas Flow Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing driver airbag apparatuses face challenges in deploying the airbag cushion forward of an occupant while avoiding obstacles like display devices on the steering wheel, leading to potential injuries from fragment scattering and difficulty in achieving the desired deployment direction.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a diffuser within the airbag cushion, which guides the gas flow direction to ensure the airbag cushion is deployed forward of the occupant by creating a gap between the obstacle and the steering wheel, using a gas injector and a diffuser with folded portions to direct the gas flow, and an airbag cover to prevent sideways deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the airbag cushion is deployed directly forward without guidance structure, then the deployment speed is fast, but the airbag cushion damages the display device and scatters fragments injuring the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser acts as an intermediary component between the gas outlet and the airbag cushion. It guides the gas flow to move the display device upward before cushion deployment, preventing direct impact and fragment scattering while maintaining fast deployment speed
2Reliability
If the airbag cushion is deployed while avoiding the display device, then the driver safety is improved, but the deployment direction control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical deployment direction control mechanisms with a gas flow-based control system. The diffuser uses gas flow dynamics to automatically guide the airbag cushion in the correct deployment direction, simplifying the control system while ensuring reliable driver-side deployment
3Manufacturing precision
If a diffuser is added to guide gas flow direction, then the deployment direction accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser is constructed using flexible material that can be folded into a compact configuration. This flexible shell structure provides effective gas flow guidance for accurate deployment direction while maintaining a space-efficient design that minimizes overall device complexity
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
The airbag cushion is rapidly and accurately deployed in front of the occupant, reducing the risk of injury from fragment scattering and ensuring the airbag is deployed in the correct direction, thereby enhancing occupant safety during vehicle accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a gas injector located below the airbag cushion and configured to inject the gas into the airbag cushion via a gas outlet
Implementation Method 2
a diffuser configured to be deployed in the airbag cushion, and covering a part or all of the gas outlet from above the gas outlet and being open at a front portion thereof so as to guide the gas injected via the gas outlet to flow in front of an occupant
Data Source
AI summary
A driver airbag apparatus for a vehicle is proposed. The driver airbag apparatus includes: the driver airbag apparatus being located at a rear of a steering wheel having an obstacle and configured to be deployed forward of the steering wheel while avoiding the obstacle, an airbag cushion configured to be deployed forward of the steering wheel via a gap between the obstacle and the steering wheel when gas is supplied thereinto; a gas injector located below the airbag cushion and configured to inject the gas into the airbag cushion via a gas outlet; and a diffuser configured to be deployed in the airbag cushion, and covering a part or all of the gas outlet from above the gas outlet and being open at a front portion thereof so as to guide the gas injected via the gas outlet to flow in front of an occupant.