Airbag Diffuser Pocket Restrains Windshield Strike
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Solution Overview
Problem
The decreasing protrusion of the instrument panel in vehicles leads to a narrower interval between the passenger airbag and the windshield, causing the airbag cushion to strike the windshield more forcefully and potentially break it during deployment, necessitating a solution to prevent windshield breakage while ensuring effective passenger protection.
Innovation Solution
A passenger airbag apparatus with a diffuser pocket structure that adjusts gas flow and restrains the airbag cushion's movement towards the windshield, using a cushion-restraining diffuser unit, holding diffuser unit, and connection diffuser unit to prevent direct contact and distribute the deployment force effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the instrument panel protrusion is decreased to secure inner space, then the vehicle interior space is increased, but the airbag cushion strikes the windshield more strongly causing potential breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser pocket acts as an intermediary component between the airbag cushion and the windshield. It includes a cushion-restraining diffuser unit with a holding diffuser unit that has a length shorter than the cushion-restraining diffuser unit, creating a controlled deployment path that prevents direct strong contact between the airbag cushion and windshield while maintaining protection effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the deployment parameters by controlling the gas flow through the diffuser pocket structure. The diffuser pocket adjusts the flow of gas injected from the inflator, modifying the deployment speed and force characteristics of the airbag cushion to prevent windshield strike while maintaining protective function
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional components like tethers are added to restrain airbag movement, then windshield strike is prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser pocket serves multiple functions simultaneously: it diffuses gas flow to control deployment characteristics and acts as a restraining mechanism to prevent windshield strike. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate tether components, reducing overall system complexity while achieving the same protective effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the gas diffusion function and the restraint function into a single integrated diffuser pocket structure. The cushion-restraining diffuser unit and holding diffuser unit are combined with the gas flow adjustment function, creating a unified component that performs both protection and deployment control without requiring additional separate parts
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 diffuser pocket structure prevents windshield breakage by adjusting gas flow and restraining the airbag cushion's movement, ensuring stable deployment and effective passenger protection without the need for additional components like tethers, thus minimizing cost and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
deployed out of the instrument panel by gas produced in an inflator
Implementation Method 2
having a pocket structure capable of adjusting a flow of gas injected from the inflator
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger airbag apparatus includes a housing installed inside an instrument panel; an airbag cushion installed in the housing, deployed out of the instrument panel by gas produced in an inflator, and having a windshield-facing part and a passenger-facing part which face a windshield and a passenger, respectively, upon deployment; and a diffuser pocket disposed inside the airbag cushion while having a pocket structure capable of adjusting a flow of gas injected from the inflator, and connected to the windshield-facing part and restraining movement of the windshield-facing part toward the windshield.