Passenger Airbag Chamber Layout for Head-Ceiling Gap Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag devices face issues with poor deployment due to getting stuck between the passenger's head and the vehicle ceiling, especially when inflating before passing through the gap or experiencing high friction.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device features a front-rear chamber with extending portions that deploy on either side of the head, a connecting portion to facilitate gas flow through a communication hole, and structural features like narrowing portions and guiding fabrics to manage inflation and deployment, ensuring the airbag main body passes through the gap smoothly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the airbag main body inflates before passing through the gap between the head and ceiling, then the airbag can provide protection sooner, but the airbag may become stuck in the gap causing poor deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into two functional parts: the front-rear chamber (with extending portions) that deploys first to clear the gap, and the airbag main body that inflates afterward to provide protection. This segmentation allows the deployment process to occur in stages, ensuring the airbag passes through the gap smoothly before full inflation, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The front-rear chamber extends through the gap between the head and ceiling before the airbag main body inflates. This preliminary action of clearing the path eliminates the risk of the main body getting stuck, allowing subsequent rapid inflation without compromising deployment reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the airbag main body is supported by head supporting portions at both sides of the head, then the airbag can stabilize the head, but the airbag may become stuck due to friction between the head and airbag
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into two stages: first, the front-rear chamber's extending portions provide temporary support and guide the airbag through the gap; second, after the gap is cleared, the airbag main body inflates to provide comprehensive support. This prevents the airbag from getting stuck during the support process while maintaining head stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The front-rear chamber performs the preliminary support and guiding action before the airbag main body engages. By clearing the gap first, the preliminary action eliminates friction-related sticking issues, allowing the main body to inflate and provide stable support without deployment problems.
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 design effectively prevents poor deployment by delaying inflation and allowing the airbag to pass through the narrow gap between the head and ceiling, ensuring reliable protection for passengers during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator configured to generate gas at a time of a collision of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a front-rear chamber having a left and right pair of front-rear extending portions that pass by respective left and right sides of a head of a passenger seated in the vehicle seat and inflate and deploy toward the seat front side
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device has an airbag. The airbag has a front-rear chamber and an airbag main body. The front-rear chamber has a left and right pair of front-rear extending portions that pass by respective left and right sides of a head of a passenger and inflate and deploy toward the seat front side, and a connecting portion connecting front end portions of the pair of front-rear extending portions in a seat left-right direction. Gas is supplied to the airbag main body via a communication hole positioned at a seat rear side of the connecting portion of the front-rear chamber that has inflated and deployed. Owing to inflation and deployment of the front-rear chamber, the airbag main body passes through a gap between a ceiling of the vehicle and the head from the seat rear side toward the seat front side, and thereafter, inflates and deploys toward the seat rear side.