Airbag Gas Rectifying Member for Pressure Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing airbag designs can deploy with strong pressure towards occupants if they are out of position, due to gas flow patterns that concentrate pressure on the occupant during deployment.

Innovation Solution

An airbag device incorporating a gas rectifying member and a holding member that restricts gas flow towards the occupant, using a gas rectifying member to project towards the occupant and an outlet port to discharge gas towards the airbag's periphery, reducing the inflation speed and pressure on the occupant.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the airbag is designed to inflate rapidly toward the occupant for quick protection, then the deployment speed is improved, but the pressure toward the occupant becomes too strong causing potential harm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidpressure toward occupant

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the gas flow path by introducing a gas rectifying member with multiple outlet ports. The single gas source is divided into multiple directed streams, with some ports facing the occupant and others facing the outer periphery. This segmentation allows the airbag to deploy quickly while distributing pressure more evenly, preventing concentrated strong pressure on the occupant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gas rectifying member creates local quality differences in gas flow distribution. Different regions of the airbag receive gas with different flow directions and pressures - the central region near the occupant receives controlled flow through facing outlet ports, while the outer regions receive flow through periphery-facing outlet ports. This local differentiation enables rapid deployment while controlling pressure distribution to avoid harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If gas flows directly toward the occupant during inflation, then the airbag deploys quickly to protect the occupant, but the gas flow concentrates pressure on the occupant creating harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinflation speedVSAvoidconcentrated pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas rectifying member segments the single gas flow into multiple directed streams through its multiple outlet ports. This segmentation transforms concentrated pressure into distributed pressure while maintaining rapid inflation. The gas flow is divided into streams directed at the occupant and streams directed at the outer periphery, preventing pressure concentration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gas rectifying member acts as an intermediary between the gas source and the airbag interior. It mediates the gas flow by directing it through multiple outlet ports with different orientations, transforming the direct concentrated flow into a distributed multi-directional flow pattern that achieves rapid deployment without concentrated pressure on the occupant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 device effectively reduces the inflation speed and pressure on the occupant during deployment, ensuring a safer and more controlled deployment by directing gas flow away from the occupant and towards the airbag's periphery.

Implementation Method 1

the gas rectifying member is provided in the airbag and covering at least part of the inflator, restricts a flow of the gas from the inflator toward the occupant, and has an outlet port that discharges the gas from the inflator toward the outer periphery of the airbag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow restriction and redirection:

Implementation Method 2

The holding member restricts the inflation of the airbag toward an outer periphery of the airbag until the middle of the deployment of the airbag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical constraint:

Implementation Method 3

The inflator is configured to generate a gas. The airbag is configured to inflate by the gas generated by the inflator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas generation and expansion:

Data Source

PatentUS9387822B2Airbag device

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 ASHIMORI INDS CO LTD

AI summary

An airbag device includes an inflator, an airbag, a holding member, and a gas rectifying member. The holding member has an opening to be formed at least when the airbag initiates to inflate. The holding member restricts the inflation of the airbag toward its outer periphery until the middle of the deployment of the airbag. The gas rectifying member restricts a flow of a gas toward an occupant and has an outlet port that discharges the gas toward the outer periphery of the airbag. When the airbag inflates, the gas rectifying member projects toward the occupant through the opening of the holding member, and the gas of the inflator causes the gas rectifying member to inflate until at least part of the outlet port is located at the occupant side beyond the opening of the holding member.