Curtain Airbag Guide Cushion to Avoid Trim Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Curtain airbags in vehicles require a separate ramp component to guide the airbag cushion during deployment, increasing manufacturing costs and assembly labor.
Innovation Solution
A curtain airbag design that includes a main cushion and a guide cushion, where the guide cushion is connected to the front area of the main cushion and extends rearward, pushing the main cushion inward during inflation to avoid interference with vehicle trim components, eliminating the need for a separate ramp.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate ramp component is added to guide the airbag cushion during deployment, then the deployability of the airbag cushion is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide function previously performed by a separate ramp component into the airbag cushion itself by forming a guide groove directly on the cushion surface. This integration eliminates the need for additional components while maintaining the deployment guidance function, thereby reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while preserving reliable deployability
2Reliability
If a separate ramp component is added to guide the airbag cushion during deployment, then the airbag cushion can avoid interference with vehicle trim, but the manufacturing cost and assembly labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is integrated directly into the airbag cushion structure, combining the cushion and guide functions into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate ramp manufacturing and assembly operations, reducing both manufacturing cost and assembly labor while effectively preventing interference with vehicle trim during deployment
3Ease of operation
If a separate ramp component is used to guide deployment, then the airbag cushion deployment path is controlled, but the quantity of parts and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment path control function is integrated into the airbag cushion by forming a guide groove directly on the cushion surface. This eliminates the separate ramp part, reducing the quantity of parts while maintaining precise control over the deployment path through the integrated groove structure
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 enhances the deployability of the airbag cushion without a separate ramp, reducing manufacturing costs and assembly labor, while ensuring reliable deployment without interference with vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
gas is supplied to an airbag cushion forming the curtain airbag through an inflator. Accordingly, when the airbag cushion is deployed downwards
Implementation Method 2
the guide cushion pushing the main cushion toward an inside of the vehicle while being inflated together with the main cushion
Data Source
AI summary
A curtain airbag capable of improving deployability of an airbag cushion without including a ramp component. The curtain airbag includes a main cushion, provided at an upper side of a pillar of a vehicle along a forward-and-rearward direction of the vehicle and configured to be deployed with inflation thereof, and a guide cushion, connected to a front area of an upper end portion of the main cushion and configured to extend toward a rear of the vehicle, the guide cushion pushing the main cushion toward an inside of the vehicle while being inflated together with the main cushion.