Flexible Airbag Holding Element Inlay for Gas Tightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag holding units face issues with gas tightness due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to a larger gas space that requires a powerful inflating element, resulting in increased packaging volume and cost.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a precisely cut or stamped inlay between the side walls of the holding element, which can be double-layered or single-layered, to achieve a tight seal with the inflating element, allowing for a smaller gas space and a weaker inflating element to be used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a larger gas space is provided to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, then gas tightness is improved, but packaging volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element is divided into two separate layers (first layer and second layer) that are connected via a fold. The inlay is positioned between these layers, creating a segmented structure that allows for precise sealing without requiring a large gas space, thus resolving the contradiction between gas tightness and packaging volume.
Solution Approach 2:
An inlay with a precisely cut or stamped hole is introduced as an intermediary component between the inflating element and the holding element layers. This inlay acts as a mediator that enables precise sealing through its accurately defined hole geometry, achieving gas tightness without increasing packaging volume.
2Reliability
If a powerful inflating element is used to fill a large gas space, then gas tightness is ensured, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the holding element into separate layers with an inlay positioned between them, the structure creates precise sealing surfaces. This allows the use of a weaker inflating element since the segmented structure minimizes gas leakage, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining gas tightness.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlay with its precisely defined hole serves as an intermediary that improves sealing efficiency. This mediator component enables the use of a less powerful inflating element by ensuring gas tightness through precise geometric matching, thus reducing the complexity and power requirements of the inflating element.
3Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances are relaxed, then ease of manufacture is improved, but gas tightness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holding element is segmented into separate layers with an inlay positioned between them. This segmentation allows each layer and the inlay to be manufactured with standard tolerances, while the assembled structure achieves superior gas tightness through the precise fit of the inlay hole, thus improving ease of manufacture without sacrificing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlay acts as an intermediary component that compensates for manufacturing tolerances in the layers. Its precisely cut or stamped hole provides the critical sealing function, allowing the layers themselves to be manufactured with relaxed tolerances, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining gas tightness.
Data Source
AI summary
Holding elements for attaching an element of an airbag assembly to a holding unit comprising such a holding element and an inflating element, along with related methods. In some embodiments, the holding element may be configured for attaching an element of an airbag assembly via at least one tear seam, and the holding element may comprise a first side wall made of a flexible material and a second side wall made of a flexible material. A peripheral connection may couple the first side wall and the second side wall and may extend from a first end to a second end such that the first side wall, the second side wall, and the peripheral connection define a space therebetween and an opening. The holding element may further comprise an inlay comprising a hole and having at least one layer being located between the first side wall and the second side wall.