Vehicle Airbag Device Lateral Deployment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle airbag devices face reduced deployment performance due to the second bag impinging on cabin interior components during inflation and deployment, particularly when configured to improve occupant restraint in oblique collisions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle airbag device with a first bag deployed towards the front passenger seat and a second bag deployed at the vehicle width direction center side, where the second bag is inflated and deployed laterally from the first bag, ensuring it projects further rearward and avoids impinging on interior components like the inner mirror and display by being supplied gas through communication holes in the partition wall.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the second bag is configured to extend further rearward to restrain the occupant's head, then restraint performance is improved, but the risk of impingement on interior components increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestraint performanceVSAvoidimpingement on interior components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The first bag is inflated first to establish a safe deployment path before the second bag extends rearward. This preliminary inflation prevents the second bag from directly impinging on interior components like the inner mirror and display during its rearward extension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The second bag is configured to inflate in a different direction (toward the vehicle width direction center side) rather than directly rearward. This dimensional change in inflation direction allows the bag to extend further rearward for improved restraint while avoiding impingement on cabin interior components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If the second bag inflates simultaneously with the first bag, then deployment speed is improved, but impingement on interior components occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidimpingement on interior components

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The first bag is inflated as a preliminary action before the second bag is inflated. This sequential timing, while slightly extending total deployment time, prevents the second bag from impinging on interior components by ensuring the first bag has already deployed and created necessary space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The inflation is divided into periodic stages: first bag inflation followed by second bag inflation. This periodic action allows each bag to deploy in controlled stages, preventing simultaneous inflation that would cause impingement while maintaining overall deployment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enhances occupant restraint performance in oblique collisions by improving the deployment performance of the airbag, preventing it from catching on cabin interior components and allowing for balanced inflation and deployment of the second bag.

Implementation Method 1

an airbag that is provided inside a front passenger seat side of an instrument panel and that is inflated and deployed toward an outer side of the front passenger seat side of the instrument panel on being supplied with gas from an inflator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas generation:

Implementation Method 2

the second bag is inflated and deployed laterally from the first bag... being supplied gas through communication holes in the partition wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow through communication holes:

Data Source

PatentUS10308207B2Vehicle airbag device

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A vehicle airbag device of the present disclosure includes an airbag provided inside a front passenger seat side of an instrument panel. The airbag includes: a first bag inflated and deployed from the instrument panel toward the front passenger seat side; and a second bag inflated and deployed at a vehicle width direction center side of the first bag. The second bag is disposed, in side view, at a vehicle rear side of a vehicle cabin interior component, and is disposed, in side view, obliquely at a vehicle lower side and rear side of an inner mirror. The second bag is inflated and deployed from the first bag toward the vehicle width direction center side on being supplied with gas from the first bag that has been inflated and deployed.