Airbag Lid Pivoting Control for Straddle Vehicle Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air bag apparatuses for saddle-ride vehicles deploy air bags vertically upward, failing to effectively support riders by directing the air bag deployment between the rider and the vehicle's front side, necessitating an improvement in controlling the direction of air bag deployment.
Innovation Solution
An air bag apparatus with a retaining box and an air bag stored within, featuring a lid with a hinge and lid restricting means, such as link mechanisms or strips, to control the angle of lid pivoting, ensuring the air bag deploys in a desired direction, integrated with left and right lid stays to manage impact dispersion and reduce component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the air bag is deployed vertically upward without a restrainer, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air bag cannot be deployed in the desired direction to effectively support the rider
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lid as an intermediary component between the retaining box and the deployed air bag. The lid pivots on a hinge portion and is restricted by lid restricting means to control the deployment direction. This intermediary structure enables direction control without requiring a complex restrainer system that extends to the frame, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and deployment control.
2Ease of operation
If a restrainer is used to hold the air bag in the desired position, then the deployment direction control is improved, but the device complexity and aesthetic appearance deteriorate due to the restrainer extending out of the bag housing to the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the deployment control function from the traditional restrainer system that extends to the frame. Instead, the control function is localized within the retaining box through the lid and lid restricting means. This extraction eliminates the need for external restrainers while maintaining deployment direction control, thus reducing device complexity and improving aesthetic appearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lid is allowed to pivot freely without angle restriction, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the air bag deployment direction cannot be controlled effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the lid pivoting angle by restricting it to less than 90 degrees relative to the road surface. This parameter change in the pivoting angle ensures that the air bag deploys in the desired forward and upward direction rather than vertically upward. The lid restricting means implements this angle restriction in a simple manner that does not significantly complicate manufacturing while achieving effective deployment direction control.
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device for straddle type vehicles is provided with: an airbag module in which a holding box that stores an airbag functions as a case; and an airbag control unit that controls said airbag module. The airbag module is provided with the holding box that is disposed immediately in front of a rider's seat, a lid that closes the opening of the holding box, and a hinge that functions as a rotary fulcrum for the lid when the airbag inflates, and that is positioned on the rear side, with respect to the vehicle, of the lid. A linking mechanism for restricting the opening angle of the lid is provided between the lid and the holding box.