Airbag Device Multi-Path Gas Flow Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag devices for motor vehicles face challenges in efficiently inflating and expanding the airbag for the front passenger seat due to linear gas flow, resulting in slow inflation and expansion speeds.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device incorporates a first airbag for the front passenger seat with a gas inflow hole and a second airbag positioned on its side face, featuring at least a first and second communication portion, along with a communication passageway, where the first communication portion is closer to the inflator and the second closer to the occupant side end, allowing for direct communication and enhanced gas flow into the second airbag, thereby increasing the inflation and expansion speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a single communication hole is provided in the partitioning portion for gas to flow from the center side airbag to the front passenger airbag, then the structure is simple, but the inflation and expansion speed of the front passenger airbag becomes slow due to linear gas flow
Solution Approach 1:
The single communication hole is divided into multiple communication holes (first communication hole, second communication hole, and third communication hole) arranged at different positions. This segmentation allows gas to flow through multiple parallel paths simultaneously, increasing the total gas flow rate and thereby accelerating the inflation and expansion speed of the front passenger airbag.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication holes are arranged not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction across the partitioning portion. This multi-dimensional arrangement creates multiple gas flow paths that are spatially distributed, enabling simultaneous gas flow through different regions and significantly improving the inflation speed without complicating the overall structure.
2Productivity
If gas flows linearly from the inflator through the center side airbag to the front passenger airbag, then the gas flow path is simple, but the inflation efficiency decreases and the front passenger airbag expands slowly
Solution Approach 1:
The linear gas flow path is segmented into multiple parallel flow paths by providing multiple communication holes at different positions in the partitioning portion. Gas can flow simultaneously through multiple paths from the center side airbag to the front passenger airbag, increasing the total gas flow rate and improving both inflation efficiency and expansion speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas flow parameters are changed by creating multiple flow paths with different positions and orientations. This allows gas to flow through multiple channels simultaneously, increasing the overall gas flow rate and improving the inflation efficiency and expansion speed of the front passenger airbag.
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 inflation and expansion speed of both the front passenger seat and center side airbags, improves occupant protection, reduces gas capacity and manufacturing costs, and optimizes the communication passageway for efficient gas flow.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator (5) arranged in an instrument panel (10) at an area in front of a front passenger seat (14) and capable of ejecting gas
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device for motor vehicle, includes: an inflator arranged in an instrument panel in front of a front passenger seat and is capable of ejecting gas; a first airbag connected to the inflator at a base end side thereof and has a gas inflow hole through which gas can be flowed, the first airbag being for the front passenger seat; and a second airbag arranged on the first airbag at a side face portion close to a center in the vehicle width direction, the second airbag being adapted to communicate with the first airbag through first and second communication portions. The first communication portion is arranged proximal to the inflator than the second communication portion arranged proximal to the occupant side end. The first communication portion and the second airbag are communicated via a communication passageway, and the second communication portion and the second airbag are communicated directly.