Vehicle Window Airbag Overlap Inflation Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head protection airbag apparatuses face limitations in design flexibility due to the need for the lower edge of the inflation shielding section to be below the belt line to effectively restrain occupants during a rollover, restricting the degree of freedom in design and potentially failing to prevent occupants from being thrown outside the vehicle if this condition is not met.
Innovation Solution
The airbag apparatus includes an overlap inflation section that is completely inflated after the inflation shielding section, with a rod-shaped exterior extending along the front and rear direction, overlapping with pillars to provide additional support and rigidity, allowing effective head restraint even if the lower edge is not below the belt line, and is configured to delay the start of inflation to maintain internal pressure and support the occupant's head during rollovers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lower edge of the inflation shielding section is located below the belt line to effectively restrain occupants during rollover, then the head restraint ability is improved, but the design flexibility and degree of freedom are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into two functional sections: the inflation shielding section that covers the window area, and the overlap inflation section that provides additional support. This segmentation allows different parts of the airbag to serve different purposes, enabling the lower edge to be positioned higher while maintaining restraint effectiveness through the overlap section's support against the pillar
Solution Approach 2:
The overlap inflation section acts as an intermediary element between the inflation shielding section and the vehicle pillar. It provides a bridging function by extending along the front-rear direction and contacting the pillar, thereby transferring and distributing the restraining force without requiring the lower edge to extend below the belt line
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lower edge of the airbag is not located below the belt line, then the design freedom is increased, but the ability to prevent occupants from being thrown outside the vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The overlap inflation section extends in the front-rear dimension rather than only in the upward-downward direction. By arranging this section to extend along the front-rear direction and contact the pillar, the system gains restraint effectiveness in a different dimensional orientation, allowing the lower edge to be positioned higher while maintaining occupant retention through lateral support
3Reliability
If the overlap inflation section is configured to be completely inflated after the inflation shielding section, then the internal pressure is maintained for supporting the occupant's head during rollovers, but the inflation time sequence becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The inflation shielding section is inflated first to provide immediate window coverage and initial support. The overlap inflation section is configured to inflate subsequently, preparing the pillar support structure in advance for when the occupant's head contacts it during the rollover sequence, ensuring proper pressure distribution timing
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 configuration ensures accurate restraint of the occupant's head during rollovers by providing additional support and maintaining internal pressure, preventing the occupant from being thrown outside the vehicle, even if the lower edge of the airbag is not below the belt line, and enhances the ability to restrain the head over a wider area.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag that is folded and received in an upper edge of a window on an inside of a vehicle, an upper edge of which is attached and fixed to a body of the vehicle, and inflated and protruding downward from a storage region by an inflation gas flowed from an inflator
Data Source
AI summary
A head protection airbag apparatus includes an airbag that is folded and received in an upper edge of a window on an inside of a vehicle, an upper edge of which is attached and fixed to a body of the vehicle, and inflated and protruding downward from a storage region by an inflation gas flowed from an inflator to cover the inside of the window. The air bag includes an inflation shielding section that is arranged to cover the inside of the window upon completion of inflation and an overlap inflation section that is communicated with the inflation shielding section and arranged on an inside or an outside with respect to the vehicle of the inflation shielding section so that an inflation region of the overlap inflation section is overlapped with an inflation region of the inflation shielding section.