Side Airbag Pre-Chamber Venting for Rapid Occupant Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current side airbag devices face challenges in compact design and optimal passenger protection due to limited installation space and the need for improved deployment speed and stabilization of the deployed shape.
Innovation Solution
The side airbag device incorporates a pre-chamber that deploys inside the main chamber, with strategically positioned vents and a rectifying member to direct expanding gas efficiently, ensuring quick occupant restraint by positioning the pre-chamber's upward and downward protruding parts near the occupant's head and waist, respectively, and utilizing multiple rear vents for rapid main chamber deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a pre-chamber is added to deploy before the main chamber, then occupant restraint speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into two functional segments: a pre-chamber that deploys first to provide immediate occupant restraint, and a main chamber that deploys subsequently to provide full protection. This segmentation allows the system to achieve rapid initial restraint while maintaining comprehensive protection, resolving the contradiction between deployment speed and protection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-chamber is positioned to deploy inside the main chamber, creating a nested configuration where the smaller pre-chamber is contained within the larger main chamber. This nesting approach allows both chambers to function sequentially without requiring separate installation spaces, thus improving deployment speed while avoiding additional complexity in device installation.
2Reliability
If multiple vents are added to direct expanding gas, then deployment control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Vents are strategically positioned at specific locations on the pre-chamber and main chamber to control gas flow direction. The pre-chamber has vents configured to direct gas forward, while the main chamber has vents positioned to ensure balanced expansion. This localized vent placement provides precise deployment control without requiring a complex overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The vents act as intermediary elements that mediate the flow of expanding gas from the inflator to the airbag chambers. By positioning vents at specific locations, the system controls the direction and distribution of gas flow, ensuring reliable and balanced deployment of both pre-chamber and main chamber without requiring complex control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the pre-chamber is positioned to cover partitioned portions of the main chamber, then occupant protection is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-chamber is designed to deploy inside the main chamber, with its upward and downward protruding parts positioned to cover partitioned portions of the main chamber when viewed from the side of the vehicle. This nested configuration allows the pre-chamber to provide enhanced occupant protection at critical areas (head and waist) without significantly increasing the overall device volume, as the pre-chamber utilizes the internal space of the main chamber.
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 enhances occupant restraint performance by minimizing diagonal forward forces and ensuring balanced, quick deployment of the airbag, thereby reducing injuries and maximizing protection while maintaining a compact device size.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator that generates expanding gas
Implementation Method 2
a front vent that directs the expanding gas from the pre-chamber to the forward region of the main chamber and a rear vent that directs the gas to the rear region
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem]To provide: a side airbag device capable of quickly and properly restraining a passenger in the initial stage of deploying an airbag; and a vehicle seat provided with the side airbag device. [MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM] The airbag is provided with a main chamber that deploys toward the front of the vehicle and a pre-chamber that houses the inflator and begins to deploy ahead of the main chamber in the vehicle width direction to the inside of the main chamber. Here, the main chamber is demarcated into a front region and a rear region by a demarcation. The boundary area between the main chamber and the pre-chamber is provided with a front vent that directs the expanding gas from the pre-chamber to the pre-chamber front area and a rear vent that directs the gas to the rear region.