Airbag Device Radial Fold for Driver Restraint
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag devices for driver's seats mounted on steering wheels often fail to effectively restrain drivers positioned close to the steering wheel due to the inflated airbag not being placed between the rim and the driver, leading to inadequate protection and restraint.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device features a unique folding mechanism with a radial-folded portion that compresses towards the inlet port, creating a thicker front portion upon inflation, allowing the airbag to deploy between the rim and the driver's head, thorax, and abdomen, and is designed with a driver-side wall and vehicle-side wall configuration that enhances restraint capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the airbag is folded in a conventional flat fashion with a folded-back portion, then the airbag can be stowed in the boss section, but the inflated airbag is not placed between the rim and the driver when the driver is located in proximity to the steering wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple functional portions: a front portion (vehicle-side wall) that deploys toward the rim, a middle portion that forms the main cushioning body, and a rear portion (driver-side wall) that contacts the driver. This segmentation allows the front portion to push against the rim while the rear portion restrains the driver, resolving the contradiction between stowability and restraint effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag employs a three-dimensional folded configuration with multiple layers and portions extending in different directions. The front portion extends toward the rim, the middle portion forms a voluminous cushion, and the rear portion extends toward the driver's body. This dimensional arrangement ensures proper deployment geometry while maintaining compact stowage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag is configured to deploy the folded-back portion under the front portion of the rim for OOP drivers, then the airbag avoids deploying under the driver's chin, but the inflated airbag is not placed between the front portion of the rim and the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms through its multi-port inflation system and flexible folding structure. The front portion can dynamically adjust its deployment position based on rim support, while the middle and rear portions dynamically position themselves to contact the driver's body. This dynamic behavior allows the airbag to adapt to different driver positions while maintaining restraint effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag utilizes controlled inflation parameters through multiple inlet ports to achieve different deployment characteristics. By controlling the inflation sequence and pressure distribution, the front portion can be inflated first to establish rim contact, followed by the middle and rear portions to ensure driver contact. This parameter control resolves the contradiction between safe deployment for OOP drivers and effective restraint.
3Ease of manufacture
If the airbag uses a simple flat folded form, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the airbag cannot provide adequate restraint for drivers positioned close to the steering wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is manufactured as a segmented structure with distinct front, middle, and rear portions that can be folded and assembled in a systematic manner. Each portion has specific attachment points and folding lines that guide the assembly process, making the complex three-dimensional configuration manufacturable through standardized processes while achieving the required deployment performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag portions are nested within each other in the folded state, with the rear portion containing the middle portion, and the front portion containing both. This nested configuration simplifies stowage in the boss section while maintaining the structural integrity and deployment characteristics needed for effective driver restraint.
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
The airbag device effectively deploys to provide improved restraint and protection for drivers by ensuring the inflated airbag is positioned between the rim and the driver's upper body, enhancing safety by distributing the force vertically and securely.
Implementation Method 1
an inlet port for introducing an inflation gas in a vicinity of the center
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device for a driver's seat adapted to be mounted on a boss of a steering wheel disposed at a center of a rim is disclosed. The airbag device includes an inflatable airbag folded in the form of an airbag package. The airbag includes a vehicle-side wall that includes a gas inlet port and is configured to be supported by the rim when deployed, and a driver-side wall. The airbag, before folded into the airbag package, has a flat initial folded form in which the driver-side wall lies over the vehicle-side wall. The initial folded form includes a folded-in portion in which a front edge portion of the vehicle-side wall is folded inwardly and rearwardly beneath a front edge portion of the driver-side wall, and a folded-back portion in which the front edge portion of the driver-side wall which adjoins the folded-in portion is folded towards the inlet port on the vehicle-side wall.