Airbag Retainer Interruption Wall Gas Flow Redirection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing side impact protection airbag systems face the challenge of damaging the dividing part due to direct contact with inflation gas, which requires additional countermeasures like inner tubes or reinforcement fabrics to prevent damage.
Innovation Solution
A side impact protection airbag system with a retainer configuration that includes an interruption wall between the gas ejecting part and the dividing part, redirecting the inflation gas to prevent direct contact and using a check valve to manage pressure distribution between chambers, ensuring the airbag inflates with a pressure distribution matching the occupant's impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the opening is provided in the retainer to allow inflation gas passage, then the airbag can be inflated effectively, but the dividing part may be damaged by direct contact with the ejected inflation gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (interruption wall or baffle) between the gas ejecting part and the dividing part. This intermediary redirects the inflation gas flow path, allowing the gas to pass through the opening in the retainer while preventing direct contact with the dividing part, thus resolving the contradiction between effective inflation and damage prevention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional members like inner tubes or reinforcement fabrics are added to protect the dividing part, then damage to the dividing part is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding protective layers to the dividing part, the patent uses a flow redirection intermediary (interruption wall) that achieves protection through geometric design rather than material reinforcement, thereby preventing damage without increasing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer structure is segmented into functional zones: a gas passage region with the opening, and a protection region with the interruption wall. This segmentation allows the same component (retainer) to serve multiple functions: enabling gas flow while preventing damage, without requiring additional separate protective members
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 system effectively prevents damage to the dividing part without additional members and ensures the airbag inflates with appropriate pressure distribution to protect the occupant's pelvis and chest during a sideways collision.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator having a substantially cylindrical gas ejecting part and adapted to eject an inflation gas from a plurality of gas ejecting holes on an outer circumferential surface of the gas ejecting part in response to an impact applied to a vehicle from an external direction
Implementation Method 2
a circumferential portion on the wall part which is separate from the portion where the opening is formed is provided between the gas ejecting part and the end portion of the dividing part which lies on a side facing the fixing end portion as an interruption wall for interrupting the passage of the inflation gas ejected from the gas ejecting holes to the dividing part side
Implementation Method 3
the airbag is made to be inflated and deployed towards the vicinity of an outer side of an occupant in a vehicle seat by the inflation gas which is supplied from the retainer into the respective chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A side impact protection airbag system includes an inflator, a retainer and an airbag. An interior space of the airbag is divided into a pelvis portion protecting chamber and a chest portion protecting chamber by a dividing part. A gas ejecting part of the inflator and an opening in the retainer are provided between a fixing end portion of the airbag and an end portion (a connecting portion) of the dividing part which lies a side facing the fixing end portion. A circumferential portion on a wall part which is separate from the opening is made to constitute an interruption wall which interrupts the passage of an inflation gas to the dividing part side, and the interruption wall is provided between the gas ejecting part and the connecting portion.