Vehicle Airbag Retracting Mechanism for Driver Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag arrangements for motor vehicles do not effectively retract the deployed airbag out of the driver's field of vision after fulfilling its protective function, hindering the driver's view during and after a collision.
Innovation Solution
An airbag arrangement with a gas bag that can be deployed along a windscreen or vehicle exterior, featuring a connecting element with a return mechanism to move the airbag out of the driver's view, utilizing a strap or cable connected to the vehicle, and a control unit or self-controlling mechanism to retract the airbag, allowing for improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is deployed along the windscreen to protect pedestrians, then pedestrian protection is improved, but the driver's field of vision is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system transitions from a static deployed state to a dynamic retraction state. After deployment to protect pedestrians, the airbag is automatically retracted back into the vehicle using a return mechanism with taking-up spool and spiral spring, allowing the driver's view to be restored while maintaining pedestrian protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag is temporarily deployed outside the vehicle for pedestrian protection, then recovered back into the vehicle through the return mechanism. The connecting element is wound onto the taking-up spool, pulling the airbag back into the vehicle, thereby recovering the driver's field of vision while preserving the airbag for potential future use
2Reliability
If the airbag remains deployed outside the vehicle, then pedestrian protection is maintained, but the device complexity increases due to retraction mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The return mechanism is designed to be self-activating based on the airbag's deployment state. The spiral spring automatically winds up when the airbag is deployed, and the taking-up spool automatically retracts the connecting element when the spring is tensioned, eliminating the need for complex external control systems while maintaining the retraction function
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element serves as an intermediary between the airbag and the taking-up spool. It transmits the retraction force from the spiral spring to the airbag, enabling the return mechanism to function with simpler components while effectively retrieving the deployed 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
Enables the airbag to be efficiently retracted out of the driver's field of vision, enhancing visibility and safety by utilizing a mechanical or ECU-controlled system to manage the airbag's retraction, ensuring the driver has an unobstructed view post-deployment.
Implementation Method 1
a gas bag (22), which can be deployed along at least a partial section of a windscreen (11) of the vehicle (1) and/or another section of an outside of the motor vehicle to protect a person located outside of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the return mechanism could have a take-up spool, for example, onto which the connecting element is at least partially wound before the airbag is deployed and which interacts with a spiral spring
Implementation Method 3
it is also possible for the connecting element to be in the form of an essentially inelastic cable
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle having: - an airbag (22') which can be deployed along at least a partial section of a front windscreen (11) and/or along another section of an outside of the motor vehicle (1) in order to protect a person located outside the motor vehicle (1); - a device (6) for moving at least a partial section of the inflated airbag (22') from the field of vision of the vehicle driver or some other vehicle occupant present on the front vehicle seats, wherein - the device (6) for moving comprises at least one connecting element (61a', 61b') which is coupled to the airbag (22') and which is to be secured to the motor vehicle (1) or to a part that is securely connected to the motor vehicle (1), wherein - the airbag (22') has a first and a second material layer (240, 250) which bound an inflatable volume of the airbag (22'), wherein - a first partial section (610a', 610b') of the connecting element (61a', 61b') runs, with respect to the inflated state of the airbag (22'), along an outer side of the first material layer (240), and a second partial section (620a', 620b') of the connecting element (61a', 61b') is secured to the second material layer (250). In a further aspect, the invention relates to an airbag arrangement, wherein the connecting element is to be secured by its first and by its second end to the motor vehicle or to a part which is securely connected to the motor vehicle.