Airbag Device with Segmented Bags for Oblique Collision Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern airbag devices face challenges in effectively managing oblique collisions, where occupants may experience head rotation due to irregular contact with the airbag cushion, leading to increased injury risk.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device features a main bag with a rear region of lower tension that protrudes first, followed by an outer bag that surrounds and supports it, designed to absorb loads and prevent head rotation through controlled inflation and pressure distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the airbag cushion is configured as a single uniform structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but it cannot effectively prevent head rotation during oblique collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag cushion is divided into a first airbag and a second airbag with different structural configurations. The first airbag has a smaller internal volume and higher gas pressure, while the second airbag has a larger internal volume and lower gas pressure. This segmentation allows each region to serve a specific function in preventing head rotation during oblique collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the airbag cushion are designed with different physical properties. The first airbag region has higher tension and smaller curvature radius, while the second airbag region has lower tension and larger curvature radius. This local quality differentiation enables the airbag to provide appropriate resistance at different locations to effectively restrain head rotation.
2Speed
If the airbag uses high gas pressure for rapid inflation, then the deployment speed is fast, but the tension distribution becomes uneven causing harmful rotational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system creates local quality differences in tension distribution by designing the first airbag with smaller volume and the second airbag with larger volume. This results in higher tension in the first airbag region and lower tension in the second airbag region, providing balanced restraint forces that prevent harmful rotational movements while maintaining rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system dynamically manages gas pressure distribution between two interconnected airbags. The communication hole allows gas to flow between the first and second airbags, creating a dynamic equilibrium that balances tension distribution during inflation to prevent rotational forces.
3Strength
If the airbag cushion has uniform tension distribution, then the structural integrity is maintained, but it cannot effectively absorb oblique impact loads
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system implements local quality differentiation with the first airbag having higher tension and the second airbag having lower tension. This non-uniform tension distribution enhances the airbag's ability to absorb oblique impact loads by providing appropriate resistance at different locations while maintaining overall structural integrity through the interconnected design.
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 efficiently reduces occupant injury by ensuring the main bag with lower tension contacts the occupant first, followed by the outer bag, stabilizing the posture and minimizing rotational forces during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator (112) which is installed in a vehicle and which is capable of supplying gas; a main bag (114) which inflates to the front of a seat of the vehicle due to the gas
Implementation Method 2
the outer bag (116) surrounds and presses against the main bag (114), such that a portion of the main bag (114) protrudes toward the seat side from the opening (118)
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag device which is capable of efficiently suppressing an injury value of an occupant during an emergency. The airbag device 100 includes: an inflator 112 which is installed in a vehicle and which is capable of supplying gas; a main bag 114 which inflates to the front of a seat of the vehicle due to the gas; and an outer bag 116 which inflates so as to surround the main bag 114 due to the gas. The outer bag 116 includes an opening 118 which opens toward an occupant sitting on the seat and which exposes a portion (a rear region 120) of the main bag 114. The outer bag 116 surrounds and presses against the main bag 114, such that the portion of the main bag 114 protrudes from the opening 118 toward the occupant.