Head-Protecting Airbag Slant Sub-Chamber for Rollover Arrest
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-protecting airbag devices do not adequately address the need for preventing occupants from moving outside the vehicle and arresting them inside during a rollover crash, as they lack sufficient arresting properties and do not consider rollover crashes in their design.
Innovation Solution
A head-protecting airbag device with an inflatable curtain portion and an overlap inflatable portion that inflates after the curtain portion, extending at a slant to increase thickness without increasing volume, with the overlap portion acting as a check valve to maintain pressure and cushion the occupant's head during a rollover crash.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a sub chamber is arranged to extend at a slant on an outboard side of the main chamber, then the thickness of the airbag is uniformed, but the arresting property in rollover crash is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple functional chambers: a main chamber for general protection, a regulating portion for thickness control, and a sub chamber with rod-like shape that extends at a slant. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the sub chamber specifically enhances arresting property in rollover crashes by extending toward the roof while maintaining uniform thickness elsewhere
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the airbag are given different structural qualities to meet local requirements. The sub chamber is configured with a rod-like shape extending at a slant on the outboard side, creating a locally enhanced structure that provides superior arresting property in rollover scenarios while the rest of the airbag maintains uniform thickness for general side impact protection
2Speed
If the airbag is designed for side impact protection, then early cushioning is provided, but rollover crash protection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is designed to perform multiple functions: the main chamber provides early cushioning for side impacts, while the sub chamber extending at a slant provides additional protection for rollover crashes. This multi-functional design allows a single airbag structure to address both side impact and rollover crash scenarios effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag structure incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to adapt to different crash scenarios. The sub chamber's rod-like shape extending at a slant creates a dynamic structure that can effectively arrest occupants in rollover crashes while not interfering with the main chamber's early cushioning function for side impacts
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 effectively prevents occupants' heads from moving outside the vehicle and arrests them inside by providing enhanced cushioning and pressure retention during rollover crashes, while also addressing side impacts by prioritizing inflation based on impact type.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag that is deployable downward over the window when fed with an inflation gas from an inflator
Implementation Method 2
the overlap inflatable portion acting as a check valve to maintain pressure and cushion the occupant's head during a rollover crash
Data Source
AI summary
In a head-protecting airbag device, an airbag includes an inflatable curtain portion that is deployable over an inboard side of a window and an overlap inflatable portion that overlaps with an inboard side of the inflatable curtain portion at airbag deployment. The overlap inflatable portion is so configured as to complete inflation after the inflatable curtain portion has completed inflation. The overlap inflatable portion is deployable into a generally rod shape extending at a slant relative to an up and down direction and a first end of the overlap inflatable portion communicates with the inflatable curtain portion at a vicinity of an upper edge of the inflatable curtain portion as inflated whereas a second end of the overlap inflatable portion is jointed to a lower edge of the inflatable curtain portion away from the first end in an up and down direction.