Airbag Slide Tether Vent Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag devices face challenges in enhancing energy absorption during the early stages of occupant constraining and efficiently managing gas output, which affects the overall protection and deployment efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device incorporates a slide tether mechanism that transitions the vent hole through three states (open, close, open) by utilizing forces in both the deploying direction and a direction intersecting with it, with supporting points at multiple positions to control gas discharge effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent hole is opened in the initial stage of deployment to discharge gas, then the impact on occupants near the airbag is reduced, but the energy absorption in the early stage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The vent hole undergoes periodic opening and closing actions during deployment: opened in the initial stage to reduce impact, then closed to accumulate pressure for energy absorption, and finally opened again to control pressure. This periodic action resolves the contradiction between reducing impact and absorbing energy at different deployment stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent hole's state is dynamically changed from static open/closed to dynamically controlled open-close-open sequence using the slide tether mechanism. This dynamic control allows the system to adapt to different deployment stages and occupancy conditions, optimizing both impact reduction and energy absorption.
2Speed
If the vent hole is closed during deployment to accumulate gas pressure, then the deployment speed is improved, but the gas pressure becomes excessively high causing harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The slide tether mechanism provides feedback control for the vent hole based on deployment progress and pressure conditions. The tether's tension and geometric constraints automatically regulate the vent hole's opening state, creating a feedback loop that prevents excessive pressure buildup while maintaining deployment speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the vent hole's opening parameter dynamically during deployment. By transitioning from fully open to partially closed to fully open again, the system adjusts gas flow parameters to optimize deployment speed while preventing harmful pressure levels.
3Productivity
If the vent hole opening is controlled to optimize deployment, then the deployment characteristics are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide tether mechanism is a self-regulating passive system that uses the airbag's own deployment forces and geometric constraints to control the vent hole. No external actuators or complex control systems are needed - the mechanism serves itself by utilizing the deployment process to regulate gas flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide tether acts as an intermediary element between the airbag's deployment forces and the vent hole control. This simple mechanical intermediary translates deployment motion into vent hole opening/closing actions without requiring complex control systems.
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 enhances energy absorption in the early deployment stage, improves gas accumulation pressure, and increases energy absorption efficiency, ensuring effective occupant protection by optimizing gas output and deployment dynamics.
Implementation Method 1
a pouch shaped airbag is deployed by high-pressure gas generated from a gas generator such as an inflator
Implementation Method 2
performs transition of a state of the vent hole, from an open state via a close state to the open state, by changing between a slackened state and an extended state
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag includes a vent hole discharging gas, a slide tether performing transition of a state of the vent hole, from an open state via a close state to the open state, by changing between a slackened state and an extended state, and a slide tether cover guiding the slide tether. The other end portion in a longitudinal direction of the slide tether body portion constitutes a first supporting point by being fastened in a direction going from the vent hole toward a mounting position of the inflator, bifurcated portions constitutes a second supporting point by the other end portion of the slide tether cover being fastened, terminal end portions of leg piece portions constitute a third supporting point by being respectively fastened. When the airbag is deployed, transition of a state of the vent hole is performed.