Air Bag Tether Pulley Deployment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle air bag systems face challenges in optimizing deployment and configuration to effectively protect occupants of varying sizes and restraint statuses, leading to inconsistent impact absorption and potential inefficiencies in inflation and pressurization.
Innovation Solution
The use of an adaptive tether system with a guide that divides into trigger and shaping tethers, allowing for controlled deployment and configuration adjustments based on occupant restraint and position, ensuring optimal inflation and pressurization by restricting or releasing portions of the air bag as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the air bag deploys fully without restriction, then the protection coverage is maximized, but the volume of inflation fluid required increases and deployment may be excessive for restrained occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the air bag deployment configuration adaptive rather than fixed. The tether system dynamically adjusts the deployment pattern based on real-time conditions (obstruction detection), transitioning between restricted and unrestricted deployment modes to optimize both protection coverage and fluid volume usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the deployment parameter (configuration pattern) based on detected conditions. When an obstruction is detected, the system changes from a full-deployment parameter state to a restricted-deployment parameter state, adjusting the effective deployment volume to match actual protection needs.
2Quantity of substance
If the air bag deployment is restricted for restrained occupants, then the inflation fluid volume is reduced, but the protection effectiveness may be insufficient for unbelted occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through the obstruction detection mechanism that monitors deployment conditions in real-time. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the deployment restriction level, ensuring that restrained occupants receive optimized (restricted) deployment while unbelted occupants receive full protection, thereby maintaining effectiveness across different scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment restriction is not fixed but dynamic, allowing the air bag system to adapt its configuration based on detected occupant restraint status. This dynamic adjustment ensures protection effectiveness is optimized for each specific scenario without compromising safety.
3Device complexity
If a single air bag configuration is used, then the device complexity is minimized, but the adaptability to different occupant sizes and restraint statuses is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the air bag into multiple deployable portions or zones that can be independently controlled. The tether system creates separate deployment paths that can be selectively activated, allowing the single air bag structure to adapt to different occupant sizes and restraint statuses without requiring multiple separate air bag units.
4Manufacturing precision
If the air bag deployment is optimized for specific occupant types, then the protection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through the automatic obstruction detection and response mechanism. The system self-adjusts its deployment pattern based on detected conditions without requiring external control inputs or complex electronic control units, achieving deployment optimization through passive mechanical feedback rather than active electronic control.
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 solution enables tailored air bag deployment and inflation to better match the dynamics of belted and unbelted occupants, optimizing impact absorption and reducing the required volume of inflation fluid, thereby enhancing protection and reliability while minimizing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The tether is configured to move through the guide in order to translate movement of the first portion of the protection device in a first direction to movement of the second portion of the protection device in a second direction different from the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (10) for helping to control deployment of an inflatable protection device (14) includes a tether (150) having a first connection with a first portion (100, 104) of the protection device and a second connection with a second portion (102) of the protection device. A guide (156) is connected to the protection device (14). The tether (150) extends through the guide (156). The tether (150) is configured to move through the guide (156) in order to translate movement of the first portion (100, 104) of the protection device (14) in a first direction to movement of the second portion (102) of the protection device in a second direction different from the first direction.