Instrument Panel Airbag Tether Layout for Stable Occupant Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle airbag systems face instability during expansion and development, leading to reduced contact energy absorption performance, especially when protecting occupants of varying sizes, as larger airbags tend to sway and fail to provide sufficient reaction force.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle airbag apparatus includes a module case, airbag, inflator, lid, and tethers, where the airbag is expanded between the instrument panel and windshield, and the tethers couple the airbag and lid, elongating in the front-rear direction to stabilize the airbag's state and enhance reaction force on the occupant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the airbag is made larger to protect occupants of varying sizes, then the protection coverage is improved, but the airbag becomes unstable and sways during expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The tether acts as an intermediary element connecting the airbag to the front lid. It mediates between the expanding airbag and the fixed mounting structure, providing stabilization through controlled elongation rather than rigid constraint, thus preventing airbag sway while maintaining expansion capability
Solution Approach 2:
The tether's physical parameters (length, elasticity) are optimized to change during deployment. The tether elongates from an initial state to a extended state during airbag expansion, dynamically adjusting its properties to stabilize the airbag at different expansion stages while maintaining protection coverage
2Force
If the airbag is made larger to increase reaction force, then the contact energy absorption is improved, but the airbag becomes unstable and fails to provide sufficient reaction force
Solution Approach 1:
The tether serves as a mediator that transmits and stabilizes the force generated by airbag expansion. By controlling the tether's elongation characteristics, the system ensures that the airbag's reaction force is effectively transmitted to the occupant without being lost to airbag sway or instability
Solution Approach 2:
The tether provides a counteracting stabilizing force that opposes the destabilizing effects of large airbag expansion. This counterbalance allows the airbag to maintain its expanded state and provide sufficient reaction force without swaying or becoming unstable
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 stabilizes the airbag's expanded state and improves contact energy absorption performance by ensuring a sufficient reaction force is applied to the occupant, enhancing protection across different occupant sizes.
Implementation Method 1
The tether is configured to be elongated in a front-rear direction of the vehicle in a state where the airbag is expanded and developed
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle airbag apparatus includes an airbag, a front lid, and a tether. The airbag is configured to be disposed on a back side of an instrument panel, and configured to be expanded and developed between the instrument panel and a windshield glass so as to be disposed on a front side in a vehicle and in front of a vehicle occupant. The front lid is configured to be disposed on the instrument panel, and configured to be ruptured and opened by the expanded and developed airbag so as to stand on the front side in the vehicle and at a front end of the airbag. The tether is disposed on an outer part of the airbag and couples the front lid and the airbag, and configured to be elongated in a front-rear direction of the vehicle in a state where the airbag is expanded and developed.