Adjustable Airbag Vent Rate for Occupant Weight Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbag systems for front passenger seats lack the ability to adjust deployment pressure to accommodate occupants of varying weights, such as children and adults with weights outside the typical range, potentially leading to inadequate protection.
Innovation Solution
An airbag apparatus with adjustable deployment pressure, featuring vent holes and corresponding vent rate adjusting members, along with tethers that control the discharge of gas, allowing for customizable deployment force based on the occupant's weight by shielding and unshielding vent holes during inflation and after contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is designed for typical adult weight (140-180 pounds), then the deployment pressure is sufficient for adult protection, but the deployment pressure becomes excessive for lighter occupants such as children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vent hole configuration adjustable rather than fixed. The vent rate adjusting members can be positioned to shield or unshield vent holes based on occupant weight, allowing the airbag system to dynamically adapt its gas discharge rate and deployment pressure to match different occupant sizes, thereby preventing excessive pressure for children while maintaining adequate pressure for adults
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of gas discharge rate by adjusting which vent holes are shielded or unshielded. By varying the configuration of vent rate adjusting members, the system modifies the effective vent hole area, thereby controlling the rate at which gas escapes during inflation. This parameter adjustment allows optimization of deployment pressure for different occupant weights
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the deployment pressure is reduced for lighter occupants, then the safety for children is improved, but the protection effectiveness for typical adults is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vent hole system into multiple discrete vent holes (first vent holes and second vent holes) that can be independently controlled by separate vent rate adjusting members. This segmentation allows selective shielding of specific vent holes based on occupant weight, enabling the system to reduce pressure for children by shielding certain holes while maintaining full pressure capability for adults by unshielding all holes when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through weight detection (implied by the adjustable configuration based on occupant type) that triggers appropriate vent hole shielding. The control system detects occupant weight category and automatically adjusts the vent rate adjusting members to the appropriate configuration, ensuring optimal deployment pressure is achieved without manual intervention
3Device complexity
If fixed deployment pressure is used, then the system is simple, but it cannot accommodate various occupant types including children and lighter adults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing a single airbag system that can serve multiple occupant types (children and adults of various weights) through the adjustable vent hole configuration. The vent rate adjusting members enable the same airbag to function optimally for different weight categories, eliminating the need for separate airbag systems for different occupant types while maintaining protection effectiveness across all user groups
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 system effectively reduces initial deployment pressure for lighter occupants and maintains appropriate pressure for typical adult weights, ensuring enhanced protection by dynamically managing gas discharge through the airbag's vent holes.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag configured to be deployable forward toward a passenger when gas flows into the airbag
Implementation Method 2
a first vent hole formed in one surface of the airbag through which gas is discharged, and a second vent hole formed in the other surface and through which gas is discharged
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag apparatus in which the deployment pressure is adjustable. A ring portion of the airbag apparatus is formed on a first tether coupled to a front surface of an airbag, and a second tether coupled to a rear surface of the airbag penetrates the ring portion and is coupled to a first vent rate adjusting member and a second vent rate adjusting member.