Avalanche Airbag Triggering Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current avalanche airbag systems are expensive, prone to leaks, and have bulky designs due to complex geometries, which limit their accessibility and reliability, especially under high pressures and varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A portable airbag system with a venturi housing integrated triggering device, featuring a spring-actuated piston with a needle for piercing the gas bottle lid, where the triggering mechanism is housed within the venturi housing to minimize bulkiness and ensure reliable gas utilization, and a valve aligned parallel to the venturi channel for efficient inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pyrotechnic trigger systems are used, then reliable gas release is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and subject to regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the pyrotechnic trigger system with a purely mechanical spring-loaded needle piercing mechanism. The spring (element 14) stores mechanical energy that drives the needle (element 13) to pierce the gas bottle lid when the trigger element (element 15) is activated, eliminating pyrotechnic components and their associated regulations and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pyrotechnic charge and high-pressure tube components from the system. The trigger device now uses only a compressed spring, needle, and basic mechanical linkages, removing the complex pyrotechnic initiation system while maintaining reliable gas release functionality.
2Reliability
If gas bottles with taps and O-ring seals are used, then gas containment is achieved, but leakage risk increases under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tap and O-ring seal components entirely from the gas containment system. Instead of using a threaded connection with seals, the system uses a needle to pierce the lid directly, creating a simple puncture seal that eliminates the leakage-prone tap-seal interface while maintaining gas containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the connection parameter from a threaded mechanical joint with elastomeric seals to a puncture-based seal. The needle creates a small hole through the lid that seals around it due to pressure differential, transforming the containment mechanism from seal-dependent to pressure-dependent sealing.
3Productivity
If complex venturi housing geometries are used, then inflation efficiency is improved, but the system becomes bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the triggering device with the venturi housing by positioning the trigger device inside or integrated with the venturi structure. This combination eliminates separate mounting space and reduces overall system volume while maintaining both the triggering function and the efficient venturi inflation geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent nests the trigger device components within the venturi housing structure. The spring, needle, and trigger elements are arranged within the existing venturi housing volume, utilizing internal spaces rather than requiring additional external volume, thus maintaining compactness while preserving inflation efficiency.
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 provides a compact, reliable, and cost-effective airbag deployment with improved inflation efficiency, reducing the risk of leaks and ensuring safe, reliable protection in avalanche situations.
Implementation Method 1
a triggering device with a spring and a triggering piston, which is provided with a needle for piercing the cover, the triggering piston being pressurized by the spring
Implementation Method 2
a venturi housing that can be coupled to an inflatable balloon, which is provided with a valve and includes an outlet channel with a venturi effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to an airbag system comprising a Venturi housing (31) that can be coupled to an inflatable balloon (3) and has a valve (23). A triggering system (5) serves to trigger a gas generator, which comprises at least one gas cylinder (21) containing pressurized gas. Preferably, a triggering device of the triggering system (5) is arranged inside the Venturi housing (31). The gas cylinder (21) preferably includes a lid (20) that can be pierced. The triggering system (5) preferably comprises a triggering device with a spring (14) and with a trigger piston (12) which is provided with a needle (13) for piercing the lid (20). The trigger piston (12) is pressurized by the spring (14), which is compressed before triggering. The triggering device is preferably designed to retain the trigger piston (12) by means of at least one ball (17).A release element (15) of the release device is preferably connected to a handle via a cable (22).