Center Airbag Gas Path Layout to Suppress Deployment Swing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional center airbag devices experience significant swinging during inflation and deployment, leading to inconsistent positioning and reduced effectiveness in restraining an occupant's head during side collisions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle center airbag device with an introduction path at the upper portion of the center airbag that includes multiple opening portions directing gas flow downward, along with an auxiliary opening portion at the rear, helps to suppress the swinging of the front end portion by inflating and deploying the airbag in a manner similar to a shutter lowering from the upper side to the lower side, ensuring consistent contact with the occupant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas is supplied from the rear end portion of the center airbag, then the center airbag inflates and deploys, but the front end portion side swings significantly during inflation and deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The introduction path is divided into multiple segments: a first introduction path from the rear end portion and a second introduction path from the upper portion. This segmentation allows gas to be supplied from multiple locations simultaneously, creating controlled inflation zones that prevent uncontrolled swinging of the front end portion during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The second introduction path from the upper portion enables the upper part of the center airbag to inflate first before the front end portion fully deploys. This preliminary inflation action stabilizes the airbag structure during deployment, preventing significant swinging and ensuring consistent positioning for effective head restraint
2Productivity
If the center airbag deploys quickly to protect the occupant, then protection effectiveness is improved, but the front end portion positioning becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment process is segmented into controlled phases through multiple introduction paths. Gas flows through the first introduction path from the rear and the second introduction path from the upper portion, creating a staged deployment sequence that maintains precision even during rapid inflation
Solution Approach 2:
The dual introduction path system changes the gas flow parameters by providing multiple entry points with different positions and orientations. This allows the airbag to deploy rapidly while maintaining consistent front end portion positioning through controlled pressure distribution and flow direction
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 effectively suppresses the swinging of the front end portion of the center airbag, ensuring consistent positioning and improved restraint of the occupant's head, allowing for size reduction, weight reduction, and cost savings while maintaining effective deployment.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator that is provided at a vehicle seat, and that ejects gas due to being actuated
Implementation Method 2
the introduction path includes plural opening portions that eject the gas toward a vehicle lower side, at an intermediate portion thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle center airbag device includes: an inflator that is provided at a vehicle seat, and that is configured to eject gas due to being actuated; and a center airbag that is provided at a side portion at a vehicle width direction inner side of a seatback of the vehicle seat, and that is configured to inflate and deploy toward a vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat due to the gas being supplied to an interior thereof; and an introduction path that is provided at an upper portion thereof the center airbag, into which gas that has been ejected from the inflator is introduced, wherein the introduction path includes opening portions that eject the gas toward a vehicle lower side, at an intermediate portion thereof.