Collapsible Inflatable Curtain Module With Pivoting Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices, such as inflatable curtains, often require large shipping containers due to their size and pose installation challenges due to their size and maneuverability issues, necessitating a solution to reduce packaging size and improve handling during installation.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a collapsible or foldable inflatable curtain module with interconnected conduits that can pivot relative to each other, allowing the module to be compacted for shipping and easily maneuvered for installation, featuring flexible fittings that enable up to 90-degree movement between components, enabling the module to be positioned next to each other in a shipping condition and spaced apart for installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the inflatable curtain module is designed with fixed, rigid conduits positioned for installation, then the installation positioning is accurate and reliable, but the shipping size is large and maneuverability is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The conduits are designed with flexible sections that allow dynamic movement between fixed positions. The flexible conduit portions enable the module to transition from a compact shipping configuration to an installed configuration where conduits extend to their operational positions, resolving the contradiction between small shipping size and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit system is segmented into fixed portions and flexible movable portions. This segmentation allows the rigid portions to maintain accurate installation positioning while the flexible portions provide the necessary movement capability for compact shipping and easy maneuverability during installation.
2Volume of moving object
If the inflatable curtain module uses movable conduits for compact shipping, then the shipping container size is reduced, but the installation positioning accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conduits are designed to be movable during installation but become fixed once positioned. This dynamic behavior allows compact shipping while ensuring accurate installation positioning is achieved and maintained in the operational state.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible conduit sections are pre-configured with appropriate lengths and flexibility characteristics that enable them to reach their target installation positions accurately. This preliminary design ensures that when the module is deployed for installation, the conduits can be positioned with the required precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) includes at least one inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) including a first portion (50) inflatable to cover a first portion (20) of a vehicle and a second portion (52) inflatable to cover a second portion (30) of a vehicle. A single inflator (70) provides inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A first conduit (52) has a portion terminating in the first portion (50) of the protection device (14). A second conduit (62) has a portion terminating in the second portion (60) of the protection device (14). The first and second conduits (52 and 62) are adapted to move relative to each other from a first condition in which the conduits are positioned for installation in the vehicle (12) to a second condition in which the conduits are positioned next to each other.