Vehicle Console Airbag with Movable Base for Impact Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airbag assemblies in vehicles lack effective positioning and deployment mechanisms to optimally control occupant kinematics during impacts, particularly in the middle console area between seats, where multiple airbags are needed to manage both forward and rearward occupants effectively.
Innovation Solution
A middle console assembly with a moveable base for the airbag assembly, featuring upward and rearward tracks, and a pyrotechnic actuator, allows for precise positioning and inflation of airbags in response to vehicle impacts, with linear actuators and sensors managing the movement to pre-position airbags for impact and provide space during egress/ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag assembly is fixed in the middle console, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but the airbag cannot be optimally positioned to control occupant kinematics during impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly base is made movable relative to the middle console through tracks (upward track and rearward track) that allow the base to be repositioned in multiple directions. This dynamic positioning capability enables optimal airbag placement for controlling occupant kinematics during impacts, while the track-guided movement maintains structural integrity and avoids excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If the airbag assembly base is made movable to optimize positioning, then occupant safety is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly is segmented into a movable base portion and a fixed console portion. The base can be independently positioned along predefined tracks, allowing manufacturing of separate components that are then assembled. This segmentation enables precise positioning capability while keeping individual component manufacturing relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Tracks serve as intermediary elements between the fixed console and the movable airbag base. These tracks provide guided movement paths that constrain the base to specific trajectories, enabling accurate positioning without requiring complex active control mechanisms, thus simplifying manufacturing.
3Reliability
If the airbag base is positioned to optimize impact protection, then occupant kinematics control is improved, but passenger space during entry and exit is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly base can dynamically reposition between a forward position (optimized for impact protection) and a rearward position (optimized for passenger space during entry/exit). The rearward track enables the base to move backward, creating additional forward space in the console area for occupant access while maintaining the ability to return to the protective forward position during impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag base alternates between two primary positions: forward position during normal driving for impact protection, and rearward position during entry/exit operations for increased passenger space. This periodic repositioning optimizes the system performance for different operational phases.
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
Enhances occupant safety by ensuring optimal airbag placement and deployment to manage kinematics during impacts, while also increasing passenger space during entry and exit by strategically moving the airbag base relative to the console.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrotechnic actuator, allows for precise positioning and inflation of airbags in response to vehicle impacts
Implementation Method 2
linear actuators and sensors managing the movement to pre-position airbags for impact
Data Source
AI summary
A middle console assembly includes a middle console including a vehicle-rearward side. The middle console assembly includes an airbag assembly including a base and an airbag supported by the base. The base of the airbag assembly is disposed at and moveable upwardly relative to the vehicle-rearward side of the middle console.