Curtain Airbag Mounting Plate and Tab Assembly to Prevent Sagging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for mounting curtain airbag cushions to vehicle bodies are inefficient, requiring excessive time and degrading assembly properties due to the bending of mounting plates and coupling with ramp brackets, leading to potential sagging and damage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a flexible intermediate connection tab and strap sewn onto the curtain airbag cushion, a steel mounting plate, and a ramp bracket, which are assembled with a bolt to the vehicle body, ensuring secure fixation and preventing sagging, while maintaining assembly torque and improving workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mounting plate is bent by applying external force to couple it with the ramp bracket, then the mounting plate can be fixed to the vehicle body, but assembly properties and workability are degraded and excessive working time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate functional components: a mounting plate for structural support, a ramp bracket for positioning, and an intermediate connection tab with strap for flexible coupling. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and assembled without time-consuming bending operations.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate connection tab with strap is introduced as a mediator between the mounting plate and ramp bracket. This intermediary component enables easy coupling and decoupling without requiring bending operations on the mounting plate, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining secure fastening.
2Ease of manufacture
If the mounting plate is bent to couple with the ramp bracket, then the components can be assembled, but assembly properties and workability are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into modular components including an intermediate connection tab and strap system. This allows the mounting plate to remain simple and rigid while the coupling function is distributed to specialized components that are easier to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate connection tab serves as a mediator that simplifies the coupling process. Instead of bending the mounting plate directly, the tab provides a pre-formed connection interface that can be easily attached to both the mounting plate and ramp bracket, improving ease of manufacture.
3Strength
If a steel mounting plate is used to maintain secure coupling force, then the bolt coupling is strengthened, but the mounting plate may sag under load
Solution Approach 1:
The load-bearing function is segmented from the coupling function. The mounting plate maintains its structural integrity and strength for load bearing, while the intermediate connection tab and strap handle the coupling operations, preventing the mounting plate from sagging under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate connection tab acts as a mediator that distributes and absorbs mechanical stresses during assembly and operation. This protects the mounting plate from excessive loads that would cause sagging, while still maintaining secure coupling through the tab and strap system.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for mounting a curtain airbag cushion, the apparatus including an intermediate connection tab and a strap sewn onto a curtain airbag cushion, a mounting plate coupled to the intermediate connection tab, and a ramp bracket assembled with the mounting plate and fixedly coupled to a vehicle body together with the mounting plate, in which the mounting plate and the ramp bracket are assembled as a coupling hook of the mounting plate passes through a hook hole of the ramp bracket.