Double Fold Roll Airbag Cushion for Rollover Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable curtain airbag designs fail to provide adequate protection in rollover, small overlap, and oblique collisions due to unpredictable occupant positions and trajectories, leading to potential injuries from interior vehicle impacts or ejection.
Innovation Solution
An airbag assembly with an inflatable curtain airbag featuring a dual protection zone configuration, where the second protection zone is folded over the first and secured with tack stitching that breaks under stress to deploy effectively between the occupant and lateral vehicle surfaces, providing enhanced coverage during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single protection zone inflatable curtain airbag is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the protection coverage is insufficient for unpredictable occupant positions in rollover and small overlap collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable curtain airbag is divided into multiple protection zones (first protection zone and second protection zone) that can be independently deployed. Each zone is secured by separate attachment features, allowing selective deployment to match different collision scenarios and occupant positions, thereby improving protection coverage without requiring a completely complex new structure
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system transitions from a static single-zone design to a dynamic multi-zone configuration where attachment features can release sequentially based on deployment conditions. The second protection zone remains folded against the first until its attachment features release, enabling adaptive coverage that responds to the specific collision type and occupant trajectory
2Volume of moving object
If the second protection zone is secured to the first protection zone with attachment features, then the stowed configuration is compact, but the deployment reliability depends on timely attachment feature release
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment features are pre-configured in specific locations on the first and second protection zones before deployment. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when inflation pressure builds, the attachment features are positioned to release at the appropriate moment, enabling reliable sequential deployment while maintaining compact stowed volume
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes pressure as a changing parameter to trigger attachment feature release. As inflation gas increases internal pressure, this parameter change causes the attachment features to fail or release at predetermined pressure thresholds, ensuring reliable deployment timing without complex mechanical triggers
3Area of stationary object
If the second protection zone is deployed to cover lateral surfaces, then the protection area increases, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to multiple chambers and attachment features
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second protection zones are manufactured as integrated components of a single inflatable curtain airbag structure. The multiple chambers are formed within a unified airbag body, and attachment features are incorporated during the same manufacturing process, reducing overall manufacturing complexity compared to separate airbag units
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable curtain airbag structure serves multiple functions: the first protection zone provides initial lateral protection, the second protection zone extends coverage for specific collision types, and the attachment features enable selective deployment. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single manufactured component rather than requiring multiple separate devices
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 airbag assembly ensures reliable protection across various collision scenarios by deploying the second protection zone to cover lateral surfaces, reducing the risk of occupant injury from interior impacts and ejection.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator to provide gas to the first chamber and the second chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag assembly may include an inflatable curtain airbag with a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The inflatable curtain may have a first protection zone and a second protection zone that inflates forward or rearward of the first protection zone to provide enhanced protection. The second protection zone may be double-folded against the first protection zone so that, during deployment, the second protection zone pivots to unfold relative to the first protection zone. Attachment features such as tack stitching may be used to secure the folded portions together. The tack stitching may be designed to break during deployment of the airbag such that the first protection zone inflates first, followed by a proximal portion of the second protection zone, and then by a distal portion of the second protection zone.