Dual Airbag Inflation Sequence for Oblique Collision Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single airbag systems often fail to provide adequate protection for vehicle occupants during collisions with oblique trajectories, as they may not effectively engage or stabilize occupants moving in angled directions, leading to potential injury from contact with dashboard or other vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dual-airbag system, where a primary airbag deploys directly in front of the occupant and a supplemental airbag deploys laterally or obliquely to provide additional cushioning and stabilization, with the supplemental airbag potentially inflating before the primary airbag to ensure comprehensive coverage during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single airbag system is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the protection effectiveness for oblique trajectory collisions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is divided into a primary airbag and a supplemental airbag, each serving distinct functional roles. The primary airbag provides main cushioning while the supplemental airbag specifically addresses oblique trajectory collisions, thereby improving overall protection effectiveness without excessive complexity increase
Solution Approach 2:
The supplemental airbag is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides additional cushioning for oblique collisions, stabilizes the primary airbag during deployment, and ensures comprehensive coverage for occupants with angled trajectories, making the system more versatile
2Reliability
If a dual airbag system is implemented, then the protection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Both the primary airbag and supplemental airbag are integrated within a single airbag housing and share common control systems and inflation mechanisms. This merging approach allows comprehensive protection coverage while managing system complexity through unified design and shared components
3Stability of the object's composition
If the supplemental airbag inflates before the primary airbag, then the stabilization effect is improved, but the inflation sequence complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental airbag is configured to inflate first as a preliminary action that stabilizes the primary airbag before its main deployment. This sequencing ensures the primary airbag deploys effectively without excessive complexity in control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The inflation process is divided into periodic stages: first the supplemental airbag inflates to provide stabilization, then the primary airbag inflates for main cushioning. This periodic action sequence improves stability while managing control complexity through staged deployment
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 dual-airbag system enhances occupant safety by providing increased protection and preventing harmful contact with dashboard components during oblique collisions, effectively stabilizing the primary airbag and ensuring comprehensive coverage for occupants with angled trajectories.
Implementation Method 1
The first airbag is configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator assembly to inflate the first airbag. The second airbag is configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator assembly to inflate the second airbag.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An airbag assembly can comprise an inflation assembly to inflate a first airbag and a second airbag to deploy from a housing. The first airbag and the second airbag can receive inflation gas from the inflation assembly and deploy from a common housing. The inflation assembly can comprise a first inflator coupled to the first airbag and a second inflator coupled to the second airbag. Alternatively, the inflation assembly may comprise a dual-stage inflator coupled to each of the first airbag and the second airbag and configured to inflate each of the first airbag and the second airbag independently. A panel can couple together the first airbag and the second airbag.