Far-Side Airbag Forward Deployment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Far-side airbag apparatuses often interfere with the occupant's body during deployment and inflation due to their design, which can hinder proper positioning and effectiveness in protecting the occupant during side collisions.
Innovation Solution
A far-side airbag apparatus is designed with a deployment promoting means that includes an inner tube and a partitioned airbag structure, where the cross-sectional area of the forward passage is larger than the upward passage, promoting forward deployment and inflation over upward deployment, preventing interference with the occupant's body and ensuring proper positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is deployed and inflated from a position close to the torso and arm of the occupant, then the airbag can provide protection during side collisions, but the airbag interferes with the occupant's body and hampers deployment and inflation to the proper position
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple inflation chambers (first, second, and third inflation chambers) separated by partitions. This segmentation allows different regions of the airbag to inflate at different rates and in different directions, enabling the airbag to navigate around the occupant's body while still providing effective protection.
Solution Approach 2:
Different passages (forward passage, upward passage, rearward passage) are provided with different cross-sectional areas to control the local inflation characteristics. The forward passage has a larger cross-sectional area to promote forward deployment away from the occupant, while other passages have smaller areas to control upward and rearward inflation, creating localized inflation patterns that avoid body interference.
2Speed
If the airbag is inflated upward quickly, then the airbag can provide rapid protection, but the airbag interferes with the occupant's body at an early stage of deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The passage cross-sectional areas are specifically designed to control the direction and speed of inflation in different regions. The forward passage has a larger area to promote rapid forward deployment, while the upward passage has a smaller area to control upward inflation speed, preventing early-stage body interference while maintaining overall rapid protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The first inflation chamber is designed to inflate first through the forward passage, propelling the airbag forward away from the occupant's body before the second and third chambers inflate upward. This preliminary forward action prevents body interference before the main protective inflation occurs.
3Productivity
If the cross-sectional area of the upward passage is increased to promote upward inflation, then the airbag can be inflated faster, but the forward deployment is insufficient and causes body interference
Solution Approach 1:
The forward passage is designed with a larger cross-sectional area than the upward passage to create asymmetric inflation characteristics. This local quality difference ensures that forward deployment is prioritized over upward inflation, efficiently propelling the airbag away from the occupant's body while maintaining high inflation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag structure uses asymmetric passage design where the forward passage has a different (larger) cross-sectional area compared to the upward and rearward passages. This asymmetry creates different inflation rates and directions in different regions, optimizing the deployment pattern to avoid body interference while maintaining efficient protection.
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 apparatus effectively deploys and inflates the airbag forward to partition the vehicle seats, ensuring the airbag is positioned correctly to protect the occupant from side collisions without interfering with the occupant's body, enhancing safety by prioritizing forward deployment over upward inflation.
Implementation Method 1
an inflation fluid generator, which discharges inflation fluid for deploying and inflating the airbag
Implementation Method 2
Passages through which inflation fluid flows from the first inflation chamber to the second inflation chamber include a forward passage, through which inflation fluid is discharged forward from the first inflation chamber, and an upward passage, through which inflation fluid is discharged upward from the first inflation chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6B
AI summary
A far-side airbag apparatus (100) includes an airbag (110) and an inflator (121) that discharges inflation gas for deploying and inflating the airbag (110). The airbag (110) is fixed to the seat frame (130) of the backrest (13) of a vehicle seat (10) and is deployed and inflated on the side corresponding to the center of the passenger compartment. The far-side airbag apparatus (100) is configured such that, when the inflator (121) discharges inflation gas, the forward deployment and inflation of the airbag (110) is promoted more than the upward deployment and inflation of the airbag (110).