Headrest Airbag Roll Layout for Narrow Window-Head Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In seat-mounted airbag devices, the deployment of the airbag is hindered when the clearance between the window and the occupant's head is narrow during a frontal collision, leading to potential delays in airbag deployment.
Innovation Solution
The airbag device includes an inflator that ejects gas to deploy the airbag body through a clearance between the window and the occupant's head from a side portion of the headrest, featuring an outward wound roll-shaped portion and a bellows portion, which allows for quicker and smoother deployment by unwinding in a specific sequence to navigate narrow spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is deployed through the clearance between the window and the occupant's head, then the airbag can protect the occupant during frontal collision, but the deployment is delayed when the clearance is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag body is divided into multiple chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) with different deployment paths and functions. The first chamber deploys through the narrow clearance between window and head, the second chamber deploys toward the front of the seat, and the third chamber provides additional protection. This segmentation allows the airbag to effectively protect the occupant even when part of the deployment path is constrained.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag body is configured with dynamic deployment characteristics where different chambers inflate at different rates and in different sequences. The first chamber deploys quickly through the narrow clearance, followed by the second and third chambers. This dynamic deployment strategy ensures rapid protection through the constrained path while maintaining overall deployment effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the airbag body is housed in the side portion of the headrest, then the airbag can be positioned for optimal protection, but the deployment space is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag body is nested within the headrest structure, with the first chamber positioned to deploy through the narrow clearance between the window and the occupant's head. The second and third chambers are arranged to deploy into the available space in front of the seat. This nested configuration maximizes the use of limited space within the headrest while ensuring proper deployment positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag deployment utilizes multiple spatial dimensions and directions. The first chamber deploys laterally through the narrow clearance, the second chamber deploys forward toward the front of the seat, and the third chamber provides additional lateral protection. This multi-dimensional deployment strategy overcomes the limited single-direction space constraints within the headrest.
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 is effectively deployed even in narrow clearances, ensuring timely protection of the occupant by unwinding the roll-shaped and bellows portions in a manner that prioritizes quick deployment and minimizes contact with the head.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator that is operated when a vehicle collision is detected or predicted and ejects gas
Data Source
AI summary
A seat-mounted airbag device includes an inflator that is operated when a vehicle collision is detected or predicted and ejects gas and an airbag body that includes a front-rear chamber and a tip chamber. The front-rear chamber is deployed forward of a seat through a clearance between a window and a head of an occupant from a side portion of a headrest on a window side by the gas ejected from the inflator and disposed between the window and the head of the occupant. The tip chamber is deployed inward in a seat width direction from an end portion of the front-rear chamber on a seat front side and disposed forward of a face of the occupant on the seat front side. The airbag body housed in the side portion includes an outward wound portion wound outward in a roll shape with a seat up-down direction as an axial direction.