Airbag Inflator Balancing Weight for Steering Wheel Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airbag inflators used as mass dampers in steering wheels are ineffective due to their small mass, leading to suboptimal vibration damping, particularly because their center of mass is not optimally positioned relative to the suspension system.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a separate balancing weight within the inflator's combustion chamber to increase the oscillating mass, which is designed to adjust the vibration behavior without interfering with the inflator's primary function, and is positioned to displace the center of mass for improved damping performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the inflator mass is reduced to meet smaller airbag module requirements, then the airbag module size is reduced, but the vibration damping effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A separate balancing weight is arranged inside the external housing of the inflator to increase the oscillating mass. The balancing weight has no further inflator-specific function and is solely for adjusting the vibrating behavior of the inflator, allowing the inflator to serve as an effective mass damper despite reduced size.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing weight is positioned at a specific location within the external housing to optimize the center of mass position relative to the suspension system. This local adjustment of mass distribution enhances vibration damping effectiveness without increasing the overall inflator volume.
2Weight of moving object
If the inflator mass is increased to improve vibration damping, then the vibration damping effectiveness is improved, but the airbag module size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing weight is nested inside the external housing of the inflator, utilizing the existing internal space. This allows the inflator to achieve increased oscillating mass for effective vibration damping without increasing the external dimensions of the airbag module.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing weight is integrated into the inflator structure, serving the dual purpose of increasing oscillating mass for vibration damping while being contained within the existing housing space. This multi-functional integration allows mass increase without volume increase.
3Device complexity
If the center of mass position is not optimized relative to the suspension system, then the inflator structure is simpler, but the vibration damping behavior is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing weight is positioned asymmetrically within the external housing to shift the center of mass to an optimal location relative to the suspension system. This asymmetric mass distribution creates favorable vibrating behavior for effective vibration damping while maintaining a relatively simple inflator structure.
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 solution enhances the damping effectiveness of the airbag inflator by increasing its mass and optimizing the center of mass positioning, resulting in improved suppression of steering wheel vibrations while maintaining the inflator's original functionality.
Implementation Method 1
Systems in which the inflator of an airbag module arranged in the steering wheel is employed as counter-oscillating damper mass are of particular importance
Implementation Method 2
an inflator for a vehicle airbag module comprises an external housing in which a combustion chamber is formed
Data Source
AI summary
An inflator (10) for a vehicle airbag module comprises an external housing (12) in which a combustion chamber (36) is formed, wherein the inflator (10) can be supported to be oscillating on a body-side component of the vehicle, especially on a component of the airbag module. Inside the external housing (12) a separate balancing weight (58) is arranged for adjusting the vibration behavior of the inflator (10), wherein the balancing weight (58) has no further inflator-specific function. In an airbag module for a vehicle including such inflator (10) the latter is supported by its retaining means on another component of the airbag module so that it is adapted to oscillate about a suspension plane.