Inside Air Bag High-Pressure Occupant Movement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side air bag devices have limitations in effectively moving the upper half of a vehicle occupant to the inner side during a side collision due to low internal pressure and inadequate consideration of the pressing region, which restricts the movement and safety performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular occupant restraining device comprising a side air bag and an inside air bag, where the inside air bag deploys earlier and at a higher pressure than the side air bag, positioned to press the occupant to the inner side, with the inside air bag configured to deploy above the second-from-bottom rib of a torso, enhancing the movement of the upper half of the body to the inner vehicle width direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the side air bag uses low internal pressure (about 80 kPa) to protect against internal organ injury, then the risk of internal organ injury is reduced, but the ability to move the occupant to the inner side is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The air bag system is divided into two distinct sections: a side air bag for protecting against internal organ injury with low pressure, and an inside air bag for moving the occupant with high pressure. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its pressure level for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different pressure levels are applied to different regions of the occupant's body. The inside air bag applies high pressure to the upper body region (above the second-from-bottom rib) to achieve effective movement, while the side air bag maintains low pressure to protect sensitive internal organs. This local differentiation of pressure quality resolves the contradiction between movement force and organ protection.
2Force
If the inside air bag presses the occupant with high pressure to move the upper half of the body to the inner side, then the occupant movement performance is improved, but the pressing region must be precisely controlled to avoid harmful effects
Solution Approach 1:
The inside air bag is specifically configured to deploy only in the region above the second-from-bottom rib of the torso, avoiding sensitive internal organ areas. This localized deployment strategy allows high pressure to be applied where it is needed for movement while preventing harmful effects on vulnerable body regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The inside air bag deploys earlier than the side air bag, establishing the high-pressure pressing action before the lower-pressure side air bag inflates. This preliminary action ensures that the occupant's upper body is already moved to a safer position before additional inflation occurs, preventing excessive pressure accumulation on sensitive areas.
3Productivity
If the inside air bag deploys earlier and at higher pressure than the side air bag, then the effectiveness of moving the upper half of the body is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air bag system is divided into two distinct sections: a side air bag for protecting against internal organ injury with low pressure, and an inside air bag for moving the occupant with high pressure. This segmentation allows each section to optimize its pressure level for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The inside air bag and side air bag are integrated into a single air bag structure that can be inflated to different pressure levels at different times. This merging approach allows the system to achieve enhanced productivity through coordinated dual-pressure inflation while avoiding the greater complexity of completely separate air bag systems with independent control mechanisms.
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 effectively moves the upper half of the occupant to the inner side during a side collision, improving safety performance by utilizing the higher pressure inside air bag to target regions with higher tolerance values, thereby enhancing the protection and comfort while preventing excessive pressure on sensitive areas.
Implementation Method 1
the inside air bag receiving a gas supply from a second inflator, the inside air bag deploying-by-inflation in the side section earlier and at a higher pressure than the side air bag
Implementation Method 2
the side air bag receiving a gas supply from a first inflator to deploy-by-inflation, the side air bag being interposed between an occupant seated in the vehicular seat and a vehicle interior side section
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular occupant restraining device, that includes: an inside air bag arranged on an inner side, in a vehicle width direction, of a side frame in a side section, the inside air bag receiving a gas supply from a second inflator, the inside air bag deploying by inflation in the side section earlier and at a higher pressure than a side air bag, and the inside air bag pressing a seated occupant to an inner side in the vehicle width direction. The inside air bag is configured so as to deploy by inflation in a region more to a vehicle upper side than a second-from-bottom rib of six ribs provided in a torso of an AM50 type international standard side collision dummy, in a state in which the dummy is seated in the vehicular seat.