Mobility Airbag Cushion Layout for Oblique Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional airbags are ineffective in protecting passengers during oblique collisions, as they fail to account for lateral movement and can cause secondary injuries due to rotation of the head and torso.
Innovation Solution
An airbag apparatus with a main chamber and side chambers that inflate to surround the passenger, featuring a barrier to delay gas flow, tethers to prevent side chamber displacement, and a vent system to manage pressure, ensuring comprehensive protection during front, side, and oblique collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a front airbag is deployed to protect passengers, then front collision protection is improved, but secondary injuries from head and torso rotation worsen in oblique collisions
Solution Approach 1:
The side chambers are pre-positioned to counteract the lateral tilt and rotation that occur during oblique collisions. By having these chambers ready to inflate and provide support, the system prevents the harmful rotational movement before it can cause secondary injuries, while maintaining front collision protection capabilities.
2Speed
If gas flows directly from the inflator to both main and side chambers simultaneously, then inflation speed is improved, but controlled inflation sequence deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is pre-positioned within the airbag cushion to control the gas flow path. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the inflator activates, gas automatically follows the predetermined path through the barrier, achieving both rapid inflation and controlled sequencing without requiring additional active control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If side chambers are positioned to arrest lateral movement, then oblique collision protection is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the front protection function (main chamber) and oblique collision protection function (side chambers) into a single integrated airbag cushion assembly. This unified structure provides multi-directional protection while avoiding the complexity of separate airbag systems, as all chambers inflate from a single inflator through a coordinated gas flow path.
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 apparatus effectively absorbs impact and minimizes injury by surrounding the passenger with a controlled inflation sequence, providing protection across various collision directions without causing secondary injuries.
Implementation Method 1
a main chamber configured to be inflated by gas supplied from an inflator
Implementation Method 2
a barrier disposed between the main chamber and the side chamber inside the airbag cushion that delays gas flow from the main chamber to the side chamber
Implementation Method 3
the shield film is sewn to the main chamber and configured to rupture when a predetermined internal pressure is reached within the airbag cushion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an airbag apparatus for mobility that safely protects passengers even if an impact comes from different directions in collisions such as a front collision, a side collision, and an oblique collision as the airbags inflate to surround the passengers in the event of a collision.