Movable Vent Member for Adaptive Air Bag Fluid Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air bag modules face challenges in optimizing inflation fluid flow based on the occupant's position, as current vents do not effectively adjust to maintain desired pressure and deployment speed when the occupant is not in a normally seated position.
Innovation Solution
The air bag module incorporates a vent system with a movable vent member that adjusts its position based on the occupant's seating status, using a tether to actuate the vent to either block or allow inflation fluid flow, ensuring appropriate pressure and deployment characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed vent opening is used in the air bag module, then the structure is simple, but the inflation fluid flow cannot be adjusted based on occupant position, resulting in suboptimal protection and ride-down effects
Solution Approach 1:
The vent system employs a movable vent member that can transition between closed and open positions based on occupant detection signals. This dynamic adjustment allows the air bag module to adapt inflation fluid flow to different occupant positions, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vent member is designed to automatically respond to occupant position changes through integration with the occupancy sensing system. The system self-regulates inflation fluid flow without requiring external intervention, achieving adaptability while minimizing additional complexity.
2Speed
If the vent opening is always open to allow inflation fluid flow, then deployment speed is increased, but the air bag pressure cannot be maintained when the occupant is not in a normally seated position
Solution Approach 1:
The vent member dynamically adjusts its opening state based on real-time occupant position detection. When an occupant is detected in a normally seated position, the vent opens to maximize deployment speed. When no occupant or improper positioning is detected, the vent closes to maintain optimal air bag pressure, thus resolving the contradiction between deployment speed and pressure maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback from the occupancy sensing system to control the vent member position. This closed-loop control ensures that the vent opening state corresponds to the actual occupant position, allowing the system to optimize both deployment speed and pressure maintenance based on real-time conditions.
3Stress or pressure
If the vent opening is always closed to maintain air bag pressure, then pressure is maintained, but deployment speed is reduced when rapid inflation is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The vent member transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic state that can open or close based on occupant detection. This allows the system to maintain pressure when needed (no occupant/improper position) while enabling rapid deployment when appropriate (properly seated occupant), resolving the contradiction between pressure maintenance and deployment speed.
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
This solution allows the air bag to maintain desired pressure and deployment speed by adjusting fluid flow according to the occupant's position, enhancing protection and ride-down effects regardless of seating posture.
Implementation Method 1
The vent member is movable upon inflation of the protection device from the pre-deployment position to one of an open position permitting inflation fluid flow through the vent opening and a closed position at least partially blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent opening
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (24) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). An inflator (30) provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14). A support member (80) supports the inflator (30) and the protection device (14). A retainer (120) helps secure the protection device (14) to the support member (80). At least one vent opening (132) formed in the retainer (120) enables flow of inflation fluid away from the protection device (14) through the support member (80).