Multi-Bag Occupant Protection System for Offset Collisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional occupant protection systems for vehicles are ineffective in oblique offset collisions, as the airbag deployed in the frontal direction tends to fall towards the longitudinal centerline side, causing the occupant's head and upper body to drop and rotate excessively, leading to potential neck injury due to uneven load distribution.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a main bag deployed in front of the occupant, a sub-bag deployed on the longitudinal centerline side to support the head from the side, and a center bag (far-side airbag) that overlaps with the sub-bag to prevent slippage and rotation, with contact surfaces designed to reduce friction and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the deployment area of the passenger-side airbag is expanded to the longitudinal centerline side, then the airbag can cover a wider area, but it becomes difficult to properly support the occupant who is plunging into the airbag while being inclined toward the longitudinal centerline side
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple independent bags: a main bag for frontal support, a sub-bag for lateral support on the longitudinal centerline side, and a center bag for additional lateral support. This segmentation allows each bag to specialize in supporting specific portions of the occupant's body from different directions, effectively solving the problem of supporting inclined occupants without merely expanding the single airbag's deployment area.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-bag acts as an intermediary element between the main bag and the center bag, providing lateral support from the longitudinal centerline side. This intermediary structure prevents the main bag from directly bearing the oblique load, thereby preventing the main bag from falling toward the longitudinal centerline side and maintaining its support capability.
2Area of stationary object
If a sub-bag is projected from the expanded area to the rear of the vehicle, then the airbag coverage is extended, but the sub-bag may slip vertically under load without adequate friction resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surfaces between the sub-bag and center bag are given special local quality characteristics with high friction properties. This localized friction enhancement at the contact interfaces prevents vertical slippage of the sub-bag under load, while the rest of the airbag structure maintains its coverage area and support functionality.
3Reliability
If the passenger-side airbag is deployed toward the longitudinal centerline side, then it can support the occupant's head and upper body, but the load causes the airbag to fall toward the longitudinal centerline side, resulting in the occupant dropping
Solution Approach 1:
The sub-bag and center bag provide counterbalancing support from the longitudinal centerline side, acting as a counterweight system. When the main bag experiences oblique load from an inclined occupant, the sub-bag and center bag generate opposing forces that prevent the main bag from falling toward the longitudinal centerline side, thereby maintaining position stability and continuous occupant support.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle includes: a main bag that, when an occupant who is seated in a seat of the vehicle is about to fall forward, is deployed in front of the occupant and is capable of supporting the head and upper body of the occupant; a sub-bag that is deployed on a longitudinal centerline side of the head of the occupant who plunges into the main bag; and a center bag that is deployed in the center in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The sub-bag is deployed on a door side of the center bag and, when subjected to a load of the head of the occupant who plunges into at least the main bag while being inclined toward the longitudinal centerline side, comes into contact with the lateral side of the center bag on the door side so as to overlap it.