Multi-chamber Airbag with Unidirectional Vent for Oblique Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional single-chamber airbags often fail to provide adequate protection for vehicle occupants during collisions with oblique trajectories, as they may be too narrow to cover occupants moving in angled directions, leading to incomplete engagement and increased risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber airbag system comprising a primary cushion and a supplemental cushion, where the primary cushion deploys first and the supplemental cushion deploys laterally to cover the occupant's inboard trajectory, with a unidirectional vent allowing gas communication between the chambers to ensure effective inflation and stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single-chamber airbag is used, then the device complexity is low, but the protection coverage for oblique collisions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple independent chambers (first chamber, second chamber, third chamber) that can inflate in different directions. The first chamber provides primary protection, while the second and third chambers extend coverage for oblique trajectories, allowing the system to adapt to various collision angles without requiring a completely different airbag design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-chamber design to a multi-chamber three-dimensional structure. The second chamber extends in a first direction and the third chamber extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, creating a three-dimensional protection volume that covers both frontal and oblique collision trajectories.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple chambers are added to cover oblique trajectories, then the protection coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple airbag chambers are merged into a single integrated airbag assembly that deploys from one location. The first, second, and third chambers are connected and inflate simultaneously or in sequence from a single airbag module, combining the functions of multiple protection zones into one unified system rather than requiring separate airbag units.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-chamber airbag assembly serves multiple protective functions simultaneously. It provides primary frontal protection through the first chamber, oblique trajectory protection through the second and third chambers, and can adapt its effective protection zone based on the collision angle, making a single device universally applicable to various collision scenarios.
3Stability of the object's composition
If chambers are connected with vents, then the inflation stability is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Vents serve as intermediary elements connecting the multiple chambers. These vents allow controlled gas flow between chambers during inflation, enabling pressure equalization and coordinated expansion. The vents act as mediators that regulate the interaction between chambers, ensuring stable and synchronized inflation without requiring complex mechanical linkages or control systems.
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 multi-chamber airbag system provides enhanced protection by ensuring complete coverage and stabilization of occupants during oblique collisions, reducing the risk of injury from contact with dashboard components and preventing rotational brain injuries.
Implementation Method 1
the unidirectional vent may be configured to isolate and maintain inflation pressure in the second inflatable chamber, separate from the first inflatable chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
An airbag can include a first cushion portion that defines a first inflatable chamber and a second cushion portion that is connected to the first cushion portion and defines a second inflatable chamber. The first inflatable chamber can receive inflation gas from an inflator to expand the first cushion portion and the second cushion portion can receive inflation gas from the first inflatable chamber to expand the second cushion portion. A unidirectional valve permits inflation gas to flow from the first inflatable chamber to the second inflatable chamber and restricts backflow of inflation gas from the second inflatable chamber to the first inflatable chamber.