Nested Side Airbag Chambers for Faster Early Passenger Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current side airbag apparatuses face challenges in size reduction and achieving optimal passenger protection performance, particularly in terms of deployment speed and stabilization of the deployed shape during vehicle accidents.
Innovation Solution
The side airbag apparatus includes a first chamber and a second chamber with a gas guide, where the second chamber is deployed inside the first chamber prior to it, featuring an internal vent hole for smooth gas flow, and configured regions to protrude forward for enhanced passenger restraint, with the upper region protecting the head and lower region protecting the waist, facilitating quick and stable deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the side airbag apparatus uses a single chamber structure, then the structure is simple, but the deployment speed and restraint performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber with different deployment characteristics. The second chamber deploys first to provide immediate restraint, while the first chamber deploys subsequently to provide additional protection, achieving rapid deployment without excessive structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second chamber is positioned and configured to deploy before the first chamber. This preliminary action ensures that the passenger receives immediate restraint force in the critical initial moments of deployment, improving overall deployment speed and effectiveness.
2Speed
If the airbag apparatus is designed for rapid deployment, then passenger restraint is improved, but the apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second chamber is nested within or adjacent to the first chamber in a compact arrangement. This nesting allows both chambers to be stored in a space-efficient manner while enabling the second chamber to deploy first for rapid restraint, without significantly increasing the overall apparatus volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the airbag structure are optimized for different functions. The second chamber is positioned to provide immediate local restraint where needed most, while the first chamber provides broader coverage, achieving rapid deployment without requiring the entire apparatus to be oversized.
3Reliability
If the airbag uses multiple deployment regions, then passenger protection is enhanced, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is segmented into distinct first and second chambers that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows different deployment regions to be activated in a predetermined sequence, enhancing passenger protection while maintaining relatively simple control through the use of separate inflators or controlled gas distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to activate the second chamber before the first chamber based on collision detection. This preliminary action in control sequencing simplifies the deployment logic while achieving enhanced protection, as the control system follows a predetermined sequence rather than requiring complex real-time decisions.
4Volume of moving object
If the second chamber deploys inside the first chamber, then space utilization is improved, but the gas flow management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The second chamber is nested within the volume occupied by the first chamber when both are deployed. This nesting arrangement maximizes space utilization within the airbag housing. Gas flow management is facilitated by providing separate inflators or gas supply paths for each chamber, allowing independent gas introduction without complex interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
Separate inflators or gas distribution mechanisms act as intermediaries between the gas source and each chamber. This intermediary approach simplifies gas flow management by providing dedicated gas supply paths for each chamber, avoiding the need for complex gas distribution networks despite the nested configuration.
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 configuration enables quick passenger restraint, minimizing damage by preventing movement towards the outside and stabilizing the airbag deployment, thereby enhancing passenger safety and reducing the apparatus size.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator which is provided outside the frame side wall part in the vehicle width direction so as to supply expansion gas to the airbag
Implementation Method 2
An internal vent hole, through which the expansion gas introduced by the gas guide flows into the second chamber, is formed at the boundary part between the first chamber and the second chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
[Problem] To provide a side airbag apparatus capable of quickly and properly restraining a passenger in the initial stage of deploying an airbag, along with a vehicle seat including this side airbag apparatus. [Resolution means] The airbag includes: a first chamber which is deployed towards the front of the side support part of the seat; a second chamber which starts being deployed inside the first chamber in the vehicle width direction prior to this first chamber; and a gas guide which is arranged in the first chamber so as to introduce the expansion gas (emitted from the inflator) into the second chamber. An internal vent hole, through which the expansion gas introduced by the gas guide flows into the second chamber, is formed at the boundary part between the first chamber and the second chamber. The second chamber includes: an upper region and a lower region; and an intermediate region disposed between the upper region and the lower region. In addition, at least one of the upper region or the lower region is configured to be deployed so as to protrude more to the front of the vehicle than the intermediate region.