Panoramic Window Airbag Support Wire for Passenger Ejection Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Panoramic windows in vehicles pose a risk of passengers leaving during collisions due to insufficient passenger restriction reaction force, as the side airbag and curtain airbag systems are ineffective in preventing ejection through the large glass surface, failing to meet North American regulations.
Innovation Solution
A panoramic window safety system featuring a steel wire module and inflator module that converts a side bending arrangement into an intermediate linear arrangement using gas pressure, generating a passenger leaving load reaction force to support the airbag and prevent ejection, with a controller managing the inflator signals to deploy the airbag and wire system effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a panoramic window with large glass surface is used to increase visibility and openness, then the passenger's view and indoor openness are improved, but the passenger restriction reaction force becomes insufficient and the risk of passenger ejection increases
Solution Approach 1:
A wire module is introduced as an intermediary component between the airbag and the panoramic window. The wire module includes a wire that can be pulled by the airbag to generate a reaction force, acting as a mediator to transfer and amplify the passenger restriction capability across the large glass surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The wire module is designed with a side bending arrangement that can dynamically switch to an intermediate linear arrangement when pulled by the airbag during collision. This dynamic transformation allows the system to adapt from a compact storage state to an active passenger restriction state, providing necessary reaction force when needed.
2Device complexity
If the side airbag and curtain airbag are used alone without additional structures, then the system complexity is low, but they cannot provide sufficient passenger restriction reaction force for panoramic windows
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system is merged with the wire module to create a hybrid passive safety system. The airbag provides inflation force while the wire module provides structural leverage and reaction force amplification, combining soft airbag technology with rigid wire structure to achieve sufficient passenger restriction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag module uses gas pressure (pneumatics) to inflate and push the wire module, converting pneumatic energy into mechanical reaction force. The inflator generates high-pressure gas that expands the airbag, which then pulls the wire to create the necessary passenger restriction force.
3Reliability
If a stronger wire module and inflator are used to increase passenger restriction reaction force, then the safety performance is improved, but the system strength requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wire module employs a side bending arrangement (curved geometry) that provides mechanical advantage. The curved configuration allows the wire to generate greater reaction force through geometric leverage when pulled by the airbag, reducing the need for excessively strong or expensive components while maintaining high safety performance.
4Force
If the wire module is always in linear arrangement to provide maximum reaction force, then the passenger restriction capability is maximized, but the storage space and system compactness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The wire module transitions from a compact side bending arrangement during normal operation to an extended intermediate linear arrangement during collision. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to maintain small storage volume while providing maximum reaction force when needed, solving the space-vs-strength trade-off.
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
Enhances passenger safety by actively utilizing the airbag and curtain airbag systems, reducing the risk of ejection and meeting North American regulations, while minimizing system strength and cost requirements, thus improving the safety and marketability of purpose-built vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a wire module provided with a wire which is located on one side of the panoramic window space in a side bending arrangement, and provided perpendicular to the panoramic window space by switching of the side bending arrangement into an intermediate linear arrangement by a gas pressure of the inflator
Implementation Method 2
an airbag deployed toward the panoramic window upon collision of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A panoramic window safety system applied to a vehicle moves a piston in a piston movement space of a piston carriage by a gas pressure of an inflator located on the bottom portion of a panoramic window space, and switches a wire that forms a side bending arrangement in the panoramic window space into an intermediate linear arrangement by a forward movement of the piston to be stood perpendicular to the panoramic window space to support an airbag covering the panoramic window space, preventing the risk of a passenger leaving when a panoramic window having the size at which the upper body of a passenger is exposed is damaged to meet the North American regulations that prescribe preventing the passenger from leaving.