Pedestrian Airbag Bracket with Displacement Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedestrian protection airbag devices can generate a significant reaction force when a pedestrian contacts the region around the inflator, potentially causing harm due to the rigidity of the supporting structures.
Innovation Solution
A pedestrian airbag device with a mounting bracket that supports the inflator and airbag on the vehicle hood, featuring an inflator holding section, a mounting section, and a displacement allowing section, which allows the inflator and its vicinity to be displaced downward upon impact, reducing the reaction force transmitted to the pedestrian.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the inflator is supported by a rigid metal supporting member, then the inflator is securely mounted on the hood, but a great reaction force is transmitted to the pedestrian upon contact
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with a displacement-allowing section that enables dynamic movement. When a pedestrian contacts the hood near the inflator, the bracket can displace downward by a predetermined amount, transforming from a rigid static structure to a dynamic one that absorbs impact energy and reduces reaction force transmitted to the pedestrian.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket's rigidity parameter is changed spatially: the inflator holding section and mounting section maintain high rigidity for secure mounting, while the intermediate section is designed with lower rigidity to allow controlled displacement. This parameter change enables the bracket to be both strong for mounting and compliant for safety.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the inflator holding section is made rigid to securely hold the inflator, then the inflator position is stable, but the reaction force to pedestrian increases upon contact
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is segmented into three functional sections: an inflator holding section with high rigidity for stable inflator mounting, a displacement-allowing intermediate section with controlled flexibility, and a mounting section for hood attachment. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function - the rigid holding section stabilizes the inflator while the flexible intermediate section reduces impact transmission.
3Strength
If a reinforcement plate is added to the housing to increase structural strength, then the housing strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket itself is designed to provide reinforcement functionality. By integrating the reinforcement feature into the bracket's structure (through its rigid holding and mounting sections), the patent eliminates the need for a separate reinforcement plate, thereby maintaining housing strength while reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pedestrian protection airbag device (M) is mountable on a backside of and in a vicinity of a rear end (10c) of a hood (10) of a vehicle. The airbag device includes an airbag (35) in a folded-up configuration, an inflator (28) and a mounting bracket (56) that supports the inflator and mounts the airbag and the inflator on the hood. The mounting bracket includes an inflator holding section (59) that holds the inflator, a mounting section (58) that is adapted to be secured to the hood, and a displacement allowing section (62) that is formed between the inflator holding section and the mounting section and allows the inflator holding section and its vicinity to be displaced downward.