Radial Segment Airbag Hub for Occupant Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airbag designs do not effectively prevent occupants from colliding with each other during a vehicle impact, which can increase the risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
The airbag design features a hub with radially extending segments that inflate between seats to separate occupants, using a flexible material and a tether system to position the segments during inflation, with an inflator activated by an impact sensing system to deploy the airbag rapidly and effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional airbag design is used, then the airbag can inflate to protect occupants from vehicle impact, but occupants may still collide with each other during the impact
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple segments (first segment, second segment, third segment, and optionally fourth segment) that extend radially from a central hub in different directions. Each segment is positioned to separate specific occupants (e.g., between front row and rear row occupants, or between left and right occupants), creating physical barriers that prevent occupant-to-occupant collisions while maintaining overall protective function
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag transitions from a conventional two-dimensional inflation pattern to a three-dimensional radial expansion from a central hub. The segments extend in multiple radial directions (first direction D1, second direction D2, third direction D3, and optionally fourth direction D4) to occupy spatial volume more effectively and create separation zones between occupants in different seating positions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag uses a radial segment design to separate occupants, then occupant collision prevention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple airbag segments are merged into a single integrated structure that inflates from a common central hub. The segments share a common inflation medium source and are connected through the hub, allowing them to deploy simultaneously as a unified system rather than as separate independent airbags, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the segmental separation function
Solution Approach 2:
The radial segment airbag structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides impact protection from the vehicle interior, separates occupants in different rows and positions, and creates controlled deformation zones. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate safety devices, offsetting the increased complexity of the radial structure itself
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 airbag effectively reduces the likelihood of occupants colliding with each other by deploying between seats in a manner that separates them during an impact, utilizing a flexible material and tether system to ensure proper positioning and rapid inflation.
Implementation Method 1
The inflator may inflate the airbag with an inflation medium to inflate the airbag from an uninflated position to an inflated position
Data Source
AI summary
An airbag for a vehicle includes a hub, a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The first segment extends radially from the hub in a first direction. The second segment extends radially from the hub in a second direction different from the first direction. The third segment extends radially from the hub in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction. When inflated in response to a sensed impact of the vehicle, the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment may extend from the hub between occupants of the vehicle to separate the occupants during the impact of the vehicle.