Rocker-Mounted Side Airbag with Dual Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current airbag systems in vehicles do not effectively manage kinetic energy during side impacts, leading to potential door intrusion and inadequate protection for occupants.
Innovation Solution
The airbag system includes a rocker-mounted airbag with two fluidly separated chambers, where the first chamber extends farther outboard and overlaps a pillar to absorb impact energy through rotation and transfer force to the pillar, reducing door intrusion, and is actuated by a sensor and computer system that initiates inflation prior to impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a traditional single-chamber airbag is used in side impact protection, then the device complexity is low, but the kinetic energy management capability is insufficient leading to door intrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into two fluidly separated chambers: a first chamber that extends farther outboard to overlap the pillar and a second chamber disposed between the pillars. This segmentation allows each chamber to perform distinct functions in managing kinetic energy during side impacts, preventing door intrusion while maintaining effective protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the airbag extends farther outboard to overlap the pillar, then the kinetic energy absorption capability is improved, but the airbag may interfere with door operation or vehicle aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
The first chamber is specifically designed to extend farther outboard than the second chamber, creating a localized overlap with the pillar. This local extension concentrates the energy absorption function at the critical impact zone while maintaining normal door operation space and vehicle aesthetics in other areas.
3Reliability
If inflation is initiated prior to impact, then the reaction time for protection is improved, but the system complexity increases with sensor and computer requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The computer is programmed to actuate the inflator based on sensor sensing of a pre-impact condition. This preliminary action allows the airbag to be inflated before actual impact occurs, providing optimal protection timing. The system uses sensors to detect potential collision scenarios and triggers inflation in advance, ensuring the airbag is fully deployed when needed.
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 design effectively manages kinetic energy during side impacts by rotating the impacting object and transferring force to the vehicle pillar, thereby reducing the force on the door and enhancing occupant protection.
Implementation Method 1
the first chamber extends farther outboard of the rocker in the inflated position than the second chamber... rotate the impacting object... manages kinetic energy during side impacts
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a body having two pillars spaced from each other. The body includes a rocker extending from one pillar to the other pillar. An airbag is fixed to the rocker and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag extends outboard of the rocker in the inflated position. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber substantially fluidly separated from each other. The first chamber extends farther outboard of the rocker in the inflated position than the second chamber.