Roof-Mounted Airbag Chamber Layout for Stable Shell Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof-mounted airbags in vehicles with facing seats face deployment issues due to folded states or interference by vehicle trims, preventing stable deployment in a shell shape to protect passengers.
Innovation Solution
A roof-mounted airbag design featuring a cushion with separate first and second chambers, a support chamber between them, and gas inlets for independent gas injection, ensuring stable deployment in a shell shape by deploying the chambers towards facing passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single cushion is deployed from the roof panel, then the structure is simple, but the cushion cannot maintain a stable shell shape due to folded state or interference by vehicle trims
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag cushion is divided into multiple independent chambers (first chamber, second chamber, and support chamber) instead of using a single cushion. Each chamber can be independently inflated and positioned, allowing the support chamber to push the first and second chambers into a stable shell shape that resists deformation from folded states or external interference.
2Volume of moving object
If the cushion is deployed in a folded state, then the deployment space is reduced, but the cushion cannot form a proper shell shape for passenger protection
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag chambers are pre-configured with connection structures and gas inlet positions that enable them to automatically form the correct shell shape during deployment. The support chamber is designed to inflate first and push the other chambers into their proper positions, ensuring the shell shape forms correctly even when deploying from a compact folded state.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vehicle trims are mounted on the interior, then the vehicle aesthetics and functionality are improved, but the airbag cushion deployment is interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system uses multiple independently controllable chambers with specific gas inlet positions and connection structures. This allows the cushion to adapt its inflation pattern and shape formation to navigate around vehicle trims, ensuring reliable deployment and shell shape formation even in the presence of interior obstructions.
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 design ensures stable deployment of the airbag cushion in a shell shape, effectively protecting passengers seated facing each other by deploying chambers independently and using a support chamber to maintain shape integrity.
Implementation Method 1
gas inlets may be formed in the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively, to allow gases to be separately injected into the first chamber and the second chamber
Implementation Method 2
gases supplied into the first chamber and the second chamber may be introduced into the support chamber so that the support chamber is deployed
Data Source
AI summary
A roof-mounted airbag includes a cushion having a first chamber and a second chamber deployed downward from a vehicle roof while being inflated toward passengers facing each other, and a support chamber deployed between the first chamber and the second chamber and configured to push intermediate portions of the first and second chambers toward the passengers facing each other.