Motor Vehicle Seat Airbag System with Segmented Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seat safety devices with airbags primarily focus on accident protection but do not effectively adapt to the comfort needs of the occupant during normal vehicle operation.
Innovation Solution
A safety device with an airbag and gas generator that includes an adjustable volume airbag system, where a comfort chamber is filled or emptied via an electric pump for normal operation comfort and rapidly inflated by a gas generator for accident protection, with separate chambers and a tear seam for enhanced deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the airbag is designed with large volume for accident protection, then the protective function is improved, but the space available for comfort functions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is divided into multiple independent chambers: a first chamber for comfort functions that can be reversibly inflated, and a second chamber for accident protection. This segmentation allows each chamber to serve its specific purpose with appropriate volume, resolving the conflict between comfort space requirements and protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The first comfort chamber is positioned within or adjacent to the second protection chamber, with the tear seam allowing the second chamber to expand outward when activated. This nested arrangement optimizes space utilization in the seat bolster while maintaining both comfort and protection functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate comfort air cushion system is installed, then the comfort function is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The comfort airbag system and safety airbag system are merged into a single integrated airbag structure with multiple chambers sharing common walls and control systems. This reduces device complexity compared to having completely separate systems while maintaining both comfort and safety functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system is designed to perform multiple functions: comfort support during normal operation through the first chamber, and accident protection through the second chamber. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for completely separate systems, reducing overall complexity.
3Speed
If the airbag is rapidly inflated for accident protection, then the response speed is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag system segments inflation functions between two gas generators: a first gas generator for the comfort chamber that operates at lower energy consumption, and a second gas generator for the protection chamber that provides rapid high-energy inflation when needed. This segmentation optimizes energy usage for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which chamber to inflate based on operational mode: the comfort chamber is inflated/reversed as needed for comfort adjustment, while the protection chamber remains dormant until accident detection triggers rapid inflation. This dynamic operation reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous or indiscriminate inflation.
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
Enables both comfort adaptation and enhanced accident protection by utilizing the same airbag system, improving occupant stabilization and preventing submarining, while reducing costs, installation space, and weight compared to separate systems.
Implementation Method 1
a gas generator (4), which is activated in the presence of corresponding sensor data indicating an accident or an impending accident, fills the airbag (1) with a correspondingly large amount of gas
Implementation Method 2
an electric pump that can both fill and bleed
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a safety device in a motor vehicle seat, with an airbag (1) and a gas generator (4) which is activated in the event of sensor data about an accident or an imminent accident being present. The airbag (1) is filled with gas and is deployed. The safety device according to the invention affords the possibility of adapting the vehicle seat during normal operation of the vehicle to the seat user's requirements by the airbag (1) being additionally coupled to an activator (3) which can be regulated and can fill a volume of the airbag (1) with gas repeatedly and reversibly.