Seat-Mounted Side Airbag Assembly for Precise Lateral Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current side airbag systems face challenges in efficiently deploying and positioning airbags in collision events, particularly in vehicles without traditional steering wheels or instrument panels, and in providing adequate protection for occupants during various types of collisions.
Innovation Solution
The proposed side airbag assembly is designed to be packaged within a vehicle's seat back, deploying through a burst seam and utilizing an inflator to rapidly inflate a side airbag cushion that can be configured to augment existing airbag systems, including those in autonomous vehicles, by coupling to the seat frame and deploying laterally to protect occupants during frontal, oblique, and side collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the side airbag assembly is packaged within the seat back, then the deployment space and positioning accuracy are improved, but the packaging complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag assembly is nested within the seat back structure, with the airbag cushion, inflator, and wrapper arranged in a compact configuration inside the limited space of the seat back. This nesting approach enables precise deployment positioning while maintaining a space-efficient design.
Solution Approach 2:
The side airbag assembly is divided into separate modular components including the airbag cushion, inflator, wrapper, and cap that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation simplifies the packaging process and reduces assembly complexity while ensuring accurate deployment positioning.
2Speed
If the airbag uses a burst seam deployment mechanism, then the deployment speed and response time are improved, but the structural integrity and reliability during packaging are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The burst seam is pre-formed and positioned during the packaging process, but remains inactive until deployment is triggered. The inflator is pre-installed and connected to the airbag cushion, ready to rapidly inflate and burst the seam when collision detection occurs, ensuring both rapid deployment and maintained structural integrity during packaging.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the side airbag assembly integrates with existing airbag systems, then the versatility and adaptability are improved, but the system complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side airbag assembly is designed with universal mounting features and control interfaces that enable integration with various existing airbag systems and vehicle configurations, including autonomous vehicles without traditional steering wheels. The modular design allows the same assembly to serve multiple protective functions across different collision scenarios.
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 configuration ensures effective deployment and positioning of airbags to protect occupants across different collision types, enhancing safety in vehicles with unique layouts and providing enhanced protection by integrating with existing airbag systems.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing an inflator to rapidly inflate a side airbag cushion
Data Source
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AI summary
A side airbag assembly (100) is attachable to a frame of a seat of a vehicle. The side airbag assembly may include an inflatable airbag cushion (120) in a packaged configuration. The inflatable airbag cushion may be inflated by an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable airbag cushion to supply inflation gas to inflate the inflatable airbag cushion. The inflator may include an attachment stud (112) to mount the airbag assembly to the side of a seat. The side airbag assembly may further include a wrapper configured to wrap around the inflator and the inflatable airbag cushion in the packaged configuration and a cap (140) that is coupled to the wrapper. The cap is configured to enclose a first end of the inflatable airbag cushion in the packaged configuration.