Shoulder Restraint Mechanism for Multi-Directional Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant restraint systems, such as three-point seat belts and side airbags, are ineffective in managing vertical and transverse impact accelerations during vehicle accidents like roll-overs and side collisions, and face challenges with reusability and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle occupant restraint device comprising a shoulder restraint mechanism with a receiving portion, an arm portion, and an instantaneous turning mechanism, driven by a collision sense signal, which moves to secure the occupant's shoulder, utilizing a rotating shaft, torsion spring, and airbag for effective impact absorption, allowing for easy retraction and reuse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a side airbag is disposed in the space between the occupant and the body side portion of the vehicle, then transverse acceleration can be suppressed, but only one direction restriction cannot cope with impact accelerations in all directions
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint system is divided into multiple independent restraint units, each capable of restraining the occupant in different directions. The seat includes both a side airbag for transverse restraint and a head restraint mechanism for vertical restraint, allowing the system to handle multi-directional impacts effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The head restraint mechanism serves multiple functions: it restrains the occupant's head vertically during roll-overs and can also provide transverse restraint during side collisions. This multi-functional design allows a single mechanism to address multiple types of impact accelerations
2Reliability
If an airbag is activated by disturbance in vehicle position, then accident detection is enabled, but the expanded airbag cannot be easily restored and is hard to remedy
Solution Approach 1:
The head restraint mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable between extended and retracted positions. It can be automatically extended during accidents and easily retracted for reuse, providing both reliable accident response and ease of restoration
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint mechanisms are designed to be recoverable after deployment. The head restraint can be retracted back to its initial position after use, and the side airbag can be deflated and reset, allowing the system to be reused rather than discarded after a single incident
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an airbag or inflator is stored to activate the airbag, then impact protection is provided, but it is difficult to store parts needing a relatively large space
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is nested within the seat structure, and the head restraint mechanism is integrated into the seat back. This nesting allows the restraint components to be stored compactly within the existing seat volume without requiring additional external space
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint mechanisms utilize the vertical dimension of the seat back for storage. The head restraint extends vertically from the seat back, and the side airbag is positioned in the lateral space between the occupant and vehicle body, efficiently using available three-dimensional space within the seat structure
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 device effectively reduces vertical and transverse impact accelerations, minimizing injury by securely restraining the occupant's shoulder and back, enhances reusability, and occupies minimal space, thereby improving safety and durability while reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring for applying rotation of the flat shaft and the spline shaft
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a rotating shaft, torsion spring, and airbag for effective impact absorption
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant restraint system which is activated instantaneously at an vehicle accident to protect an occupant's body against a disaster. An occupant restraint system (A) is provided on the back (1a) of a seat (1) with a shoulder top restraint device (4) for restraining the right shoulder portion of the occupant (2). The occupant restraint system (A) is provided on the side portion of the back (1a) of the seat (1) with a shoulder side restraint device (5A), which includes: a motor (12) adapted to be actuated by a sense signal of a motor vehicle accident; an instantaneous turning mechanism unit (13) driven by the motor (12); bifurcated arms (14A) mounted on the instantaneous turning mechanism unit (13); and a shoulder receiving portion (15A) mounted on the other ends of the bifurcated arms (14A) for protecting the shoulder side (3b) of the body of the occupant (2).